idea Refresh Datasource arcpy command in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Refresh Datasource arcpy command

Michele_Hosking — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 20:33:42 GMT

Please can we have an arcpy command to refresh data sources so changes made via a script run from within ArcGIS Pro updates the data shown in the project.

Needs to work in all circumstances, versioned (all types of versioning), non-versioned, enterprise geodatabase, file geodatabase. And if versioned - working in a version or straight in the default table.

My situations are as follows:

In one case the feature layer is traditionally versioned but I'm working in the default version. I would like to see changes made by me, in the default version via a script running from a toolbox using layers currently in the project.

In another case I have already programmatically created a version and changed to it in the project. I am then making changes to layer in the project in that version via a script, from a toolbox. I need the changes to show in the project otherwise scripts that follow on in the process don't work as they are looking for data - that is there - in the data source - but ArcPro does not acknowledge that it is - until the following is manually done:

This is related to (but apparently is not the same as) this idea: ArcPy RefreshCatalog() function for ArcGIS Pro (esri.com)

Also RefreshLayer() does not work on versioned data so this is not a solution.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

PierreloupDucroix — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 02:28:53 GMT

Hello,

there seems to be an alternative using python.Net : https://community.esri.com/t5/python-questions/refresh-data-after-python-tool-execution/td-p/173774

But I agree that a true arcpy function would be really helpful for GPtools or Toolboxes that update features.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

OliviaHughes — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:03:02 GMT

I am having this same issue. I have a python script that does joins to a feature class that the user has in the map. The feature class is registered as Traditionally Versioned. I have found no successful way to refresh the layer in the user's map view other than the user manually right clicking on the database and refreshing it in their map. arcpy.RefreshLayer() does not work on versioned data. The old ArcMap version of our toolbox used the RefreshCatalog() function. We really need the equivalent of a RefreshDataSource or something in ArcGIS Pro to get the same functionality.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

pkaniouras — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:57:47 GMT

Any news regarding this feature? Did you guys find a way to refresh the content of your Enterprise Geodatabases to continue a process that requires the database to be refreshed?

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

Michele_Hosking — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:59:07 GMT

We have found a ridiculous way around this that doesn't work in all circumstances but.... We are running a python script from a toolbox inside a task. And we happen to have some dummy data in a few layers that we had to add for reasons I can't be bothered to go into here. So... the workaround....

We run the script though a command in a task and then as hidden steps in the task we select the dummy data from one of the layers and calculate a field in this layer for the selected features to null (this field for these features are null already). This seems to initiate a refresh of all the data in Pro.

So annoying but at least it's working.... most of the time.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

Dennis1 — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:21:12 GMT

This is a needed arcpy function and would like to see Esri take this under consideration. I also have a script tool running from within a task and need a way to refresh the data. We are using tasks to streamline work flows and reduce friction for less experienced GIS users. Currently, we need the user to leave the task and go to the table of contests and refresh the data source or we have to use a clunky work around to force an update.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

rboreux — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 14:12:07 GMT

+1... Exactly the same issue down here...

It would be very fine to have such a python method...

Kind regards.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

GrantDixon_MGP — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:46:04 GMT

I'm having the same issue. Using a python script, I've deleted a selection of data. That triggers an Attribute Rule that nulls an attribute on a separate layer. Then I'm trying to run a field calculate that populates the null attribute with a new value. But Pro doesn't recognize the data has changed, and is not selecting the newly null values.

Having a function that replicates the function of this button in Pro would be greatly helpful!

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

Ofir_Mazor — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:43:33 GMT

I fully support this idea. After a Python gp tool updates data (branched versioned in my case), ArcGIS Pro should automatically refresh the affected layers and map views without requiring workarounds or manual user actions.

Implementing a reliable automatic refresh command with arcpy would significantly improve the user experience!
As a workaround, since we are using ArcGIS Pro Tasks, we added an automatic hidden step that perform the version refresh command.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

Thomas_Brown — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:45:29 GMT

Good afternoon,

Was this reported to support, as this would be a bug. If you're executing a GP tool from Pro the expectation is the tool to properly return the results of the changes and keep Pro's editor in sync with the changes that took place within the tool.

A refresh should not be necessary as the application itself maintains state and a number of caches (feature cache, tile cache) that need to be consistent.

A refresh is only necessary when working with versions when a second session may have modified the version, for example the DEFAULT version. In the case of Pro and when you're working in a version your session holds either a read or write lock that prevents a second session from modifying the version (thus no need to ever need to refresh).

Note: for anyone authoring custom arcpy or calling REST endpoints directly and providing a session_id with the same identity being used in Pro - we will detect the conflicting identity and different session_id values - this is an indication that the initial session holding the lock is now invalid and those edits and locks are purged - this allows the current calling session to obtain the ability to write to the version.

Hopefully this is helpful and you're able to log your issue with support.

Thank you.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

Michele_Hosking — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:12:49 GMT

ESRI people have seen the original idea (linked in my original post) and did not indicate that it was a bug and since I am in New Zealand I can't go directly to ESRI support but have to go through our supplier which frankly I can't be bothered doing.

We have gone down the route of attribute rules now for one of our processes which has taken care of the most bothersome issues but if this is indeed a bug, if someone in the US could log it with ESRI that would be grand.

Re: Refresh Datasource arcpy command

OliviaMorris1 — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:06:22 GMT

I have gone through our organization's ESRI's contacts (Technical Solution Engineer) to try to come up with a solution for this and none of the solutions worked to resolve the issue.