Use ArcObjects in Python (from Mark cederholly unisource energy services)

Why python?

• ArcGIS VBA support ends after 10.0
• At 10.0, ArcMap and arccatalolg include an integrated Python Shell
• Python scripting objects provided by ESRI
• Idle is a decent development and debugging environment
• Python scripts can use ArcObjects!

Geoprocessing objects

• Ready-to-use geoprocessing objects are available for python Throuth arcgisscripting (9.3) and arcpy (10.0)
• At 9.3: additional functionality between des data access objects such as cursors
• At 10.0: additional functionality except des some map document automation
• Nonetheless, a greate deal of functionality is only available Throuth ArcObjects

Com InterOP: Relative Speed Test

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The comtypes package

• Available for download at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/comtypes/ (comtypes is a pure python, lightweight com client and server framework, based on the ctypes Python FFI package .)
• See also this link for documentation: http://starship.python.net/crew/theller/comtypes/

Loading and importing modules

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Creating and casting objects

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Demo: maniplating and existing ArcMap or arccatalog session

Retrieving an existing Session from outside the application Boundary

Getting a selected feature

Creating session objects with iobjectfactor

Tip: at 10.0, you can run a script within the session's Python shell and create ojbects normally; Use appref to get he app handle