Programming ArcGIS with Python Cookbook - Second Edition

Python language fundamentals

To effectively write geoprocessing scripts for ArcGIS, you are going to need to understand at least the basic constructs of the Python language. Python is easier to learn than most other programming languages, but it does take some time to learn and effectively use it. This section will teach you how to create variables, assign various data types to variables, understand the different types of data that can be assigned to variables, use different types of statements, use objects, read and write files, and import third-party Python modules.

Commenting code

Python scripts should follow a common structure. It is a commonly accepted practice that the beginning of each script should serve as documentation, detailing the script ...