Store relative path for map documents in sub folders using Python

Brian_McLeer

I am trying to find a way to set relative paths in MXDs using Python for several sub folders within a main folder. Using this Tech Support article, it allows it to be done on MXDs in the folder listed as the workspace. What I am looking for is not only the folder listed in the workspace, but MXDs that exist in subfolders. The goal would be for the Python to open all MXDs under the parent folder and subfolder, check on Set Relative Path Name, Save and Close MXD. 

RandyBurton

I think it would be more like this, but I haven't tested the code:

<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> os
<SPAN class="keyword token">from</SPAN> glob <SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> glob
<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> arcpy

PATH <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> r<SPAN class="string token">'C:\Users\mclbr\Desktop\GIS_Maintenance'</SPAN>
arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> PATH

result <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN>y <SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> x <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> os<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>walk<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>PATH<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN> <SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> y <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> glob<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>os<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>path<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>join<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>x<SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">0</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">'*.mxd'</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN>
<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> map <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> result<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>&nbsp; <SPAN class="comment token"># map will be complete path to map file</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"Processing: {}"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>format<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>map<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN> <SPAN class="comment token"># keep track of what's happening</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mxd <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>mapping<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>MapDocument<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>map<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="comment token">#set relative paths property</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mxd<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>relativePaths <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="token boolean">True</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="comment token">#save map doucment change</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mxd<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>save<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍<SPAN class="line-numbers-rows"><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

You can add some additional print statements to help keep track of what's happening and to assist with debugging.

I'm not sure how the arcpy workspace plays into relative paths.  You may need to move this into your for loop and set workspace equal to the path up to your mxd file.