9. Listing and Describing GIS Data | Programming ArcGIS with Python Cookbook, Second Edition

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Programming ArcGIS with Python Cookbook, Second Edition

By : Eric Pimpler

3.6 (8)

Programming ArcGIS with Python Cookbook, Second Edition

3.6 (8)

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.

Preface

Preface

What this book covers

What you need for this book

Who this book is for

Sections

Conventions

Reader feedback

Customer support

Free Chapter

1. Fundamentals of the Python Language for ArcGIS

1. Fundamentals of the Python Language for ArcGIS

Using IDLE for Python script development

Using the ArcGIS Python window

Python language fundamentals

Summary

2. Managing Map Documents and Layers

2. Managing Map Documents and Layers

Introduction

Referencing the current map document

Referencing map documents on a disk

Getting a list of layers in a map document

Restricting the list of layers

Zooming in to selected features

Changing the map extent

Adding layers to a map document

Inserting layers into a map document

Updating layer symbology

Updating layer properties

Working with time-enabled layers in a data frame

3. Finding and Fixing Broken Data Links

3. Finding and Fixing Broken Data Links

Introduction

Finding broken data sources in your map document and layer files

Fixing broken data sources with MapDocument.findAndReplaceWorkspacePaths()

Fixing broken data sources with MapDocument.replaceWorkspaces()

Fixing individual layer and table objects with replaceDataSource()

Finding broken data sources in all map documents in a folder

4. Automating Map Production and Printing

4. Automating Map Production and Printing

Introduction

Creating a list of layout elements

Assigning a unique name to layout elements

Restricting the layout elements returned by ListLayoutElements()

Updating the properties of layout elements

Getting a list of available printers

Printing maps with PrintMap()

Exporting a map to a PDF file

Exporting a map to an image file

Exporting a report

Building a map book with Data Driven Pages and ArcPy mapping

Publishing a map document to an ArcGIS Server service

5. Executing Geoprocessing Tools from Scripts

5. Executing Geoprocessing Tools from Scripts

Introduction

Finding geoprocessing tools

Retrieving a toolbox alias

Executing geoprocessing tools from a script

Using the output of a tool as an input to another tool

6. Creating Custom Geoprocessing Tools

6. Creating Custom Geoprocessing Tools

Introduction

Creating a custom geoprocessing tool

Creating a Python toolbox

7. Querying and Selecting Data

7. Querying and Selecting Data

Introduction

Constructing a proper attribute query syntax

Creating feature layers and table views

Selecting features and rows with the Select Layer by Attribute tool

Selecting features with the Select by Location tool

Combining a spatial and attribute query with the Select by Location tool

8. Using the ArcPy Data Access Module with Feature Classes and Tables

8. Using the ArcPy Data Access Module with Feature Classes and Tables

Introduction

Retrieving features from a feature class with SearchCursor

Filtering records with a where clause

Improving cursor performance with geometry tokens

Inserting rows with InsertCursor

Updating rows with UpdateCursor

Deleting rows with UpdateCursor

Inserting and updating rows inside an edit session

Reading geometry from a feature class

Using Walk() to navigate directories

9. Listing and Describing GIS Data

9. Listing and Describing GIS Data

Introduction

Working with the ArcPy list functions

Getting a list of fields in a feature class or table

Using the Describe() function to return descriptive information about a feature class

Using the Describe() function to return descriptive information about a raster image

10. Customizing the ArcGIS Interface with Add-ins

10. Customizing the ArcGIS Interface with Add-ins

Introduction

Downloading and installing the Python Add-in Wizard

Creating a button add-in and using the Python add-ins module

Installing and testing an add-in

Creating a tool add-in

11. Error Handling and Troubleshooting

11. Error Handling and Troubleshooting

Introduction

Exploring the default Python error message

Adding Python exception handling structures (try/except/else)

Retrieving tool messages with GetMessages()

Filtering tool messages by the level of severity

Testing for and responding to specific error messages

12. Using Python for Advanced ArcGIS

12. Using Python for Advanced ArcGIS

Introduction

Getting started with the ArcGIS REST API

Making HTTP requests and parsing the response with Python

Getting layer information with the ArcGIS REST API and Python

Exporting a map with the ArcGIS REST API and Python

Querying a map service with the ArcGIS REST API and Python

Geocoding with the Esri World Geocoding Service

Using FieldMap and FieldMappings

Using a ValueTable to provide multivalue input to a tool

13. Using Python with ArcGIS Pro

13. Using Python with ArcGIS Pro

Introduction

Using the new Python window in ArcGIS Pro

Coding differences between ArcGIS for Desktop and ArcGIS Pro

Installing Python for ArcGIS Pro

Converting ArcGIS for Desktop Python code to ArcGIS Pro

A. Automating Python Scripts

A. Automating Python Scripts

Introduction

Running Python scripts from the command line

Using sys.argv[ ] to capture command-line input

Adding Python scripts to batch files

Scheduling batch files to run at prescribed times

B. Five Python Recipes Every GIS Programmer Should Know

B. Five Python Recipes Every GIS Programmer Should Know

Introduction

Reading data from a delimited text file

Sending e-mails

Retrieving files from an FTP server

Creating ZIP files

Reading XML files

Index

Index

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Getting a list of fields in a feature class or table

Feature classes and tables contain one or more columns of attribute information. You can get a list of the fields in a feature class through the ListFields() function.

Getting ready

The ListFields() function returns a list containing individual Field objects for each field in a feature class or table. Some functions, such as ListFields() and ListIndexes(), require an input dataset to operate on. You can use a wildcard or field type to constrain the list that is returned. Each Field object contains various read-only properties including Name, AliasName, Type, Length, and others.

How to do it…

Follow these steps to learn how to return a list of fields in a feature class.

Open IDLE and create a new script window.
Save the script as C:\ArcpyBook\Ch9\ListOfFields.py.
Import the arcpy module:
```
import arcpy
```

Set the workspace:

arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/ArcpyBook/data/CityOfSanAntonio.gdb"

Call the ListFields() method on the Burglary feature class inside a...

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