How to create a script tool

Creating a script tool is a multi-step process. Beyond writing a script to execute a set of geoprocessing tasks, you will need to do the following steps:

1. Write and test that the script will complete the desired analysis and save it as a Python file, with a .py extension.
2. Modify the script to take user parameters.
3. Identify or create the toolbox you will store your script tool in.
4. Add a script tool to the toolbox.
5. Associate your script to that script tool.
6. Set the parameters and properties of the script tool.
7. Test the script tool to ensure it works as intended. Make any modifications to the script or the script tool parameters or properties as needed.

A script tool must be created in a toolbox. It is where the script tool will live. Toolboxes are created as part of a project when you create a new project using a template. In this chapter, you will be working in a project that already has a toolbox. If...