Book Image

Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook

By : Donald Eric Pimpler, Eric Pimpler
Book Image

Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook

By: Donald Eric Pimpler, Eric Pimpler

Overview of this book

ArcGIS is an industry standard geographic information system from ESRI.This book will show you how to use the Python programming language to create geoprocessing scripts, tools, and shortcuts for the ArcGIS Desktop environment.This book will make you a more effective and efficient GIS professional by showing you how to use the Python programming language with ArcGIS Desktop to automate geoprocessing tasks, manage map documents and layers, find and fix broken data links, edit data in feature classes and tables, and much more."Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook" starts by covering fundamental Python programming concepts in an ArcGIS Desktop context. Using a how-to instruction style you'll then learn how to use Python to automate common important ArcGIS geoprocessing tasks.In this book you will also cover specific ArcGIS scripting topics which will help save you time and effort when working with ArcGIS. Topics include managing map document files, automating map production and printing, finding and fixing broken data sources, creating custom geoprocessing tools, and working with feature classes and tables, among others.In "Python ArcGIS 10.1 Programming Cookbook" you'll learn how to write geoprocessing scripts using a pragmatic approach designed around an approach of accomplishing specific tasks in a Cookbook style format.
Table of Contents (21 chapters)
Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Index

Filtering records with a where clause


By default, SearchCursor will contain all rows in a table or feature class. However, in many cases, you will want to restrict the number of rows returned by some sort of criteria. Applying a filter through the use of a where clause limits the records returned.

Getting ready

By default, all rows from a table or feature class will be returned when you create a SearchCursor object. However, in many cases, you will want to restrict the records returned. You can do this by creating a query and passing it in as a where clause parameter when calling the SearchCursor() function. In this recipe, you'll build on the script you created in the previous recipe, by adding a where clause that restricts the records returned.

How to do it…

Follow these steps to apply a filter to a SearchCursor object that restricts the rows returned from a table or feature class:

  1. Open IDLE and load the SearchCursor.py script that you created in the previous recipe.

  2. Update the SearchCursor...