topic Re: Python Textbook? in Python Questions

Python Textbook?

RobinCheskin — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:24:57 GMT

What is the best textbook for learning Python in ArcGIS that people are aware of?

Re: Python Textbook?

michaelcollins1 — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:27:40 GMT

Start with "A Python Primer for ArcGIS", ISBN # 9781466274594

Re: Python Textbook?

RobinCheskin — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:04:18 GMT

Anything after that?

Re: Python Textbook?

MathewCoyle — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:15:47 GMT

My three favourite resources, in no particular order.

http://www.google.com/
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/main/10.1/#/A_quick_tour_of_Python/002z00000023000000/
http://docs.python.org/release/2.7.2/

Everything I know about python and scripting geoprocessing I've learned from those and these forums.

Re: Python Textbook?

RobinCheskin — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:40:48 GMT

Thanks everyone!

Re: Python Textbook?

MarcinGasior — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 05:12:36 GMT

Pennsylvania State University has a great and free online course 'GIS Programming and Automation' at:
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog485/
There's a reasonable amount of theory and a lot of exercises with step by step explanations.

You can also try free Virtual Campus course at: http://training.esri.com/gateway/ind...&courseid=1868

My two cents;)

Re: Python Textbook?

NickJacob — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:29:58 GMT

I was really impressed with O'Reilly's introductory class for Python:
http://www.oreillyschool.com/courses/python1/

If you time it right, you can catch it on sale and it takes about 40 hours to complete if you don't rush too much. The thing about their course I was so impressed with was that their instructors looked at all my code, even if I correctly finished projects, and that helped me out a lot.

Re: Python Textbook?

curtvprice — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:48:42 GMT

I swear by O'Reilly's Learning" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9781565924642.do]Learning Python (Lutz).

It's a really nice learning tool and refresher book.

Re: Python Textbook?

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:44:35 GMT

and don't forget
http://resources.arcgis.com/en/communities/python/

Re: Python Textbook?

AlexeyTereshenkov — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:31:19 GMT

Seen this book coming next year too: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/python-scripting-for-arcgis-paul-a-zandbergen/1111466220

The Codeacademy.com people have got the Python course recently, I liked the way exercises and materials are structured, highly recommend.

Re: Python Textbook?

DanPatterson_Retired — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:34:54 GMT

Nice reference!

Re: Python Textbook?

KimOllivier — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 07:42:28 GMT

I have a metre of bookshelf of Python books, but there is one that is really dog-eared. It is out of print, but can be picked up on Amazon. Be careful not to get the second edition, it is a completely different book by a different author that is not the same format and is not useful. Some reprints are very poor quality too.

"Python" by Chris Fehily, Peachpit Press ISBN 0-201-74884-3.

Most books I have are far too technical for what is needed for geoprocessing.
http://www.amazon.com/Python-Chris-Fehily/dp/0201748843/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

The simple layout, examples and explanations are just the right level for writing scripts. True, it was written for Python 2.2 but there are other books for version 2.7 or 3000.

I bought "The Quick Python Book", Ceder, Manning which covers Python 3 and have not found it useful.