Challenging times with Python and ArcPy for ArcGIS Pro

Name: Challenging times with Python and ArcPy for ArcGIS Pro
Rating: 4.3 (52 reviews)

Turning mapping requirements from stakeholders into automated PDF maps

Created byGraeme Browning

Last updated 1/2018

English

What you'll learn

Build ArcPy applications for Map Automation using ArcGIS Pro
Translate user mapping requirements into ArcPy solutions

Course content

5 sections • 26 lectures • 2h 21m total length

Introduction3:33
A short slide presentation that will orientate you to what will be learned in the many lectures that follow.
It will suggest that you may not need to download the Natural Earth data in Lecture 2, but that data has been updated late in 2017 so it is strongly recommended that you re-download it, even if you have downloaded it before.
Downloading Countries and Populated Places data from Natural Earth2:32
Instructions on how to download two shapefiles from Natural Earth which will be used to complete all exercises.

The two shapefiles are:

ne_10m_admin_0_countries.shp; and
ne_10m_populated_places.shp

These are ideally placed in a folder called C:\polygeo where all data and code produced by following the course videos will be written.

Overall and Map On Page Challenges3:27
The overall challenge, which is to produce a multi-page PDF, like the PlacesInBrazil.pdf attached to this lecture, for every country in the world using map automation, is outlined.
A checklist is also attached, and it is recommended that you print this and use it to tick off the challenge steps as you complete them.
The first challenge is produce a simple map on a page using the two Natural Earth shapefiles.
Authoring ArcGIS Pro Project for Map On Page Challenge7:22
Using Python IDE for Map On Page Challenge8:41
Improve Extent Set Challenge1:32
The Improve Set Extent Challenge is outlined.

This arises because the remote territories of some countries leads to an extent that means their mainland becomes not much more than a blob when zoomed to.
Solving the Improve Extent Set Challenge3:49
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture7.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture7.py.

Processing Multiple Maps Challenge1:11
The Processing Multiple Maps Challenge is outlined.

This arises because there are over 200 countries, so we need to be able to set a job going that creates PDF maps for each, and while we are doing that we want to record the time that each takes to produce.
Writing Module for Processing One Country4:15
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture9.py script into C:\polygeo.

The scripts produced by following the steps in this lecture are available as MakeMapAfterLecture9.py and ProcessMultipleMapsAfterLecture9.py.
Timing of Processing for One Country4:20
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture10.py script into C:\polygeo.

The scripts produced by following the steps in this lecture are available as MakeMapAfterLecture10.py and ProcessMultipleMapsAfterLecture10.py.
Timing Processing of Many Countries8:36
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture11.py script into C:\polygeo.

The scripts produced by following the steps in this lecture are available as MakeMapAfterLecture11.py and ProcessMultipleMapsAfterLecture11.py.
Missing Places Challenge0:54
The Missing Places Challenge is outlined.

This arises when we first look at the map for some countries like Czechia, which is the new name for the Czech Republic, and find that the places are not displayed.
Solving Missing Places Challenge6:46
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture13.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture13.py.

Creating Table using Graphic and Text Elements Challenge1:19
The Creating Table using Graphic and Text Elements Challenge is outlined.

This arises once we are happy with the appearance of our map face and we need to move on to placing a table of information about the places in the country of interest.
Inserting Graphic and Text Elements into ArcGIS Pro Layout4:06
Cloning Graphic Elements using ArcPy Code7:27
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture16and17.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture16.py.
Cloning Test Elements using ArcPy Code8:54
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the CopyPasteForLecture16and17.py script which is attached to Lecture 16 into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture17.py.

Splitting Table Across Pages Challenge1:48
The Splitting Table Across Pages Challenge is outlined.

This arises because we need to split the table across the multiple pages for the many countries which have too many populated places to fit on one page.
It presents an innovative technique that involves using a polygon feature class to outline and shade the table, and a point feature class to place the text within each cell of that table.
Creating Table Outline Polygon3:47
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture19.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture19.py.
Displaying Table Polygon Feature Class5:49
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture20.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture20.py.
Creating and Displaying Table Cell Polygons3:35
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture21.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture21.py.
Colouring Table Row Polygons4:59
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture22.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture22.py.
Creating and Displaying Table Points and Labels13:26
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture23.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture23.py.
Formatting Decimal Degrees (DD) as Degrees Minutes and Seconds (DMS)8:20
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture24.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture24.py.
Writing Function for determining Number of Rows per Page9:32
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture25.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture25.py.
Splitting Table across Pages11:14
Before viewing this lecture it is recommended that you download the attached CopyPasteForLecture26.py script into C:\polygeo.

The script produced by following the steps in this lecture is available as MakeMapAfterLecture26.py.

Requirements

You should be comfortable using ArcGIS Pro for mapping
You should be comfortable using ArcPy for simple tasks
You should be comfortable using a Python IDE of your choice (the course videos show IDLE)
You may find completing Map Automation using Python and ArcPy for ArcGIS Pro first would be an advantage, but is not required

Description

Have you ever been asked to automate a mapping task, which starts out from a very simple set of requirements, only to have more requirements emerge each time you show the stakeholders your solution?

Being skilled, and agile enough, to keep meeting expanding requirements is guaranteed to delight your stakeholders, and give you immense personal satisfaction, for a job well done.

In this course, I’ll go through such a scenario, by setting a few initial requirements, that I would like you to meet using Python and ArcPy for ArcGIS Pro, and encouraging you to try and do that, before providing my solution to those requirements.

I’ll then expand upon those requirements, encourage you to upgrade your solution, and then provide my solution to the new requirements.

So that you are not kept in the dark about our end goal, I’ve attached a multi-page PDF file to the course, which illustrates the output of the final requirements. If you view that and think, “I wish I knew how to do that”, then this is the course for you!

In this course of 26 lectures, which is suitable for English-speaking students from anywhere in the world, things that you will use and learn include:

ArcGIS Pro Project, Map and Layout authoring
Layer configuration options
Python string formatting
Using ArcGISProject, Map, Layout, MapFrame objects
Placing a graticule around a MapFrame
Defining queries on Layers
Using Camera, Extent and Describe objects
Using tools like Sort, MultipartToSinglepart, Select, GetCount
Building a test harness with performance timing
Using Search, Update and Insert Cursors
Using Cursors to work with both attribute and geometry fields
Using Python arrays of Point geometries to construct Polygon geometries
Using Python for loops within loops to construct table cells as features
Writing Python functions and modules
Using Python’s time module
Creating and using Python dictionaries
Cloning Graphics and Text Elements to Add Tables to Layouts
Converting Decimal Degrees into Degrees, Minutes and Seconds with cardinal direction
Creating polygon feature classes to represent table outlines and shading
Creating point feature classes to represent table text
Using attribute driven symbology to display hexadecimal colours
Splitting tables across pages while retaining header row
Replacing data sources of feature layers by updating their connection properties
Creating a PDF document object and appending pages into it
Plus much more.

Who this course is for:

Any ArcGIS Pro user or Python developer who wants to master using ArcPy for Map Automation
Anyone who wants to test and sharpen their problem solving skills to develop ArcGIS Pro applications using ArcPy
Anyone who wants to be challenged to solve difficult tasks while knowing that solutions are provided

Challenging times with Python and ArcPy for ArcGIS Pro

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 6min

Overall and Single Map Challenges5 lectures • 25min

Processing Multiple Maps and Missing Places Challenges6 lectures • 26min

Creating Table using Graphic and Text Elements Challenge4 lectures • 22min

Splitting Table Across Pages Challenge9 lectures • 1hr 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: