Most Integrated Development Environment (IDE) editors, have a graphic interface and are smart editors (when you begin typing a command line it recognizes the command and provides suggestions). Most editors have two modes of operation, an immediate mode and a scripting mode. The immediate mode will execute each line upon pressing the return key, while in scripting mode multiple commands execute when run is selected. When using the PythonWin editor two windows are opened one for composition and the other for running of the script. PythonWin requires saving the script prior to executing the code.
PythonWin should be installed after the installation of Esri ArcMap. If PythonWin is installed first it may have issues with locating the proper pathways for the arcpy module. If an updated version of ArcMap is installed, it may require updating the PythonWin installation.
- Different Python Editors:
- IDLE (Python Shell) - installed with Python. Python will be installed when ArcMap is installed.
- PythonWin – must be downloaded and installed, the web address is in resources.
- ArcGIS Python Window – located within ArcMap, will be used in addition to PythonWin. It is not suggested that you use this editor as your only editor since it is an immediate mode editor, thus lines are executed with each return, except for looping functions.
- QGIS editor has both a programming and immediate mode.
- IDLE (Python Shell) - installed with Python. Python will be installed when ArcMap is installed.
PythonWin should be installed after the installation of Esri ArcMap. If PythonWin is installed first it may have issues with locating the proper pathways for the arcpy module. If an updated version of ArcMap is installed, it may require updating the PythonWin installation.