Hi ArcGIS Community, I have a Python script that simply add points to a feature class in file GDB every second. The corresponding layer is in an ArcGIS Pro map, and I would like to visualise the point as their are being added, without manually interacting with the map. When running the script as a standalone script, panning or zooming will force the map to refresh and display points newly added. How can I programatically refresh the map to see the update displayed dynamically, without the need for user interaction ? Thanks * Windows 8.1 * ArcGIS Pro 1.4.1 import arcpy , time , random , datetime aprx = arcpy . mp . ArcGISProject ( 'D:\workspaces\sandbox\sandbox\sandbox.aprx' ) fields = [ 'SHAPE@XY' , 'DATETIME' ] iteration = 10 second = 1 # bouding box: east, west, south, north (define your own extent) boundingBox = [ x1 , x2 , y1 , y2 ] fc = r "D:\workspace\mygdb.gdb\Points" for i in range ( iteration ) : x = random . uniform ( boundingBox [ 0 ] , boundingBox [ 1 ] ) y = random . uniform ( boundingBox [ 2 ] , boundingBox [ 3 ] ) xy = ( x , y ) cursor = arcpy . da . InsertCursor ( fc , fields ) cursor . insertRow ( ( xy , datetime . datetime . now ( ) ) ) del cursor print ( 'Done! ... i=' + str ( i ) ) time . sleep ( second ) print ( 'QUIT' )

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ArcGIS Pro | ArcPy - How To Refresh the Map

Hi ArcGIS Community,

I have a Python script that simply add points to a feature class in file GDB every second. The corresponding layer is in an ArcGIS Pro map, and I would like to visualise the point as their are being added, without manually interacting with the map.

When running the script as a standalone script, panning or zooming will force the map to refresh and display points newly added.

How can I programatically refresh the map to see the update displayed dynamically, without the need for user interaction ?

Thanks

Windows 8.1
ArcGIS Pro 1.4.1

<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> time<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> random<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> datetime

aprx <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>mp<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ArcGISProject<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">'D:\workspaces\sandbox\sandbox\sandbox.aprx'</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>


fields <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">'SHAPE@XY'</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">'DATETIME'</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN>
iteration <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="number token">10</SPAN>
second <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="number token">1</SPAN>
<SPAN class="comment token"># bouding box: east, west, south, north (define your own extent)</SPAN>
boundingBox <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN>x1<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN>x2<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN>y1<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN>y2<SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN>

fc <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> r<SPAN class="string token">"D:\workspace\mygdb.gdb\Points"</SPAN>


<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> i <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> range<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>iteration<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;x <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> random<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>uniform<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>boundingBox<SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">0</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN>boundingBox<SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">1</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;y <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> random<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>uniform<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>boundingBox<SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">2</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN>boundingBox<SPAN class="punctuation token">[</SPAN><SPAN class="number token">3</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">]</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;xy <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> <SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>x<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN>y<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;cursor <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>da<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>InsertCursor<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>fc<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> fields<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;cursor<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>insertRow<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>xy<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> datetime<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>datetime<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>now<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<SPAN class="keyword token">del</SPAN> cursor
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">'Done! ... i='</SPAN> <SPAN class="operator token">+</SPAN> str<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>i<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;time<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>sleep<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>second<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>


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Accepted answers

All comments

RyanBoyd

I'm not sure if there is anything official, but a "hack" that worked for me was to add a CalculateField and populate any field in any row with the value that is already there. This seems to trigger a refresh and works for egdb and file gdb.

melisahansen

Has there been any updates to this?

FredericPoliart_EsriAU

is your map.defaultCamera.setExtent(ex.extent) actually working?
I am trying to do something similar in pure-pyton arcPy ( no ArcGIS Pro.exe running )
I want to open a "blank.aprx" , add a layer to it (ok) , then set zoom scale or change the extents ,
and finally render export to a PNG file.

The .setExtent either causes runtime error or does nothing

RyanBoyd

Just a note, this method works well for me with a File GDB but not with an Enterprise geodatabase

YinghongLi1

Hello Tommy,

I am having the same problem that newly inserted rows in a table did not display unless i use the refresh command on my editing version. I'd like to know if you have found a solution or workaround to this issue.

Thanks

BRENNEJM

An example of some of the suggestions here. You can update the map scale by a small amount, so that it's not noticeable on screen but causes the map view to refresh.

# Set the active project to the current aprx open (used in the Refresh() function to refresh the map view).
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('current')

# Function to refresh the map view.
def refresh():
    # Refresh the map view by changing the map scale.
    # The map view changes by such a small amount that it isn't
    # noticeable, but still causes the map view to refresh.
    mv = aprx.activeView
    mv.camera.scale = mv.camera.scale + 0.1

NSCHLAGE

Howdy,
I had a similar issue converting a code from a Notebook (Jupyter Notebook) into a script tool. I had issues where in the Notebook everything worked fine, but layers and tables created in the code and referenced in the Project/Map Table of Contents would not get added to the TOC when run in a script tool or in the Python window when debugging line-by-line. I had this issue back in gradschool using ModelBuilder in ArcMap v9.x, where intermediate outputs were not added to the map document and broke the model because layers were 'inaccessible' to it.

