nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Iterating through MXDs to change datasource shapefile to gbd

kaww02

I am trying my hand at python for the first time. Using 2.7.18 Idle to check for errors (b/c I don't understand visual studio yet) I am wanting to go through all MXDs in a folder, find the layer Backup (shapefile) and change its source to a different folder and a GDB with another name, then update the TOC layer name. I don't get errors, but the script does not do anything. All my printed statements print but nothing seems to be working. Any suggestions for this newbie?

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Set the workspace for the folder containing MXDs
arcpy.env.workspace = r"S:\Workgroups\Test"
mxdList = arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd")

# Iterate through all MXDs in the workspace
for mxd in mxdList:
    mxdpath = env.workspace + "\\" + mxd
    print (mxd + "Is being processed")
    
    mxdNext = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxdpath)

for df in arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxdNext,"Layers"):
    for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "Backup", df):
        if lyr == "Backup":
           Lyr.replaceDataSource(r"S:\Workgroups", "SHAPEFILE_WORKSPACE", "Backup.shp",
                                  r"S:\Workgroups\Data.gdb\Final", "FILEGDB_WROKSPACE")
        if lyr.name == "Backup":
            lyr.name = "Final"
print("lyr.name")      


arcpy.RefreshTOC()
del mxd
    
print("Data sources updated for all MXDs.")

Find more posts tagged with

Accepted answers

All comments

Tom_Laue

Awesome 🎉

Don't get too frustrated as it gets easier the more you use Arcpy.
The more code you write, the more you can "steal" ideas from your other scripts, or ESRI samples or GIS Stack Exchange, etc.

Even ChatGPT sometimes can produce usable Esri Python code!

kaww02

@Tom_Laue I went back and indented the df and a few other tweaks. I got it to work now! Thanks to @RhettZufelt @AlfredBaldenweck as well! Hope I got everyone.

Tom_Laue

Python IDLE is probably putting a lock on those mxds.

If you close the Python results Window, you should be able to edit in ArcMap.

kaww02

Okay fixed the Lyr to lyr- based on all the changes now I get one map whose time stamp in file Explorer appears to have done something but when I open it, it is still the same. Also, if I open any map and try and save it under the same name/folder etc it says I don't have permissions for my folder to save or it is too full neither one of which is the case. Thanks for all the help. I am sure I have a few errors causing all this. I thought putting print statements in would help me determine where it gets hung up but that does not seem to help.

Tom_Laue

@AlfredBaldenweck is correct.

If you're ever curious what a variable is you can type:

print(type(mxd))

Also, the df part need to be tabbed over:

from arcpy import env

# Set the workspace for the folder containing MXDs
arcpy.env.workspace = r"S:\Workgroups\Test"
mxdList = arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd")

# Iterate through all MXDs in the workspace
for mxd in mxdList:
    mxdpath = env.workspace + "\\" + mxd
    print (mxd + "Is being processed")
    
    mxdNext = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxdpath)

    for df in arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxdNext,"Layers"):
        for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "Backup", df):
            if lyr == "Backup":
               lyr.replaceDataSource(r"S:\Workgroups", "SHAPEFILE_WORKSPACE", "Backup.shp",
                                      r"S:\Workgroups\Data.gdb\Final", "FILEGDB_WROKSPACE")
            if lyr.name == "Backup":
                lyr.name = "Final"
    print("lyr.name")      

    mxdNext.save()
    arcpy.RefreshTOC()

Otherwise it's only going to run on the last MXD in the folder, not all the MXDs.

RhettZufelt

line 18 you are trying to replaceDataSource on variable "Lyr", but your layer variable is set to lower case "lyr".

Is it just this capitalization typo that is causing it?

AlfredBaldenweck

Try mxdNext.save() instead.

kaww02

good catch. I corrected that. Still no error or changes made.

kaww02

I added the mxd.save() just now just above the del mxd. I received this error: mxd.save()
AttributeError: 'unicode' object has no attribute 'save'

Tom_Laue

After making changes to your mxd via Python, you need to save those changes with:

mxd.save()

AlfredBaldenweck

>"FILEGDB_WROKSPACE"

This might be the issue? Although tbh I feel like it'd throw an actual error at you.

Join the Conversation

Signed in members can post, follow updates, and more. New here? Register a free account.

Quick Links

Community Help
Find useful guides, FAQs, and documents to help you navigate and make the most of Esri Community.