Simple Script for creating contours from a DEM

natashaGregory-Michelman

I am new to Python and need to write a simple script (stand alone) for creating contours from a DEM. I have been looking at the syntax on this page  ArcGIS Help 10.1 but am not quite sure how to understand it.

Does anyone know what a good starting place might be?

nmichelg@gmail.com.

I guess I start with a #comment and go from there.

Thanks for any advice.

Natasha

IanMurray

Between the help page and the examples at the bottom of it for a standalone script creating contours, I'm confused why you are having issues.  Could you be a little more clear about what you are having trouble with in regards to the tool syntax or python in general?

I further commented the standalone example script

# Name: Contour_Ex_02.py
# Description: Creates contours or isolines from a raster surface.
# Requirements: Spatial Analyst Extension


# Import system modules - Don't Change
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *


# Set environment settings
#This is the folder where your DEM is located, set your own
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"


# Set local variables
#This is the name of your DEM file, set your own
inRaster = "elevation"
#This is the amount of elevation between contours(current you would get contours at 0, 200, 400 etc.)  It can be changed to any float value
contourInterval = 200
#Leave this one 0
baseContour = 0
#This is the output name and location of the contour shapefile to be created, set your own
outContours = "C:/sapyexamples/output/outcontours02.shp"


# Check out the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension license - Don't Change
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")


# Execute Contour - Don't Change
Contour(inRaster, outContours, contourInterval, baseContour)