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

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


Raster files also contain descriptive information that can be returned by the Describe() function.

Getting ready

A raster dataset can also be described through the use of the Describe() function. In this recipe, you will describe a raster dataset by returning its extent and spatial reference. The Describe() function contains a reference to the general purpose Dataset properties group and also contains a reference to the SpatialReference object for the dataset. The SpatialReference object can then be used to get detailed spatial reference information for the dataset.

How to do it…

Follow these steps to learn how to obtain descriptive information about a raster image file.

  1. Open IDLE and create a new script window.

  2. Save the script as C:\ArcpyBook\Ch9\DescribeRaster.py.

  3. Import the arcpy module:

    import arcpy
  4. Set the workspace:

    arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/ArcpyBook/data "
  5. Start a try block:

    try:
  6. Call the Describe() function...