topic Re: Python - Drop Down Box in Geoprocessing Questions

Python - Drop Down Box

RandellMcGlynn — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:56:01 GMT

Hi, I'm using arcgis 9.3.1 and I would like to add a drop down box into an ArcMap .mxd file with a list of values in it. Is this possible with Python scripting?

Thank you.

Re: Python - Drop Down Box

LoganPugh — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:56:22 GMT

No, in 9.x Python has no ability to customize the user interface. There may be some aspects of UI customization for Python in 10.

For 9.x, you can either use VBA, which has an IDE built into the ArcGIS Desktop applications and can utilize ArcObjects along with built-in UI controls, or a 3rd party IDE and compiled programming language such as Visual Studio 2008 and C# or VB.NET. VBA is not supported (but may work) in 10, but not future versions, so if you want a long term solution a compiled DLL is probably your best bet.

See this page on the Resource Center for the options for developing for 9.3: http://resources.esri.com/arcgisDesktop/index.cfm?fa=forDevelopers

Re: Python - Drop Down Box

ChrisSnyder — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:20:40 GMT

You can build a drop down box (aka picklist) via the Toolbox GUI quite easily: http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Understanding_script_tool_parameters/001500000007000000/

Although I have never done it, you can also build elaborate Python GUIs via:
wxPython: http://www.wxpython.org/
TkInter: http://wiki.python.org/moin/TkInter

Re: Python - Drop Down Box

RandellMcGlynn — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:46:33 GMT

No, in 9.x Python has no ability to customize the user interface. There may be some aspects of UI customization for Python in 10.

For 9.x, you can either use VBA, which has an IDE built into the ArcGIS Desktop applications and can utilize ArcObjects along with built-in UI controls, or a 3rd party IDE and compiled programming language such as Visual Studio 2008 and C# or VB.NET. VBA is not supported (but may work) in 10, but not future versions, so if you want a long term solution a compiled DLL is probably your best bet.

See this page on the Resource Center for the options for developing for 9.3: http://resources.esri.com/arcgisDesktop/index.cfm?fa=forDevelopers

Well the plan is to wait for 10.1 and then move up. So I would like to utilize your long term solution with a dll. I'm kind of new to programming with ArcGIS, so how would I get a dll that would put a drop down box on my UI?