Programming ArcGIS 10.1 with Python Cookbook

Python language fundamentals

To effectively write geoprocessing scripts for ArcGIS, you are going to need to understand at least the basic constructs of the Python language. Python is easier to learn than most other programming languages, but it does take some time to learn and effectively use it. This section will teach you how to create variables, assign various datatypes to variables, understand the different types of data that can be assigned to variables, use different types of statements, use objects, read and write files, and import third-party Python modules.

Commenting code

Python scripts should follow a common structure. The beginning of each script should serve as documentation detailing the script name, author, and a general description ...