So now that Python has been proven as a great tool, who do you begin.  Sure you can start with www.python.org but the is so much information is on the site you are not sure where to start.  Well, there is a endless source for finding code samples.  Search the ArcGIS Help Library to find the tool you would like to use.  Then scroll to near the bottom and there is a code sample to use in the Python Window or as a stand-alone script for that particular tool.

Another  method that saves a lot of time is to use ModelBuilder and create a model for the desired process.  Once you get the model working then export the model as a script (Model > Export > Script).  The output of this export provides a great starting point for expanding on the python code to get the task accomplished.

Here is a quick example from the Buffer tool help document:

Python Widnow Script
import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.Buffer_analysis("roads", "C:/output/majorrdsBuffered" "100 Feet", "FULL", "ROUND", "LIST", "Distance")

Stand-alone Script
# Name: Buffer.py
# Description: Find areas of suitable vegetation which exclude areas heavily impacted by major roads
# Author: ESRI

# import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = “C:/data/Habitat_Analysis.gdb”

# Select suitable vegetation patches from all vegetation
veg = “vegtype”
suitableVeg = “C:/output/Output.gdb/suitable_vegetation”
whereClause = “HABITAT = 1″
arcpy.Select_analysis(veg, suitableVeg, whereClause)

# Buffer areas of impact around major roads
roads = “majorrds”
roadsBuffer = “C:/output/Output.gdb/buffer_output”
distanceField = “Distance”
sideType = “FULL”
endType = “ROUND”
dissolveType = “LIST”
dissolveField = “Distance”
arcpy.Buffer_analysis(roads, roadsBuffer, distanceField, sideType, endType, dissolveType, dissolveField)

# Erase areas of impact around major roads from the suitable vegetation patches
eraseOutput = “C:/output/Output.gdb/suitable_vegetation_minus_roads”
xyTol = “1 Meters”
arcpy.Erase_analysis(suitableVeg, roadsBuffer, eraseOutput, xyTol)

1. ArcScripts

This the best place to find code.  Since it is maintained by ESRI, there is no larger collected anywhere online.  The GIS community uplaods various scripts and the site puts them in an easy to search format.  Many programming languages are available.

Here are a few of my favorite:

Spell Check

Add Text Elements to Layout

2. ESRI Support Center User Forums

The ESRI Support Center User Forums has some great coding resources.  Users post their coding problems and other users respond to their problems.  Usually, the final output is a completed block of code that anyone can use.  This link takes you to the most recent posts for VBA.  You can also search the forums for the code that you need.  Including VBA will provide you with better returns.

3. Customizing ArcGIS Desktop with VBA

The ESRI Resource Center is great site to find a good bit of information for programming with VBA.  Although it corresponds with the ArcGIS 9.3 release, there are some excellent benefits that apply to earlier versions.

4. Utah GIS Portal

The Utah GIS Partal is a hidden wealth of information.  Although it does not provide the smae number of scripts the the ESRI website does, it does have some good samples.  In addition to VBA, it also provides code for Python and C#.  Search the other areas of this site to find more GIS resources.

If you know of any good sites, please let me know so that I can update this list.