idea Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

TannerSemerad1 — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:13:26 GMT

I need to be able to get and set the anchor points of layout elements in ArcPy. Currently, it is impossible for arcpy to know whether the layout elements of any given MapDocument are on or off the layout. You can access the XY positions of the elements, but these are in relation to their anchor point which could be different for each element. This would be very helpful for map automation scripts, as I currently have to make separate versions of my scripts for MXDs that have slightly different layout elements or page sizes.

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

ShannonDeArmond — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 22:28:46 GMT

Agreed. If I could even read which anchor point the layout item was using, even if I couldn't change it, that would be tremendously helpful.

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

HeshamOthman1 — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 10:16:29 GMT

Hi,

Any update on this? did you find a solution? i'm facing the same issue

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

GrantHaynes — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 19:14:27 GMT

This would be very helpful, right now I have to validate the anchor point positions by hand which kind of defeats the purpose of automating with python

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

KennethEggering1 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:16:11 GMT

Completely agree with other commenters here, and here. This would make automation in Pro/Map tremendously easier. ESRI, can you please add an "elementAnchor" property to the different layout elements.

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

RossVolkwein1 — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 17:38:21 GMT

+1 for this idea

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

JeffBarrette — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:10:54 GMT

Starting with Pro 2.5, this can be accomplished using Python CIM Access

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/mapping/python-cim-access.htm

Here is a simple snippet:

p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('current')
lyt = p.listLayouts()[0]
lyt_cim = lyt.getDefinition('V3')
for e in lyt_cim.elements:
if e.name == 'Rectangle':
print(elm.anchor)

###BottomLeftCorner

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy - Status changed to: Already Offered

JeffBarrette — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:06:42 GMT

Starting with Pro 2.5, this can be accomplished using Python CIM Access

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/mapping/python-cim-access.htm

Here is a simple snippet:

p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('current')
lyt = p.listLayouts()[0]
lyt_cim = lyt.getDefinition('V2') #for 2.x and '3.0' for 3x
for e in lyt_cim.elements:
if e.name == 'Rectangle':
print(elm.anchor)

###BottomLeftCorner

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

RossVolkwein1 — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:28:29 GMT

Cool! Thanks for the update.

I received an error saying I needed to use cim_version 'V2' but that seems to work okay.

Are you supposed to be able to set the anchor as well? It looks like it works, but the actual element properties in the layout don't seem to update.

Also, type, should be " print(e.anchor)"

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

JeffBarrette — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:06:04 GMT

@RossVolkwein1 Sorry about that. I'm using Pro 3.0. I'll update the script above.

Jeff

Re: Get and set layout element anchor points in ArcPy

AK20221130 — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 06:14:46 GMT

For anyone in the future wondering how to set the anchor point, heres a code snipped from the resources provided by esri (ArcGIS Pro 2.5 CIM Samples V1 - Overview)

p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject('current') lyt = p.listLayouts('GreatLakes')[0] lyt_cim = lyt.getDefinition("V2") #Get the layout's CIM definition #Iterate though all layout elements to find the PointText element for elm in lyt_cim.elements: if elm.name == "Point Text": txt = elm elm.anchor = 'CenterPoint' #Change anchor position lyt.setDefinition(lyt_cim) #Set the layout's CIM definition

The last line (12) is required for the anchor to change