Using PowerShell to automatically find and package log files for ArcGIS Server, Portal for ArcGIS, and ArcGIS DataStore.

Have you ever submitted a support case and, as a part of the troubleshooting process, been asked to provide logs for one (or multiple) components of a base ArcGIS Enterprise deployment?

Esri provides documentation on where the default logging location is for various ArcGIS Enterprise components, but this is a user-configurable path.

Default Logging Locations

• ArcGIS Server
  • C:\arcgisserver\logs – as per here.
• Portal for ArcGIS
  • C:\arcgisportal\logs – as per here.
• ArcGIS DataStore
  • C:\arcgisdatastore\logs – as per here.

Maybe you go to check these default directories and you find that the directory doesn’t exist, or that there aren’t any logs present? You ask yourself, “Am I working with an ArcGIS Enterprise environment that has had logging locations modified from its defaults? What’s the process for figuring out where the logs might be?“

What’s New ENVI 5.4 and IDL 8.6

Harris Geospatial has released their newest version of ENVI 5.4 and IDL 8.6. With every release Harris Geospatial is improving their platforms to ensure that ENVI and IDL remain at the forefront imagery Analysis. Here is an over view of all the NEW changes to the Harris Geospatial product suite.This post will provide an overview of the following; Licensing changes, new ENVI functionality and new IDL functionality. 

Ever wondered what layers reside in all my MXD’s? Is there a way to summarize each layers’ properties?

Here’s one way forward utilizing ArcGIS for Desktop and Python….

Working at Esri Australia in the Support and Training realm, we listen to numerous client’s requests, concerns and workflow issues. To keep abreast of how our technology is heading, one source I frequent is

Wondering how to use Python with ArcGIS? Esri Australia have courses that can help

Learning how to complete your ArcGIS Geoprocessing steps using Python will allow you to reduce the time spent on complex and/or repetitive tasks and will enable your staff to learn a more productive and dynamic pathway to return results.

So the question is; which course is for you?

The Introduction to Geoprocessing Scripts Using Python (10.2) course will teach you how to create Python scripts to automate tasks related to data management, feature editing, geoprocessing and analysis, and map production using ArcGIS. You will also learn how to share your Python scripts so your key GIS workflows are accessible to others. This course is designed for GIS analysts, specialists, data processors, and others who want to automate ArcGIS tasks and workflows.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

Taking hold of the Python – Part 3

When to create a Python Add-in

Before you decide to make an add-in, be sure it is the right development path for your project requirements.

If you want to add a collection of existing tools on a toolbar, or change the layout of menus or toolbars in an ArcGIS for Desktop application, you can configure the user interface (UI) to match your preferences. This does not require any programming or scripting..

If you need to run a set of geoprocessing tools to perform data analysis or data management, or produce a series of maps, consider creating a model with ModelBuilder or writing a Python script

If it is required to make a customization that performs an action in response to an event, or requires the use of the mouse to interact with the display, you should consider making an Add-in. An example is a tool that requires the user to click and drag a rectangle over a map to define an area of interest. Another example is an application extension that saves the map document automatically anytime a layer is added or removed from the table of contents.

Taking hold of the Python – Part 2

Getting started

You don’t have to be a programmer to write Python scripts. You can start by learning the basic Python syntax and its built-in types. Once you know the basics, you can write Python scripts to automate geoprocessing, map production, and data management tasks in ArcGIS.

I think ModelBuilder actually provides the easiest start. Note that once you’ve constructed your Graphic UI model in ModelBuilder, when you save it, it gets compiled into Python script which allows you to go through and get more familiar with the syntax and logic construction.

Something similar can be done from the Results window, where you have the option to copy geoprocessing tool results as Python snippet code. Being able to access a detailed record of your geoprocessing operations, with tool inputs pre-populated, is a powerful timesaver when you need to repeat the same workflows.

Taking hold of the Python – Part 1

Esri have been phasing out VBA in favour of Python since ArcGIS 10.0.

Reason for transition – Microsoft has stopped supporting VBA. Since the release of ArcGIS 10, VBA was no longer recommended for use as it was not going to be included in subsequent versions, including 10.1. However it was still available in order to support legacy code and applications. A migration to Python, an open source programming language, was thus necessary.

Python is free, cross platform, open source, stable, mature, simple, and powerful. Benchmarking has shown that Python processes scripts in about a third of the time that VBA does.