How to use model-builder iterator with a custom bit of arbitrary code?

Question

How do I integrate a in-line variable from modelbuilder into a python script? Specifically, I'm using an iterator, and I'm trying to include the 'name' variable in a python script. I believe the problem is on step four, when I add it to the model as a a script (as shown here).

Script code I'm trying to include looks like this:

pop_rank = 1
rows = arcpy.UpdateCursor ("path_to_dataset", "", "", "", "pop A")
for row in rows:
    row.setValue("RANK", pop_rank)
    pop_rank += 1
    rows.updateRow(row)

Specifically, I'd like to make the "path_to_dataset" into the 'Name' variable from the iterator.

I can pull the path using the 'parse path' model builder only tool, but I'm not sure how to feed that into the Python Script.

Answer 1

Hopefully the following recommendations will give you some ideas:

# Local variables
input = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)      # Set data type: featureclass, shapefile, or table 
pop_rank = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)   # Set as data type: SQL expression

rows = arcpy.UpdateCursor (input, "", "", "", "pop A")
for row in rows:
    row.setValue("RANK", pop_rank)
    rows.updateRow(row)

Answer 2

This works in the python window, and works when I run it. But I'm not quite sure why or how.

# Local variables
input = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)      # Set data type: featureclass, shapefile, or table 
pop_rank = 1

rows = arcpy.UpdateCursor (input, "", "", "", "GiPValue A")
for row in rows:
    row.setValue("RANK", pop_rank)
    pop_rank += 1
    rows.updateRow(row)