Find datasets associated with mxd's

Question

We need to have a data clear out, and want to find which datasets are associated with numerous mxd's.  Does anyone know if there is an automatic way of listing the associated dataset.

It would also be good if we could flag up if the dataset link is valid or a broken link

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on how this could be achieved then it would be good to hear from you.

RebeccaStrauch__GISP · Answer

you can check out my /blogs/myAlaskaGIS/2015/08/31/python-addin-for-data-inventory-and-broken-link-repair?sr=search&searchId=bb8547e1-e436-4369-8c02-3fd64b2c2af0&searchIndex=4‌ which might help.  One of the tools just takes inventory of datasources.  Feel free to grab the script and modify if needed.

blake.terhune · Answer

One note on the dataSource property of a layer I've found while doing this: Not all layers support the dataSource property (for example, annotation classes and web services), so it is good practice to test for this ahead of time using the supports method. if lyr.supports("DATASOURCE"):‍ print "Map: {} Layer: {} Data Source: {} Broken?:{}".format(mxd,lyr,lyr.dataSource, lyr.isBroken)‍‍

Brittney White · Answer

You can automate this with ArcPy. Here is an example of a script that: 1. Gathers all of the mxds in a workspace 2. Iterates through each mxd and lists all of the layers in the mxd 3. Prints out a message about each layer (including the path to the data source and if the link to the data source is broken) import arcpy, os #Set the workspace where you will list all of the MXDs arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:\Path o\Workspace" #Loop through each mxd in the workspace for mxd in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"): #Create path to the workspace map = os.path.join(arcpy.env.workspace, mxd) #Create a map document object m = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(map) #List all of the layers in the map document lyrs = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(m) #Loop through each layer in the map document and print out a message for lyr in lyrs: print "Map: {} Layer: {} Data Source: {} Broken?:{}".format(mxd,lyr,lyr.dataSource, lyr.isBroken)‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ Here are some links to the documentation that you may find useful: * ListFiles * MapDocument * ListLayers * Layer Folks in the Python‌ group may have other suggestions.