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rename layers displayed on TOC

FugroSurvey_Ltd_

I???m brand new to Python so I???m not sure if what I want to do is possible or not and I apologise for my lack of technical terms.

Basically I need to export a few files from ArcMap to CAD on a daily basis. As part of company procedures my CAD layers need to have a specific name which is different from the original GIS layer name. The problem is that the Export to CAD tool picks up the name displayed on the TOC to create levels' name in CAD.
Having said that what I'm looking for is to make a script to rename all the layers on my TOC. Is this possible?

I appreciate any help or pointers in the right direction.

Thanks

PT

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jskinner

Hi Y.Y.C,

You can do this using the ListFiles function. Ex:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = r"C:\temp\python"

for mxdFile in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"):
    mxdPath = env.workspace + "\\" + mxdFile
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxdPath)  
    layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)  
      
    for lyr in layers:  
        if lyr.name == "something to change":  
            lyr.name = "changed name"  
      
    arcpy.RefreshTOC()

All comments

Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre

I figured how to do it. I just need to change it, the way i want one time, than save a .lyr from the correct information (it can also change symbology, and other stuff).

The script below, will apply the .lyr file to your layer in the TOC. You just must specify the name of the layer, like displayed in TOC.

It will do to all MXD files, in the same folder of the script.

<SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> os
<SPAN class="keyword token">from</SPAN> arcpy <SPAN class="keyword token">import</SPAN> env&nbsp; 
env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> os<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>curdir

&nbsp; 
<SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> mxdFile <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ListFiles<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="string token">"*.mxd"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; mxdPath <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> env<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>workspace <SPAN class="operator token">+</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"\\"</SPAN> <SPAN class="operator token">+</SPAN> mxdFile&nbsp; 
&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>mxdPath<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; layers <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>mapping<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ListLayers<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>mxd<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">for</SPAN> lyr <SPAN class="keyword token">in</SPAN> layers<SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">if</SPAN> lyr<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>name <SPAN class="operator token">==</SPAN> <SPAN class="string token">"layer_name_in_TOC"</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">:</SPAN> <SPAN class="comment token">#change here</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <SPAN class="keyword token">print</SPAN> mxdPath
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; symbologyLayer <SPAN class="operator token">=</SPAN> r<SPAN class="string token">"D:\LayerFile.lyr"</SPAN> <SPAN class="comment token">#change here</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>ApplySymbologyFromLayer_management <SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN>lyr<SPAN class="punctuation token">,</SPAN> symbologyLayer<SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN> 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; arcpy<SPAN class="punctuation token">.</SPAN>RefreshTOC<SPAN class="punctuation token">(</SPAN><SPAN class="punctuation token">)</SPAN>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN><SPAN>‍</SPAN></SPAN>

Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre

i'm just trying to get as many options as possible.

RebeccaStrauch__GISP

since you posted this question https://community.esri.com/message/673130-re-how-can-i-change-the-layer-label-in-toc-with-py you may want to delete your comment/question above. If geonet doesn't allow you to, I might be able to do it for you.

Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre

Is there a way to change the 'label' of the layerfile? The script above, changes the layer name. But i want to change the layer name. I'm refering to the name is written right after the symbol, in the TOC.

Yaron_YosefCohen

also i have this question Insert layer file to specific data frame

can you see it please?

Yaron_YosefCohen

now,i have mxd's and each of them has 3 and more data frame. if I wan't to rename layer in a specific data frame with position in the TOC, for example in the first data frame, how to do it ?

Yaron_YosefCohen

thank's- it's worked!! how do i mark your answer as the right one?

jskinner

Hi Y.Y.C,

You can do this using the ListFiles function. Ex:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = r"C:\temp\python"

for mxdFile in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"):
    mxdPath = env.workspace + "\\" + mxdFile
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxdPath)  
    layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)  
      
    for lyr in layers:  
        if lyr.name == "something to change":  
            lyr.name = "changed name"  
      
    arcpy.RefreshTOC()

Yaron_YosefCohen

how do it for 4 mxd's in one folder?

MathewCoyle

I think you want to access the arcpy.mapping.Layer(layer).name property.
See here http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//00s300000008000000

Here's a more complete example.

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("current")
layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)

for lyr in layers:
    if lyr.name == "something to change":
        lyr.name = "changed name"

arcpy.RefreshTOC()

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