Book Image

Programming ArcGIS with Python Cookbook, Second Edition

By : Eric Pimpler
Book Image

Programming ArcGIS with Python Cookbook, Second Edition

By: Eric Pimpler

Overview of this book

The book kicks off with the fundamentals of starting to use Python with ArcGIS, followed by recipes on managing map documents and layers, including how to find and fix broken data links in these files. In the second part of the book, you will learn to create custom geoprocessing tools and how to use the Attribute and Location tools to select specific features. The third part of the book covers topics for advanced users including the REST API, and also teaches you how to use Python with ArcGIS Pro. The book finishes with appendices covering how to automate Python scripts, and the five things that should be at the back of every GIS programmer's mind.
Table of Contents (17 chapters)
16
Index

Introduction


The ArcPy mapping module provides some really exciting features for mapping automation, including the ability to manage map documents and layer files, as well as the data within these files. Support is provided to automate map export and print, to create PDF map books, and publish map documents to ArcGIS Server map services. This is an incredibly useful module for accomplishing many of the day-to-day tasks performed by GIS analysts.

In this chapter, you will learn how to use the ArcPy mapping module to manage map documents and layer files. You will also learn how to add and remove geographic layers and tables from map document files, insert layers into data frames, and move layers around within the map document. Finally, you will learn how to update layer properties and symbology.