Using less parameters for Python script tool?

Question

I am looking to create a user-input script for finding surrounding features of a given point. However, the parameters for it are very sensitive and I would like for it not to have to be such a process to create results.

This is the script that I have so far:

import arcpy
import sys

inFc = sys.argv[1] #input feature class (for some reason must be shapefile because the feature classes in a geodatabase don't have FIDs
nearFc = sys.argv[2] #near feature class for near table analysis (feature  class)
outTable = sys.argv[3] #output table for near table analysis, also used as input for field name change so that the "IN_FID" field changes to "FID" to match the input and so the selection can be performed (table parameter)
distance = sys.argv[4] #search radius for near table analysis
outLyr = sys.argv[5] #X/Y event layer so that the near table analysis can be presented on the map
projection = sys.argv[6] #projection for the x/y coordinates
selId = sys.argv[7] #Query expression obtained from input feature class so the user can choose one feature from the input to highlight all the surrounding near features from

arcpy.GenerateNearTable_analysis(inFc, nearFc, outTable, distance, "LOCATION", "NO_ANGLE", "ALL", "", "GEODESIC")
arcpy.AlterField_management(outTable, "IN_FID", "FID")
arcpy.MakeXYEventLayer_management(outTable, "NEAR_X", "NEAR_Y", outLyr, projection)
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(outLyr, "NEW_SELECTION", selID)

As you can see, there are too many parameters and it would not be easy for a user to perform this quickly for a demonstration. Taking into consideration my comments, are there any possible ways that this could be streamlined and adjusted?

Answer 1

To make it easier for the user, create a default value for all parameters, then the user can just hit the OK button.

In the script tool properties, create a default value for all of the parameters. Right-click the script in the Toolbox, click Properties. Select the first parameter, then put an appropriate value in the Default property.

In the attached example the 2nd parameter has a Default value for the Output Location. The first doesn't have a default. Having a default parameter doesn't prevent the user from changing them.