Module 2: Python Fundamentals

 


In this week's lab, I learned Python fundamentals through scripting in the notebook in ArcGIS. I worked with variables, loops, lists, and conditional statements. I also had to troubleshoot some errors in the process. The final script, as shown above, generated random integers, simulates a dice game, removed an "unlucky" number from a list using a loop and conditional statements, and printed the final results successfully. This module helped strengthen my understanding of python syntax and working with the notebook in ArcGIS. Also shown above is a flowchart representing the script creation process.

The first error I encountered when running the random script was the variable dice was an integer being concatenated with strings, so I fixed it by converting dice to a string using str(dice). The second error was caused by using an undefined variable X, so I corrected x to lowercase x. 

Testing the code during the creation of the while loop helped me because the randomly generated list changed every time the script ran, causing the unlucky number to appear several times or not at all. This helped me understand how if-else statements and while loops control workflow in Python. I also learned that the remove() method only removes on occurrence at a time, which is why the loop is necessary.

I found I became more comfortable with Python syntax and understanding how loops and conditional statements work together. I initially had some trouble with indentation and typing names correctly, but running the script repeatedly helped me troubleshoot errors more effectively. I also found that using notebook in ArcGIS made it easier to test smaller sections of code before exporting the final python script. 

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