# arcgis-api

> Always wrap API calls in try/except and provide meaningful error messages:

- Author: Jeff Franzen
- Repository: franzenjb/claude-skills
- Version: 20260206183911
- Stars: 0
- Forks: 0
- Last Updated: 2026-02-07
- Source: https://github.com/franzenjb/claude-skills
- Web: https://mule.run/skillshub/@@franzenjb/claude-skills~arcgis-api:20260206183911

---

# ArcGIS API Patterns

## When to Use
Automatically activate when the user is writing Python code that interacts with ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, or any ESRI service. This includes authentication, content management, sharing, administration, and any use of the `arcgis` Python package.

## Authentication Priority Order

1. **ArcGIS Notebooks**: Always use `GIS("home")` — no credentials needed
2. **OAuth (interactive apps)**: `GIS(url, client_id="APP_ID")` — safest for web apps
3. **API Key**: `GIS(api_key="AAPK...")` — public content only, no editing
4. **Username/Password**: `GIS(url, os.environ["USER"], os.environ["PASS"])` — scripts only

**CRITICAL**: Never hardcode credentials. Always use environment variables. Always remind the user to add `.env` to `.gitignore`.

## Content Management Patterns

```python
# Search for items
items = gis.content.search("title:shelters AND type:Feature Service", max_items=50)

# Get a specific item
item = gis.content.get("ITEM_ID_HERE")

# Update item properties
item.update(item_properties={"title": "New Title", "tags": "updated,tags"})

# Share with organization
item.share(org=True)

# Share with specific group
item.share(groups=["GROUP_ID"])

# Move to folder
gis.content.create_folder("Projects")
item.move("Projects")
```

## Publishing Workflows

```python
# CSV → Feature Layer
csv_item = gis.content.add({"title": "My Data", "type": "CSV"}, data="path/to/file.csv")
published = csv_item.publish()

# GeoJSON → Feature Layer
geojson_item = gis.content.add({"title": "Boundaries", "type": "GeoJson"}, data="path/to/file.geojson")
published = geojson_item.publish()

# DataFrame → Feature Layer
from arcgis.features import GeoAccessor
sdf = pd.DataFrame(...)  # with SHAPE column or lat/lon
sdf.spatial.to_featurelayer("Layer Name", gis=gis, folder="Projects")
```

## Error Handling

Always wrap API calls in try/except and provide meaningful error messages:

```python
try:
    result = fl.edit_features(adds=features)
    failures = [r for r in result['addResults'] if not r['success']]
    if failures:
        print(f"Warning: {len(failures)} records failed to add")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")
    if "Token Required" in str(e):
        print("Authentication issue — check your credentials")
    elif "exceeded" in str(e).lower():
        print("Rate limit or credit limit — try smaller batches")
```