How to manually break statement execution in Python window of ArcMap?

Question

How does one break the execution of a long-running process in the python console of ArcMap?

For example, how do you break a long iteration like the one below once it is started?

for i in range(1, 50):
  # some long process which takes over a minute to complete

I want to stop the process at any time I want by pressing a keyboard combination, clicking a button or something similar while the code I have input in the console window is running.

Answer 1

Just tested it and ESC doesn't work either. ArcGIS just freezes for a moment and then continues. There doesn't seem to be a way to do force quit it once it runs in the ArcGIS Python console. You can't kill it using Task Manager either as the Python process doesn't show up there.

If you really want to be able to force quit it, you might want to consider using an IDE like IDLE rather than doing it in the ArcGIS Python console. In IDLE for example, you can use Ctrl + Z or Ctrl + C to terminate the execution.

Answer 2

This is the method I use:

• create a small python script called kill_processx.py
• When run kill_processx creates a small test file called stop_processx.txt.
• At the top or bottom of the loop in the main program check to see if the stop_processx.txt exists.
• If it does exist, execute any cleanup routines you need, then stop gracefully.
• Delete the stop_processx.txt file

example of a kill_processx.py file:

import os 
nameof_killfile="stop_processx.txt"

if os.path.exists(nameof_killfile): 
    os.remove(nameof_killfile) 
else:
    killit=open(nameof_killfile,"w") 
    killit.close()

Answer 3

It is bad practice to force shutdown using brute force tactics. Rather, as @Aragon pointed out you should add error handling to your script to isolate components and/or stop the script if certain conditions are not met. As @R.K. points out, the ArcGIS python console is next to worthless for running complex scripts and, in practice, should be reserved for simple operations--stick with IDLE, pythonwin, pyscripter or any of the host of other IDEs. Here are discussions related to your question:

How do I use sys.exit(0) in an arcpy script to exit early without having an error message show up?

Terminating a Python script

How to stop a command or prompt in Python?

Answer 4

I'm working in 10.4, and I've found that I can click the close X while a script is running. ArcMap will ask me if I want to cancel an operation.

I click Yes. ArcMap then asks me if I want to Save before exiting. I click Cancel. The script throws a keyboard interrupt.

Answer 5

if you want to solve in pythonic way, try this:

import sys
sys.exit()

or use:

raise SystemExit()

in detail:

import time
import sys

sTime= time.time()

if time.time() - sTime > 60:
   sys.exit()

i hope it helps you...

Answer 6

At least in ArcMap 10.4, you can do this. Make sure the "Results" window is visible. (If not find it under "Geoprocessing"). Now if you have a command running it will show up in this window. Right click on it and press "cancel".

Answer 7

What if under every line of code you add an if that checks if input()=="what ever you want in here" that uses sys.exit.

For example: https://repl.it/@kquazi_tcsp/JumpyNaturalMetadata

Answer 8

Using IDLE, I have a file called "stop.py" which contains the single line: "pass". Keep this file open in IDLE while another .py script is running. Clicking F5 in the "stop.py" window resets IDLE.