MXD, Maps, Layers

arcpy.mapping Classes

Without opening ArcMap, wouldn’t it be nice to

Get or update MapDocument (MXD) properties

e.g. title, keywords, relative path, author, etc

DataFrame propertiese.g. name, coordinate system, etc.

Layer propertiese.g. name, visibility, data source, symbology, etc.

Layout element propertiese.g. size, position,

Add, remove, move, and update layersSave MXD or LYR to earlier version for distributionBuild PDF map books

e.g. Export to PDF or insert into existing PDF

arcpy.mapping module

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Arcpy.mapping Classes & Functions

MapDocument Properties

MapDocument – Class / Function

…

NOTE: Disable background processing when using “CURRENT”

MapDocument Properties & Methods

PropertiesactiveDataFrame (ro)

activeView (rw)

author (rw)

credits (rw)

dataDrivenPages (ro)

dateExported (ro)

datePrinted (ro)

dateSaved (ro)

description (rw)

filePath (ro)

hyperlinkBase (rw)

relativePaths (rw)

summary (rw)

tags (rw)

title (rw)

MethodsdeleteThumbnail()

findAndReplaceWorkspacePaths( find_workspace_path, replace_workspace_path, {validate})

makeThumbnail ()

replaceWorkspaces( old_workspace_path, old_workspace_type, new_workspace_path, new_workspace_type, {validate})

save ()

saveACopy( file_name, {version})

(ro) = read-only(rw) = read-write

MapDocument.ActiveView

DataFrame Properties

DataFrame Properties & Methods

Propertiescredits (rw)

description (rw)

displayUnits (rw)

elementHeight (rw)

elementPositionX (rw)

elementPositionY (rw)

elementWidth (rw)

extent (rw)

geographicTransformations (rw)

mapUnits (ro)

name (rw)

referenceScale (rw)

rotation (rw)

scale (rw)

spatialReference (rw)

time (ro)

type (ro)

MethodspanToExtent(extent)

zoomToSelectedFeatures()

Find DataFrames in MapDocument

Layer Properties

Find Layers in a DataFrame

i.e. All layers in all DataFrame’s

Layer Class / FunctionLayer Class

Layer Function

Layer Properties & Methods

Propertiesbrightness (rw)

contrast (rw)

credits (rw)

datasetName (rw)

dataSource (rw)

definitionQuery (rw)

description (rw)

isFeatureLayer (ro)

isGroupLayer (ro)

isRasterizingLayer (ro)

isRasterLayer (ro)

labelClasses (rw)

longName (ro)

name (rw)

serviceProperties (ro)

showLabels (rw)

transparency (rw)

visible (rw)

workspacePath (ro)

MethodsfindAndReplaceWorkspacePath( find_workspace_path, replace_workspace_path, {validate})

getExtent( {symbolized_extent})

getSelectedExtent( {symbolized_extent})

replaceDataSource( workspace_path, workspace_type, dataset_name, {validate})

save ()

saveACopy( file_name, {version})

supports( layer_property)

Selected properties

Layer = • .lyr file• Layer in DataFrame

Finding a specific layer in a DataFrame

Working with Layers

arcpy.mapping can’tCreate new map layers in DataFrame or .lyr files from scratch Change all layer properties in a script

arcpy.mapping canAdd lyr file to DataFrame & change selected layer properties

dataSource, definitionQuery, etc. (see “(rw)” on previous slide)

Apply symbology from existing lyr files to existing layers in DataFrame

Adding a Layer to a DataFrame

Managing Layers in a DataFrame

Function Description

AddLayer Add a layer to a data frame within a map document (.mxd) using simple placement options.

AddLayerToGroup Add a layer to a group layer within a map document (.mxd) using simple placement options.

InsertLayer Insert a layer at a specific location within a data frame or within a group layer in a map document (.mxd).

MoveLayer Move a layer to a specific location within a data frame or group layer in a map document (.mxd).

RemoveLayer Remove a single layer or group layer from a specific data frame. If there is more than one layer that meets the criteria, then only the first layer will be removed unless the script iterates through each layer in a returned list.

UpdateLayer Update all layer properties or just the symbology for a layer in a map document (.mxd) by extracting the information from a source layer.

Fixing broken data sources

Methods for fixing broken data sourcesMapDocument.findAndReplaceWorkspacePaths(find_workspace_path, replace_workspace_path, {validate})

MapDocument.replaceWorkspaces(old_workspace_path, old_workspace_type, new_workspace_path, new_workspace_type,

{validate})

Layer.findAndReplaceWorkspacePath(find_workspace_path, replace_workspace_path, {validate})

Layer.replaceDataSource(workspace_path, workspace_type, dataset_name, {validate})

TableView.findAndReplaceWorkspacePath(find_workspace_path, replace_workspace_path, {validate})

TableView.replaceDataSource(workspace_path, workspace_type, dataset_name,

{validate})

Fixing broken data source examples

Update all workspace paths for all the mxd’s in a folder from local system to UNC paths

Update all workspace paths to new folder and save to new mxd.

Page Layout elements

Getting Page Layout Elements

MapSurround Element

Text Element

RefreshActiveView() and RefreshTOC()

After changing the content of a DataFrame or Page Layout … arcpy.RefreshActiveView()

After changing items in the Table of Contents (add, remove, move, update layers) …arcpy.RefreshTOC()

Exporting maps to images (jpg)

Exporting maps to PDF

PDFDocument’s

Creating/Opening PDF Documents

PDFDocument.appendPages Example

Working with arcpy.mapping scripts

Python Window has nice help … but pain for defining/calling functions, debugging, etc.

Edit in PyScripter and use Load …

Help is not perfect

Should be:Find the MAPSURROUND_ELEMENT with the name "ScaleBar" and move it's x position (relative to its anchor point) to the center of the parentDataFrame.  Save this change to the MXD.

Update: ESRI listened to me:

MapDocument, DataFrame, Layer

DataFrame

MapDocument

Layer

DATAFRAME_ELEMENT

GRAPHIC_ELEMENT

LEGEND_ELEMENT

MAPSURROUND_ELEMENT

PICTURE_ELEMENT

GRAPHIC_ELEMENT

MapDocument.ActiveView = “PAGE_LAYOUT”

1:*

*