Another user commented on not needing a refresh in Pro any more because the arcpy.mp functions all include a refresh when working in the "CURRENT" project. The problem we're running into in this thread seems to be running tools that are not in arcpy.mp and thus don't include a refresh. So, we can use the .mp functions to force/workaround and apply a refresh manually. After whatever portion of your code makes a change you need to see (or programmatically call updated data from that isn't accessible) we'll need to run a manual refresh by re-declaring the project, and map layers like so:
_________________________
import arcpy
project = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") #establishes initial workspace
mapdoc = project.listMaps("map-name")[0] #establishes initial workspace
#
#your change(s) performed that need viewed or referenced by further functions
#
project = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") #force a refresh
mapdoc = project.listMaps("map-name")[0] #force a refresh
#
#Obersvations and additional tools on updated data from the first run of tools
#
_____________________
This seems to have fixed my issues. I'm guessing because once a variable is declared by ArcGISProject, listMaps(), and listLayers() are static, so changes made later in the code need refresh by declaring those variables again. Hope it is helpful to others.

NeilFordyce

I am automating map iteration over 40 fields in a table and are refreshing the map by setting the reference scale each iteration e.g.

map.referenceScale = 80000

This refreshes the map and legend in particular and the pdf contains the updated result.

wOwen

@ArapahoeAdmin I think what we are all missing here is the RefreshTOC, RefreshActiveView, and RefreshCatalog options that are available in ArcMap! In my case, I'm adding and deleting attachments to a hosted feature service using match tables. So far, arcpy.management.RemoveAttachments() works only the first time I run it after I open the Project. Subsequent calls fail. I've tried programmatically removing and re-adding the hosted feature layer and deleting and rebuilding all variable references, but it still fails. I'm guessing this is a refresh issue b/c if I close down and re-open the project, then run the function from the interactive python window or the script using the same match table, it works ... but only once. Grrr.

ArapahoeAdmin

So yeah... four years and no real solution here?

I'm in a similar boat.... a Python-based Geoprocessing tool I've written moves address points to building centroids. I would've never known it actually worked until I shutdown ArcGIS Pro and restarted it after running the tool and seeing my points as updated. There's no easy way yo just refresh the screen after the script is done. A normal redraw shows the points in their old locations. I'm using arcpy.da.Editor and start & stopOperation to enclose the edit itself. Like I said... it works, but the point locations on the map don't update without a complete shutdown and restart of ArcGIS Pro. What are we all missing here?

TommyLuksha

I like JeffHiggins Idea here. I am trying to find a way to have my attribute table refresh as well though.

JeffHiggins

I ran into a similar problem where a Dynamic Text Element in a Layout needed to be refreshed during a Python script. Basically the table values that fed the dynamic text were updated in a loop before exporting an image of the map. The Text Element would not update after the table value changed so every image exported from the loop would should the initial value. I solved this by turning on and off the text element after the table value was changed and before the image was exported in the loop.

Perhaps that is a workaround here - turn the element on and off to induce a refresh.

NoelPeterson

Not sure why this is marked as "assumed answered". I don't see a solution anywhere in here.

DanPatterson_Retired

hmmm camera uses a derived property

Extent is not a direct property of the Camera object because it is not an explicit property but rather a derived property. Camera positions do not store extent properties, but from an X, Y location and a scale, extent is derived. The getExtent method will return a derived extent.

Camera—ArcPy | ArcGIS Desktop

have you tried messing with the extent object?

Extent (Environment setting)—Geoprocessing | ArcGIS Desktop

I don't know if setting the extent to the selection will be enough for the camera to read it.

I would be much simpler if they put a refresh option on the tool dialog if desired

And doesn't the refresh button on the map work? or do you still have to close it?

DarrylKlassen1

Sorry, I should have mentioned this. This stand-alone script is attached to a toolbox with a combo box that has a list of all the addresses in it. When I execute the tool, it works fine, but doesn't refresh the extent unless I close and open the map again.

DanPatterson_Retired

add a tool to a toolbox, associate the parameters with it, it might do the query and when it is done, maybe it will zoom to it.

