ArcPy Notepad++ – Code-Completing/Auto-Completing ArcPy Scripts Using Notepad++

arcgis-10.0arcpy

I have been scripting in Python for ArcGIS 10, and so far I have just been using Notepad++.

I like how the Python command line interface code-completes arcpy functionality for you, showing you your options, and I was wondering if there is a way to add this feature to an external editor.

Best Answer

PyScripter is my choice. It's free and open source and a lightweight and quick install. There is even a registry-free installation that doesn't require admin rights for installation.

Related Solutions

ArcPy – How to Debug Scripts in ArcMap

Usually Python debuggers/IDEs assume the Python script is running in the same process as itself so debugging a script running in ArcMap.exe is right out -- you need to get enough of the GP scripting environment bootstrapped in a Python script as you can to debug with.

A method that's worked very well for me over the past few years is to write a simple script that just calls the tool and use that as my main script in the Python IDE (Wing or Pythonwin) and have my breakpoints set in the tool's .py file also open in the same IDE session.

So basically I do this:

Get the set of inputs that aren't working in my script tool
Open a simple .py file in the same folder as the .tbx that calls the tool
Open up the caller script and the script tool .py file in the IDE
Set breakpoints in script tool file
Run the caller script

And my caller script is usually pretty simple:

import os
import arcpy
arcpy.ImportToolbox(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'my.tbx'))
arcpy.MyToolThatIsFailing_myalias("inputs", "that", "don't" "work")

I've tried winpdb to debug scripts running in ArcMap but I've never had any luck. If you want to try it out and you get it working well, please share your findings.

[GIS] Resequencing Legend Items using ArcPy

With the AddLayer method you cannot be more precise than "TOP" or "BOTTOM" as shown above.

However, if you use the InsertLayer method (ESRI Help Pages), you can specify a reference layer (or multiple reference layers) and add your new layer in reference to that.

import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Project\Project.mxd")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "County Maps")[0]
refLayer = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "Lakes", df)[0]
insertLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(r"C:\Project\Data\Rivers.lyr")
arcpy.mapping.InsertLayer(df, refLayer, insertLayer, "BEFORE")
mxd.saveACopy(r"C:\Project\Project2.mxd")
del mxd, insertLayer

Best Answer

Related Solutions

ArcPy – How to Debug Scripts in ArcMap

[GIS] Resequencing Legend Items using ArcPy

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