Python requirement

ArcGIS for Desktop geoprocessing tools require that Python 2.7.x and Numerical Python 1.6.1 are installed. If the ArcGIS for Desktop setup does not find either Python 2.7.x or Numerical Python 1.6.1 (NumPy) installed on the target computer, Python 2.7.2, Numerical Python 1.6.1, and Matplotlib 1.1 will all be installed during a complete installation. You can choose a Custom installation to unselect the Python feature and avoid installing it. Additionally, if Python is installed during the ArcGIS for Desktop installation, you will be provided with the opportunity to choose its installation location. The Python installation location should not include spaces.

Important

Scripts written in ArcGIS 9 or 9.1 used the win32com module installed by Python Win32 to create the geoprocessor object. With ArcGIS 10.1 (as well as 9.2, 9.3, and 10), the Python Win32 extension is no longer installed (as it is not required). If Python Win32 is not installed, any existing scripts created using ArcGIS 9 or 9.1 that use win32com will no longer work correctly. The PythonWin32 extension is available to install manually if you should require it.

ArcGIS no longer installs Python Win32 because the recommended methodology for creating the geoprocessor has changed to using a new Python module that Esri has developed to support the latest version of Python and multiple platforms, such as Windows and Linux.

To move forward with Python scripting, you must do one of the following:

• Alter your scripts to use the new ArcGIS Python module to create the geoprocessor. See the following online help topic for more information: Geoprocessing > Automating your work with scripts > Accessing tools within a geoprocessing script > Creating the geoprocessor object.
• Install the PythonWin installation program. This will install win32com and enable your existing scripts to work as they did in ArcGIS 9 and 9.1.

Note:

Only versions 2.7.x of Python can be installed to meet the requirement.

The ArcGIS for Desktop geoprocessing tools that require Python are as follows:

Analysis tools

• Proximity toolset
• Multiple Ring Buffer

Conversion tools

To dBASE

• Table To dBASE (multiple)

To Geodatabase

• Feature Class To Geodatabase (multiple)
• Table To Geodatabase (multiple)

To Shapefile

• Feature Class To Shapefile (multiple)

Spatial Statistics tools

Analyzing patterns

• Average Nearest Neighbor
• High/Low Clustering (Getis-Ord General G)
• Spatial Autocorrelation (Moran's I)

Mapping clusters

• Cluster And Outlier Analysis (Anselin Local Moran's I)
• Hot Spot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*)

Measuring geographic distributions

• Central Feature
• Directional Distribution (Standard Deviation Ellipse)
• Linear Directional Mean
• Mean Center
• Standard Distance

Utilities

• Calculate Areas
• Collect Events
• Count Rendering
• Export Feature Attribute To ASCII
• Z Score Rendering

Uninstalling Python

When Python, NumPy, and Matplotlib are installed by the ArcGIS for Desktop setup, they are uninstalled when you remove ArcGIS for Desktop. You can manually install Python 2.7.x, NumPy, and MatPlotLib prior to installing ArcGIS for Desktop. If Python and NumPy are both found by the ArcGIS for Desktop setup program, Python, NumPy, and Matplotlib will not be installed and, as a result, will not be uninstalled.