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

Testing for and responding to specific error messages


All errors and warnings generate a specific error code. It is possible to check for specific error codes in your scripts and perform some type of action based on these errors. This can make your scripts even more versatile.

Getting ready…

All errors and warnings generated by a geoprocessing tool contain both a six digit code and a description.Your script can test for specific error codes and respond accordingly.You can get a listing of all the available error messages and codes in the ArcGIS Desktop help system by going to Geoprocessing | Tool errors and warnings.This is illustrated in the following screenshot.All errors will have a unique page that briefly describes the error by code number:

How to do it…

Follow these steps to learn how to write a code that responds to specific error code generated by the execution of a geoprocessing tool:

  1. Open the ArcGIS Desktop help system by going to Start | Programs | ArcGIS | ArcGIS for Desktop Help...