Differences between geoprocessor versions
Release 9.3 Last modified June 3, 2010	Print all topics in : "Accessing tools within a geoprocessing script"

Note: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

At 9.3, geoprocessing Python scripts can create either a 9.3-version geoprocessor or a 9.2-version geoprocessor. The 9.3-version geoprocessor was created to provide an geoprocessing experience that is more consistent with the Python language, provide easy–to–use Python objects such as Lists and Booleans, and provide richer geoprocessing objects, while still allowing you the ability to run geoprocessing scripts created at 9.2.

Which geoprocessor version you use affects numerous methods, properties, and objects. The differences between the 9.3 and 9.2 geoprocessor can be summarized into the following categories.

Learn more about comparing the 9.3-version and 9.2-version geoprocessor

1. Result Objects
   


• With a 9.3-version geoprocessor, tools return a result object. With a 9.2-version geoprocessor, tools return a simple type such as a string, integer, or float.
  



2. Python Lists/Enumeration (Array) Objects
   


• With a 9.3-version geoprocessor, the list methods (except for ListInstallations) and several properties including Fields and Indexes return a Python List. With a 9.2-version geoprocessor, these methods return an enumeration object.
  



3. Booleans
   


• With a 9.3-version geoprocessor, Boolean-type methods and properties will return a true Python Boolean. With a 9.2-version geoprocessor, these methods and properties will return either a 0 or 1, or a string 'TRUE' or a 'FALSE'.
  



4. Extents
   


• With a 9.3-version geoprocessor, the extent property returns an Extent object. With a 9.2-version geoprocessor, the extent property returns a space-delimited string of the extent.
  



5. Points
   


• With a 9.3-version geoprocessor, several point-related properties return Point object. With a 9.2-version geoprocessor, these same properties return a space-delimited string of the x,y coordinates.
  

The tables below list the objects, methods, and properties that will be impacted by using a different geoprocessor version. In addition to those listed, any remaining properties that return an ASCII string with a 9.2-version geoprocessor will return an Unicode string with a 9.3-version geoprocessor.


Geoprocessor Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
Any geoprocessing tool	Result Object	Depends on the tool. The type will vary depending on the tool's output.
ListDatasets ListEnvironments ListFeatureclasses ListFields ListIndexes ListRasters ListTables ListToolboxes ListTools ListWorkspaces	Python List	Enumeration
OverWriteOutput Exists	Python Boolean	Integer (1, 0)
TestSchemaLock	Python Boolean	String (TRUE, FALSE, ERROR)

Describe Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
RelationshipClassNames Fields Indexes Domains	Python List	Enumeration
Extent	Extent Object	A semicolon delimited string: XMin; YMin; XMax; YMax

Geometry Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
Extent	Extent Object	A space delimited string: XMin YMin XMax YMax
Centroid TrueCentroid LabelPoint FirstPoint LastPoint	Point Object	A space delimited string: X Y
IsMultiPart	Python Boolean	String (TRUE, FALSE)

Field Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
Editable IsNullable Required	Python Boolean	String (TRUE, FALSE)

Index Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
IsAscending	Python Boolean	String (TRUE, FALSE)
IsUnique	Python Boolean	String (TRUE, FALSE)

Parameter Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
Enabled Altered HasBeenValidated ClearMessage HasError HasWarning	Python Boolean	Integer (1, 0)

Schema Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
Clone	Python Boolean	Integer (1, 0)
Extent	Extent Object	A space delimited string: XMin YMin XMax YMax.

NetCDFFileProperties Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
GetAttributeNames GetDimensions GetDimensionsByVariable GetVariables GetVariablesByDimension	Python List	Enumeration

NetCDFFileProperties Object

Property/Method	9.3-version geoprocessor	9.2-version geoprocessor
Fields	Python List	Enumeration

Created a geoprocessor using win32com.client

Using a 9.2-version geoprocessor is similiar to using a geoprocessor created using win32com.client. However, the following methods are supported only when using the arcgisscripting module:

• AddFieldDelimiters
  
• AddIDMessage
  
• GetInstallInfo
  
• GetParameter
  
• GetParameterCount
  
• GetParameterInfo
  
• GetParameterValue
  
• IsSynchronous
  
• ListInstallations
  
• ResetProgressor
  
• SetParameter
  
• SetProgressor
  
• SetProgressorPosition
  

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