Geography 465

GIS Database Programming

Getting Started with GIS Database Programming

See Geog 465 course web site for

Overview and Schedule

What is GIS Database Programming?

Geoprocessing - application of GIS operations
on a set of data inputs for generating
information.
Database (DB) programming the part of
geoprocessing focusing on DB manipulation;
not quite spatial analysis but almost.
Use scripting to automate DB programming

Why write scripts?

Scripts supply the added benefit of
decision making logic and looping
functionality
Automate a work flow, for example:
Copy all incoming data into a geodatabase
Perform a project, clip, buffer operation on
multiple data sets (iterate)

Easily distribute code

A script is a self-contained, single file

Why use Python for Scripting?

An open-source, object-oriented, scripting
language
Offers IDE (integrated development environment)
with debugging tools
Modular, can be broken apart
Ability to compile scripts
Installed with ArcGIS 9 and ESRI samples
provided

Writing code in Python

Writing Python code
Python command line
IDE (integrated development environment)
e.g., PythonWin, IDLE, Komodo
Michalis suggests using Komodo Edit
http://www.activestate.com/Products/komodo_id
e/komodo_edit.mhtml

IDE allows you to perform all jobs from one

location
Write, Save, Run, and Debug code

IDE Interface should have

Script window
Write and save code

Interactive window
Test lines of code
Report messages

Menus and Toolbars

standard and debugging

Basics of Python
Comment: A non-executable line of code

One number sign (#) for green and italicized

Two number signs (##) for gray
# Name: Michalis Avraam
# Date: January 5, 2009
# Purpose: To buffer a feature class
import win32com.client
gp = win32com.client.Dispatch(esriGeoprocessing.GpDispatch.1)
## gp.Workspace = C:\\Python_Data\\SanDiego.mdb
Gp.Buffer_analysis (Freeways, BuffFreeway, 1000)

Can comment and uncomment blocks of code

Creating Scripts in Python

Use of ArcGIS help system to find:
Usage, command syntax, and scripting
examples of standard ArcToolbox tools,
Usage and syntax of Geoprocessor properties
and methods, which are only accessible
through scripting

Running Python Scripts

Three Modes
1) Running scripts in IDE
2) Running scripts as script tools in ArcGIS
3) Running scripts as embedded model
components in ArcGIS

(non) Running Scripts in Python

Problem with the schema lock
Cannot manipulate with the same file open in
ArcGIS and in IDE at the same time

Running scripts in PythonWin

Example of a simple script to buffer a feature class
# Name: Tim Nyerges
# Date: January 5, 2009
# Purpose: To buffer a feature class
import win32com.client
gp = win32com.client.Dispatch("esriGeoprocessing.GpDispatch.1
gp.Workspace = "C:\\Python_Data\\SanDiego.mdb
gp.Buffer_analysis ("Freeways", "BufferedFreeways", 1000)

Debugging the Code

Test code in IDE
A check for syntax errors

Do not test a script from ArcToolbox

Test code in IDE, then add it to ArcToolbox

Running scripts in IDE

Run the script
Check the messages that return:
While the script is running you will see the message
running script <.>.py
- The indication of the successful run is the message
Script <.> returned the exit code 0

Display the result in ArcCatalog

Running scripts in IDE

Example of a simple script to clip a feature class
# Name: Tim Nyerges
# Date: January 3, 2007
# Purpose: To clip a feature class
import win32com.client
gp =win32com.client.Dispatch("esriGeoprocessing.GpDispatch.1")
gp.Workspace = "C:\\Python_Data\\SanDiego.mdb"
gp.Clip_analysis ("MajorAttractions", "SDdowntown",
"SDdowntownAttractions")

Running scripts in IDE

Example of a simple script to buffer and clip a feature class
# Name Tim Nyerges
# Date: January 5, 2009
# Purpose: To buffer SD freeways first and then to clip the downtown section
# of freeways
import win32com.client
gp = win32com.client.Dispatch("esriGeoprocessing.GpDispatch.1")
gp.Workspace = "C:\\Python_Data\\SanDiego.mdb"
if gp.Exists(gp.Workspace + "\\bufferedFreeways"):
gp.Delete_management(gp.Workspace + "\\bufferedFreeways")
gp.Buffer_analysis ("Freeways", "bufferedFreeways", "500")
gp.Clip_analysis ("bufferedFreeways", "SDdowntown", "downtownFreeways")

Michalis will get you started in labb

session hands-on
Python and Komodo edit

Variables in Python
Variables are dynamically typed
No declaration required
No type assignment required
fc = C:\\ProjectData\\SanDiego.mdb\\Freeways.shp

Variables are case sensitive

fc = Freeways.shp
Fc = 20000

Two different variables

Variables can hold different data types

numbers, strings, lists, files

Numbers
Variables can hold numbers and expressions
num1 = 1.2
num2 = 3 + 5

Strings
Variables can hold strings
folder = c:/Student
Strings are surrounded in double () or
single () quotes
Pathnames use two back (\\) or one
forward (/) slash
One backslash (\) is a reserved escape
character and a line continuation character

Strings
Strings can be combined together
gdbPath = c:\\SanDiego.mdb
fc = Roads
fullPath = gdbPath + \\ + fc
C:\SanDiego.mdb\Roads

Strings are indexed

strings are zero-based from the left and one-based from
the right
fc = Streets.shp
fc[0]
---> S
# S is in the 0 position
fc[1:3]
---> tr
# start at 1st, up to not including 3rd
fc[:-4]
---> Streets # get rid of the last 4 charaters

Lists
Variables can hold lists
numList = [1, 2, 3]
fcList = [Roads, Streets, Parcels, Zipcodes]

Lists are indexed

fc1 = fcList[1]
fc2 = fcList[0:2]
fc3 = fcList[0:-1]
fc4 = fcList[2:]

---> Streets
---> Roads, Streets
---> Roads, Streets, Parcels
---> Parcels, Zipcodes

Variable naming conventions

Upper case versus lower case
First word lower case, capitalize each successive word
tableFieldName = Street
- Acronym at the beginning, use lower case letters
gdbPath = C:\\SanDiego.mdb
- Acronym in the middle or at the end, use upper case letters
inputFC = Streets.shp

Avoid special characters (for example / \ & % # !)

Use descriptive variable names

Line continuation
Line continuation characters
Parentheses ( ), brackets [ ], and braces { }
Backslash \

Indentation is automatic
fcList = [Roads, Climate, Streams,
Zipcodes, Coastlines]
distanceValues = 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, \
1000, 1500
gp.Buffer_analysis(fcList[2], BuffStreams1000,
distanceValues[5])