Python Module Function Info Box Question

[MatthewRusso]

Hi all,

I have wrote a small "Module" that I call in my ArcGIS Python window to do simple tasks for me when I am doing edits.  When I call my Function basically only the function and the arguments show up.  In the module I have a docstring listed below in hopes that it would pick that up as well incase i want to share this with co-workers.  Anyone know the solution to this?

Below is an example of one of the functions:

def calc_feet(table):
""" Creates a Field named "Feet" and calculates the Field """

py = "PYTHON_9.3"
var = "Feet"
type = "DOUBLE"
sql = "float(!shape.length@feet!)"
arcpy.AddField_management(table, var, type)
arcpy.CalculateField_management(table, var, sql, py, "#")

import gis # my module
gis.calc_feet("my table")

#help window only shows:
gis.calc_feet(table) with no docstring

[DanPatterson_Retired · Accepted solution]

First script

"""
calling_script.py
Callings doc
"""
import sys
script = sys.argv[0]
import import_this        # import the module
reload(import_this)      # needed for testing otherwise the import is ignored
print("main script: {}\nHelp from import:\n{}".format(script, help(import_this)))
print("-----------------------")
print("this script doc:\n{}".format( __doc__ ))

Imports this

"""
import_this.py
import_this ... main docstring
"""
import sys
def do_squat():
    """Doc string indented with 4 spaces
    """
    print 'hello'
if __name__ == '__main__':
    do_squat()

results in this

>>> 
>>> Help on module import_this:
NAME
    import_this - import_this.py
FILE
    d:\temp\import_this.py
DESCRIPTION
    import_this ... main docstring
FUNCTIONS
    do_squat()
        Doc string indented with 4 spaces
main script: D:\Temp\calling_script.py
Help from import:
None
-----------------------
this script doc:
calling_script.py
Callings doc

[MatthewRusso]

Exactly the information I was looking for thanks Dan.

[curtvprice]

Here's the real thing:

PEP 0257 -- Docstring Conventions | Python.org

[DanPatterson_Retired]

Matthew

More documentation and a fuller example are included in my blog post

Documenting Scripts .... part 2

which is a follow-up to an earlier one.  I have included Curtis's reference in the documentation as well.