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

Retrieving a toolbox alias


All toolboxes have an alias which, when combined with the tool name, provides a unique reference to any tool in ArcGIS Desktop. This alias is necessary because a number of tools have the same name. When referencing a tool from your Python script, it is necessary to reference both the tool name and tool alias.

Getting ready

In the last recipe we looked at the Clip tool. There are actually three Clip tools which can be found in the Analysis, Coverage, and Data Management toolboxes. Each Clip tool performs a different function. For instance, the Clip tool in the Analysis toolbox clips a vector feature class using an input feature, while the Clip tool in the Data Management toolbox is used to create a spatial subset of a raster. Since it is possible to have multiple tools with the same name, we can uniquely identify a particular tool by providing both the toolname and the toolbox alias where the tool resides. In this recipe you will learn how to find the alias of a toolbox...