A standalone script isn't going to do any zooming I am afraid, but a script in a toolbox just might behave as we want it to

DarrylKlassen1

I am also having this problem. I have have a script that allows the user to select an Address from our Property layer, and it zooms to this property, but.... It only works if I close and open the map up again. I would like it to automatically zoom to the property, which it doesn't. Code below. I would like the have Refresh object at the end.

import arcpy,sys,string,os
dbconn = r"S:\GIS\Scripts\Python\Darryl_Working\Zoom_Address_Pro\Data.gdb"
inputlayer = dbconn + "\\GIS_Property"
inputaddress = arcpy.GetParameter(0)
mapname = arcpy.GetParameter(1)
cur,row = None, None
cur = arcpy.SearchCursor(inputlayer)
for row in cur:
if str(row.ADDRESS).upper() == inputaddress.upper():
ex = row.SHAPE
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT")
map = aprx.listMaps(mapname)[0]
map.defaultCamera.setExtent(ex.extent)

KjetilSverdrup-Thygeson

Hi,

I struggle with the same problem, having a script tool which inserts new points to an existing feature class in ArcSDE using an Insert Cursor.
The new points do not automatically appear on the map.

One interactive workaround for me is to choose "List by data source", selecting the ArcSDE connection and on the Versioning tab click "Refresh". This is not very user friendly though.

Another workaround is to "change" the version of the Feature layer to the same version it is in (see code below).

This works, but is way too slow (30 sec).

def refreshMap(layerName):
   p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('current')
   m = p.listMaps("MainMap")[0]
   for l in m.listLayers("*"):
      if l.longName == layerName:
         conProp = l.connectionProperties
         arcpy.ChangeVersion_management(l, 'TRANSACTIONAL', conProp['connection_info']['version'])

Please give us a way to refresh the map!

Anonymous User

Hi,

I also have this problem, but I only need to refresh the scene at the end of my python script. The script adds records into a feature class, and then I want to see those on screen when the script is done.

Chris

JoshuaBixby

From the Migrating from arcpy.mapping to ArcGIS Pro documentation:

When using the CURRENT keyword in the Python window with ArcGIS Desktop, you sometimes had to call refreshActiveView to force a screen refresh. This is no longer the case with ArcGIS Pro. All arcpy.mp API changes will directly update the application.

It is the last sentence that I believe is relevant here. I may be interpreting the documentation too literally, but in your case you are not making arcpy.mp API changes, you are adding data to feature class.

Without an explicit refresh call or a zoom or pan action, ArcGIS Pro would constantly have to be polling the data source to see if any data has changed. Doing so introduces several questions and challenges. For example, how frequently do you do the polling, every second, half-second? What kind of additional and extraneous network or disk traffic is created by the constant polling?

If you were changing arcpy.mp elements (symbology, map frame properties, changing data source for layer), I am sure the changes would happen automagically. In this case, you are updating data in a data source, and I don't believe that is covered by the automatic refresh.

In terms of refresh, I am not sure if there is some automatic refresh at a designated time interval, e.g., every 5 minutes the screen refreshes no matter what.

DanPatterson_Retired

Well, since 'Current' project (*aprx) doesn't require a refresh of the active map according to the help then either the help is somewhat misleading or the script isn't finishing. As an final idea, perhaps attaching the script to a tool in arctoolbox wil enable the expected behaviour, I am not convinced that an external script is going to perform the task properly or at all

Hi Joshua,

Let me rephrase the expected workflow.

I'd like to open an ArcGIS Pro project and visualise a layer of a point feature class.
While viewing this layer, I would like to run a script that is going to create additional points in this feature class.
Everytime a new point is added by the script to the feature class, I want the display of the layer or map of the ArcGIS Pro project to refresh in oder to visualise the new point.

It doesn't matter if the script runs as standalone or in the Python Pro window, I was just describing what I have tested.

I hope it helps.

Thanks

JoshuaBixby

I think Dan's first comment is getting to the root of your issue. Just so I understand, you want to run this as a stand-alone script and not in the currently open ArcGIS Pro session? If the former, do you want to modify the display of an APRX file while another user has it open?

Also, recreating the insert cursor every time within your loop will be a performance killer.

DanPatterson_Retired

This Alphabetical list of ArcPy functions—ArcPy Functions | ArcGIS Desktop and Alphabetical list of ArcPy classes—ArcPy Classes | ArcGIS Desktop and Alphabetical list of ArcPy functions—ArcPy Functions | ArcGIS Desktop is pretty well all you have

The only thing I can think of is if you had one script call another within a loop rather than have the whole process in one. I can't remember if passing back a value from the called script would trigger something in arcmap or PRO

Hi Dan,

The problem with the Python window is that the map refreshes only once the script has completed. Even manually interacting with the map does not refresh it. I'd like to update the display while the script is running.

And I'd like to be able to run the script as a standalone script.

DanPatterson_Retired

From the help topic on changes if you are using arcpy.mp (formerly arcpy.mapping) changes are supposed to reflected automatically only if 'Current' is being used. Also the changes mean that camera, layout and map replace the old... and I can't find any refresh-anything in the class list

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