Related to When are field calculator scripting questions on topic? and various comments on that Meta question (and many Main questions since) I think it is clear that we do not have consensus on where the line should be drawn between pure Python (better researched/asked at Stack Overflow) and Python functionality that is core to modern GIS (on-topic for here).
Where would you draw that line?
Another excellent example of why defining the line for 'pure' Python questions is going to be difficult: Using variable in SelectByAttribute_management.
At the lowest level possible, it is purely a Python syntax issue.
However, the error given would indicate an error outside of Python, within the ArcGIS API:
Runtime error Traceback (most recent call last): File "", line 1, in File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.1\arcpy\arcpy\management.py", line 6435, in SelectLayerByAttribute raise e ExecuteError: ERROR 000358: Invalid expression Failed to execute (SelectLayerByAttribute).
If you look up this error message you'll find:
The SQL expression is invalid.
It takes knowledge of both ArcGIS and Python to understand what the problem is and what the solution should be.
Now, the question is, should I answer this? It's actually fairly simple, and I've already spent more time creating this answer than it would have taken to do that.
I could also vote to close it as off-topic. But, given the fact that I've already taken the time to read and understand the question, and I know a solution, am I really improving this community by voting to close this question?
At the very least, I believe trying to define what is 'pure' Python is going to be a moving target, and something this community will struggle with on an on-going basis.
I'll provide an answer based on an example question that has since been deleted by the Community user: https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/167074/using-a-text-file-to-create-shapefile-with-attributes.
It was:
I'm using this with Python and Arcpy
Before I begin to code, I was wondering if it was possible to take a .txt file, and extract the first line as the field values, and extract the next lines of coordinates as extents.
An exmaple of the .txt file is like this:
1867-Jan-01 Field value Field Value Field Value Field Value Field Value 52N 62W 42N 52W 32N 42W 22N 32W 12N 22W 11N 12W 10N 13WI would have a shapefile already created and all I would need to do is create the polygon files using the coordinates and populate the attribute table with values above it.
Is this a possibility using Python and Arcpy, and what direction should I take it?
This question from Main contains two questions. The second question (creating geometries using ArcPy) is clearly on-topic (but probably a duplicate) while the first question is about how to read lines from a text file using Python.
I voted to put the question on hold because the asker had not included a code snippet to show what they had tried and where they were stuck. However, if they had included a code snippet and that was about how to read lines from a text file using Python, rather than the geometry part, then I would still have voted to put it on hold as being better researched/asked at Stack Overflow.
If the question ceases to be about how to read lines from a text file using Python and becomes only about creating geometries using ArcPy then I will consider it to be highly on-topic for GIS SE and be ready to provide an answer or cite a duplicate.
