Week 3 – Weaver

Chapter 3: 

  • Geoprocessing allows you to perform spatial analysis and modeling as well as automate GIS tasks
  • Types of tools in ArcGIS Pro
    • Built-in tools
    • Script tools
    • Model tools
  • Chapter is in depth about geoprocessing tools (already know how to use)
  • Batch processing – execute single tool multiple times using different parameters without further intervention
  • Model builder is can help build a sequence of geoprocessing tools that flow through a visual model
  • Can also use scripting to build model
    • Modelbuilder = visual based
    • Python = text based
  • Scripting has functions that modelbuilder does not have
  • You can schedule python script to run at certain times 
    • Good for routine checks

Chapter 4:

  • Chapter covers fundamentals of Python language
  • Several different data types: strings, numbers, Booleans, lists, tuples, dictionaries
  • Two numerical data types
    • Integers (whole numbers)
    • Floats (fractional numbers)
  • Booleans contain only true and false values
  • // is floor division
  • % is modulus
  • ** is exponents
  • A set of characters surrounded by quotation marks is called a string literal, or string
  • Do not copy and paste code – curly quotation marks will create error
  • Can use str() to put a number into a string 
  • Function is like a little program that is used to carry out an action
    • Ex: int()  str()  print()  type()
  • Method is a function that is couple to an object like a number, string, or list
  • The book is giving us a lot of examples of different things to do with the python and there are so many little nuances
  • == to see if two things have the same value
  • This chapters goes through all the different examples how to use python script – a lot of info, alot to try and take in

Week 2 – Weaver

Chapter 1:

  • Scripting language
    • Automating certain functionality within another program
  • Programing language
    • Development of more sophisticated multifunctional applications
  • Python is scripting language of choice for ArcGIS Pro
  • Used to make redundant tasks/ large amounts processed faster and more efficient
  • The example scripting scared me as I have never coded in my life
  • Python is more basic than C++, easier to work with
  • Python is both a scripting and programming language

Chapter 2:

  • IDE: integrated development environments
  • Scripting is a list of commands that can be run by a program
  • Work with python in so-called command line or command prompt
  • Use the command line that is provided with ArcGIS Pro
    • Want to use arcgispro-py3
  • IDLE: Integrated DeveLopment Environment
    • “Python Shell”
  • So when doing my very first line of code I already got errors…
    • I went and looked at past students and it seems I am not the only one to have run into this problem
    • Since an error came up I did not know how to make the shortcut on the desktop
  • >>> is prompt
  • Different colors are assigned to different parts of the script
  • Writing script vs code different
    • Script menu – file > new file and this opens new untitled window (script window)
  • Spyder: Scientific Python Development Environment
  • Package info outdated (dif buttons)
  • Hard time trying to get Spyder short cut
  • Python scripts = modules