In this chapter, we learned how to convert a script into a permanent and sharable script tool that can be used by an ArcGIS user with no programming experience. By creating a frontend using the familiar ArcGIS tool interface, and then passing parameters to custom built tools that employ ArcPy, GIS programmers can combine the ease of use of the ArcToolbox with the power of Python.

In the next chapter, we will explore how to use ArcPy to control the export of maps from map documents. By adjusting map elements such as titles and legends, we can create dynamic map outputs to reflect the nature of the data produced by map analysis. In Chapter 9, More Arcpy.Mapping Techniques we will add the output of maps to our script tool created in this chapter.