Chapter 3:
- The chapter gets started with geoprocessing and how to use it in parallel with the Python Window.
- Getting the Geoprocessing pane to open and understanding how it works was easy for me as I’ve used some of the tools for GIS 191
- I came across three different types of tools:
- Built-in tools: Built with compiled programming languages like C++ For example The Clip Tool
- Script Tools: Built using scripting languages like Python. For example Mean Center.
- Model Tools: Built using models like Model Builder. For example My Model
- The dialog box is also something that I’m well acquainted with due to GIS 191
- I also used a map from one of the GIS 191 databases to try the “Clip” and “Intersect” tools
- I also came across the Environment Settings in the Analysis Tab, which can be specified for better efficient usage of the tools.
- These environment settings can be coded, or used through individual tools as well \
- I also came across Batch Processing, which is running the same tools multiple times with different parameters. Dynamic naming of the tool’s output datasets must receive special consideration so that a unique name is used for every iteration of the batch tool. Batch tool outputs are dynamically named using the %Name% variable in output parameters.t
- Batch mode can also take in multiple raster variables and determine multiple statistics in one go
- Then I used the Model Builder. I had used this before for GIS 191. Unfortunately, the dataset I was using did not have variables of different kinds, which posed a problem in connecting the shapes, I believe, But I did not fret about it as I had done this before.
- For scripting, I noticed that some of the ways, the code for Clip(Analysis Tool) worked had been changed.
- I just had to mention the input layers when I used Clip and the output name, and it gave back the perfect result when I ran the code
- I also saw the Python Code for “Split By Attribute” in the Analysis Toolbox, which was really cool.
Chapter 4:
- The 4th chapter is about learning how Python works and its syntax
- This chapter was a bit easy for me because I’ve done Python before and only had to review some stuff to get started
- I also came across Unicode (which helps you print out special characters that might not be in English) which I hadn’t before.