AddToolbox (arcpy)
Summary
Imports the specified toolbox into ArcPy, allowing for access to the toolbox's associated tools.
![Note Note](rsrc/note.png)
Discussion
While any of the core ArcGIS toolboxes are accessible by default in a script, your own custom or third-party toolboxes must be added using ImportToolbox to use them in a script.
Other toolboxes may be found in any number of different folders or geodatabases and may have many different origins; they may be toolboxes you have personally created, or are toolboxes created internally by your organization, or toolboxes you have downloaded from sites such as the Geoprocessing Resource Center. In any case, these toolboxes need to be imported into ArcPy in a one-step process before they can be used as tools in Python.
Server toolboxes can also be added using a semicolon delimiter.
Server | Syntax |
---|---|
Internet ArcGIS for Server | URL;servicename;{username};{password} |
Learn more about using a geoprocessing service in Python
AddToolbox also supports working with secured ArcGIS online services using an ArcGIS Server connection (.ags) file. Using an .ags file allows credentials to be stored within the file, hidden from sight.
To allow any arcgis.com user to access your tool, use the UseSSOIdentityIfPortalOwned keyword. Executing AddToolbox will then prompt the Sign In dialog box if not already signed in, or will just succeed if already signed in.
import arcpy
tbx = "http://logistics.arcgis.com/arcgis/services;World/ServiceAreas;UseSSOIdentityIfPortalOwned"
arcpy.AddToolbox(tbx)
arcpy.GenerateServiceAreas_ServiceAreas()
![Note Note](rsrc/note.png)
The Sign In dialog box will be used, running a stand-alone Python file.
If a token has already been previously obtained, it can also be used with AddToolbox.
import arcpy
token = 'sadsa213d2j32jsdw02dm2'
referrer = 'http://www.arcgis.com/'
tbx = 'http://logistics.arcgis.com/arcgis/services;' + \
'World/ServiceAreas;token={};{}'.format(token, referrer)
arcpy.ImportToolbox(tbx)
result = arcpy.GenerateServiceAreas_ServiceAreas()
Syntax
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
input_file |
The geoprocessing toolbox added to the ArcPy site package. | String |
module_name |
If the toolbox does not have an alias, the module_name is required. When a tool is accessed through the ArcPy site package, the toolbox alias where the tool is contained is a required suffix (arcpy.<toolname>_<alias>). Since ArcPy depends on toolbox aliases to access and execute the correct tool, aliases are extremely important when importing custom toolboxes. A good practice is to always define a custom toolbox's alias; however, if the toolbox alias is not defined, a temporary alias can be set as the second parameter. | String |
Data Type | Explanation |
Module | Returns the imported module. If needed, tool names can be accessed from the module's __all__ property. |
Code Sample
Add the specified toolbox.
import arcpy
# Import custom toolbox
arcpy.AddToolbox("c:/tools/My_Analysis_Tools.tbx")
try:
# Run tool in the custom toolbox. The tool is identified by
# the tool name and the toolbox alias.
arcpy.GetPoints_myanalysis("c:/data/forest.shp")
except arcpy.ExecuteError:
print(arcpy.GetMessages(2))