Upgrading ArcGIS Python

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Python 2.6 and ArcGIS 9.3

  1. Install python 2.6, and the latest corresponding pywin32.
  2. Grab the arcgisscripting.py script written by Philippe Le Grand (taken from this thread in the ESRI scripting forum) and plop it into
    C:\Python2.6\Lib\site-packages
  3. Make sure PYTHONPATH environment variable points to C:\path\to\ArcGIS\bin
  4. Note: this is an unsupported configuration, see ESRI:31912

The same recipe works for python 2.5 and arcgis 9.2, just change the numbers accordingly.

How To use a version of python newer than 2.1 with ArcGIS 9.1

  • Uninstall v2.1, including win32all extensions
  • Install the python version you want
  • Install the matching win32all extensions
  • Create a text file called py-win32all.reg containing the text below (change 204 to match the win32all build number) and double click on it. 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Python\Pythonwin]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Python\Pythonwin\Build]
@="204"

Adapted from: ESRI:26872