Writing and debugging ArcGIS python scripts with Eclipse or Aptana IDE

 Writing and debugging complex ArcGIS python scripts that interact with other classes and packages can sometimes be a real ordeal if you don't have the right tools. For that reason, sometime ago I decided to try to come up with a way that enables me to  use a complete Software IDE suite such as Eclipse or Aptana. 

1- First step is to get Eclipse IDE

-       Go to Eclipse.org and download Eclipse Classic

-       Unzip downloaded file to a preferred location (C:\Eclipse for instance)

-       Start Eclipse by running Eclipse.exe (You can create a shortcut on your desktop.)

2- Once Eclipse is running you will need to install PyDev plugin for Eclipse. This step is not required for Aptana users (PyDev is pre-installed with it)

-       Go to Help --> Install New Software and then click Add.

-       Add a name and set the location to http://pydev.org/updates

-       Click OK.

3- Select PyDev (PyDev Mylyn Integration is optional) then click on Next.

4- Accept the license agreement then click finish. After installation is completed, restart Eclipse.

5- With Eclipse or Aptana running open the PyDev Perspective. 
  -Click on Open Perspective then select PyDev.

6- Now go to File -> New (or Alt + Shift + N) and Select PyDev Project to create a new Python project.

  - Name the project and click the link to configure the python interpreter.

7- Click on New and Navigate to the Python installation that comes with ArcGIS software (See screenshots below.)

8- Select All folder then click OK to add them to the python path

9- Click Apply and wait for the interpreter to be configured.

10 - After the force built-in is completed, your PyDev Project should show the path to the python executable folder.

   - Right Click the project name and add a new PyDev Package

   - Then add new PyDev Module

11- Import the arcpy library into your python module.

    - From this point, code completion should work for arcpy modules too.

12- Add some code, set a breakpoint, and then Click Run -> Debug As -> Python Run. 

-       Eclipse IDE will ask you to switch to debugging perspective.

-       Click OK

-       At this point you should be able to use all the development and debugging features that come with Eclipse IDE.

Adding fields to tables and feature classes in a geodatabase using python script

In this post we are going to add X and Y coordinates fields to existing tables and feature class in a File Geodatabase programatically. 
1- We start by creating a xml document with the different field's properties, we'll be adding.

2- Now let's create a python list with the two fields by parsing the xml file
#parse Xml file from physical path into memory
root = elementTree.parse(pathToXmlFile)
#get the fields
fields = root.getiterator('field') # Returns list of all fields
#iterate thru each node
for node in fields:
  field = node
  theFieldList = []
  for i in range(len(field)):
      theFieldList.insert(i, field[i].text)
      listOfFields.append(theFieldList)#append field to the list
3- Then we create a list of feature classes  and tables we are going to be adding the fieldsfcList = ['fds\\fc1', 'fc2', 'table1']
4- Then we add the fieldsif len(Fields) > 0:
   #iterate thru fields
   for field in Fields:
       #get fields here
       field_name = str(field[0])
       field_type = str(field[1])
       field_precision = str(field[2])
       field_scale = str(field[3])
       field_length = str(field[4])
       field_alias = str(field[5])
       field_is_nullable = str(field[6])
       field_is_required =str(field[7])
       field_domain = str(field[8])
      #add field
      gp.addfield(fc, field_name, field_type, field_precision,
          field_scale, field_length, field_alias,
          field_is_nullable, field_is_required,
          field_domain)

Here is the complete code