This book is a guide for experienced users of ArcGIS® Desktop to get started with Python scripting without needing previous programming experience. Experience with other scripting or programming languages (Perl, VBA, VB script, Java, C++) is helpful but not required. Readers are expected to have good general ArcGIS skills and a basic understanding of geoprocessing procedures. There are 14 chapters with corresponding exercises on an accompanying DVD.

Preface
Acknowledgments

Part 1 Learning the fundamentals of Python and geoprocessing
Chapter 1. Introducing Python
Chapter 2. Geoprocessing in ArcGIS
Chapter 3. Using the Python window
Chapter 4. Learning Python language fundamentals

Part 2 Writing scripts
Chapter 5. Geoprocessing using Python
Chapter 6. Exploring spatial data
Chapter 7. Manipulating spatial data
Chapter 8. Working with geometries
Chapter 9. Working with rasters

Part 3 Carrying out specialized tasks
Chapter 10. Map scripting
Chapter 11. Debugging and error handling
Chapter 12. Creating Python functions and classes

Part 4 Creating and using script tools
Chapter 13. Creating custom tools
Chapter 14. Sharing tools

Index

Appendix A Data source credits
Appendix B Data license agreement
Appendix C Installing the data and software