idea Support creation of NEW layer files in arcpy in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Support creation of NEW layer files in arcpy

DouglasSands1 — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 23:09:30 GMT

Expand arcpy.mapping to allow for users to create new lyr files programatically.

This would be useful as a script developer trying to share scripts accross an organization without having to maintain large numbers of files. Rather than making sure users are pointing to the current script, and have access to directories where neccessary layers are stored, the ability to create layer files directly within a .pyt file would enable easier sharing and maintenence.

Re: Support creation of NEW layer files in arcpy

JasonScheirer — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 17:37:47 GMT

Already possible:

new_layer_name = "mynewlyr"
new_layer_file = r"c:\my_new_layer.lyr"
arcpy.management.MakeFeatureLayer(r"c:\my.shp", new_layer_name)
lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer(new_layer_name)
lyr.saveACopy(new_layer_file)
arcpy.management.Delete(new_layer_name)

You might want to have some .lyr sitting around with your desired symbology to apply to it, but this small code snippet will do what you want. Another idea is to have a .lyr with your symbology set and use replaceDataSource to point it to a new feature class, then saveACopy it.

Re: Support creation of NEW layer files in arcpy - Status changed to: Implemented

JeffBarrette — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 21:51:12 GMT

This has been hanging around for some time now but this has been possible for many releases with Layer.saveACopy().

Jeff - Layout and arcpy.mp teams