topic Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap. in ArcGIS Online Questions

Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

ShalinR — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 03:18:43 GMT

Need any simple idea that would come to your mind. It is due in a few days, but I've been battling with what to create a program on, also Im a newbie when it comes to coding, even in Python. Any help is appreciated it!

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

Katie_Clark — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 14:13:08 GMT

I'm assuming this is for a school project....it would help to know a bit more about the project requirements so we know what scope the script should cover.

A few things that come to mind as very important for someone just learning how to make script tools in ArcGIS is understanding how to receive user input for script variables with GetParameterAsText.

A simple place to start would be thinking of a repetitive workflow that involves many steps that you can combine in one script. One example that comes to mind for something I might run into in my work is this - for every single county in a state, you need to clip the states stream data just for that county.

Hope that helps with the brainstorming, at least!

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

ShalinR — Fri, 01 May 2020 15:48:54 GMT

Hi, thank you for your kind reply. My professor mentioned we can do anything related to geoprocessing, it does not have to be anything extraordinary, it just has to apply what we learned in our activities (employing clip, buffer, etc., tools in our project).

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

JoeBorgione — Fri, 01 May 2020 15:58:48 GMT

Every geoprocessing tool has an arcpy syntax provided in online help. For example take a look at the clip tool; scroll down until you see the Syntax heading...

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

Katie_Clark — Fri, 01 May 2020 16:00:44 GMT

In that case, the simplest place to start might be taking one of your assignments for the class that you had to do manually, and doing the same workflow via a script.

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

ShalinR — Fri, 01 May 2020 16:18:57 GMT

I think I will just import a shapefile, add some features, and run geoprocessing tools via a script for basic understanding. I don't want it to get too complicated. Although I did want to ask you one more question if you don't mind.

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

JoeBorgione — Fri, 01 May 2020 16:37:19 GMT

okay- what's your question?

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

ShalinR — Fri, 01 May 2020 17:10:57 GMT

So I wanted to create a custom tool using Python scripting but make the tool do a specific type of border symbology for a shapefile for any data. Would that be possible? I've head so much time spent doing this one specific thing, so I figure if I just created a tool for it, it would be faster and easier to get things done.

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

JoeBorgione — Fri, 01 May 2020 17:19:42 GMT

Not sure what you mean by border symbology for a shapefile , but for the purpose of your assignment and to get a little experience in python and arcpy, I recommend sticking to something easy and straight forward. BTW, you never have to ask to ask another question in this forum...

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

ShalinR — Fri, 01 May 2020 17:27:07 GMT

What I meant was, let's say I joined a population table to a county tracts shapefile, and I wanted to outline the border of each of the different graduated color box (Red box represents 1,000 people, light red represents 800 people, etc.,) with dark borders for presentation. Instead of clicking on each box individually and changing symbology of its border to 1" thickness and black color, is it possible to run a tool that would import such graduated shapefile and you will be able to change the thickness of all of the graduated classes and color of the border at the same type with one click? Or is there already an option for it on ArcMap?

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

Katie_Clark — Fri, 01 May 2020 17:28:26 GMT

I completely agree with Joe Borgione about keeping it simple for this first assignment.

Just a personal opinion, as a novice Pythonista myself, if you get too ambitious about all the potential you can unlock with Python scripts when you're first starting out, it can be easy to get discouraged once you really get into the weeds! That's not to say that you shouldn't pursue learning more about this topic, it's incredibly rewarding and well worth the time investment if you continue your work in GIS. But...just take it one step at a time

Ok, enough of my personal opinions. Here's something that actually might be helpful regarding your symbology question. I would think that you should be able to use a Style File to help you with that.

Creating new styles—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Good luck!

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

ShalinR — Fri, 01 May 2020 17:36:35 GMT

Thanks to both of you, I appreciate it very much. I don't think I am going to pursue my symbology tool question for this class, I think that would be something I would like to learn about in my free time so that I can use it for future classes and projects. For this project, I will just keep it very simple and use clip, buffer, etc., to do a basic project.

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

JoeBorgione — Fri, 01 May 2020 18:02:04 GMT

I think you'd do that with a .lyr file; see Creating a layer symbology file—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop not arcpy.

Re: Need a simple final project idea using Python 2.7 in ArcMap.

JoeBorgione — Fri, 01 May 2020 18:02:23 GMT

I think you'd do that with a .lyr file; see Creating a layer symbology file—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop not arcpy.