topic Re: Adding a shapefile to a blank .mxd in Arcpy in Mapping Questions

Adding a shapefile to a blank .mxd in Arcpy

johnrogers4 — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:37:27 GMT

How can you add several shapefiles to a blank .mxd using a script written with Arcpy? I've started with the code below. The code runs with no errors but the shapefile is not added to the blank .mxd. I'm not sure if you have to first convert the shapefiles to .lyr files? I am trying to run the script outside of ArcMap in command line window.

import arcpy from arcpy import env # get the map document mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT") # get the data frame df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd,"*")[0] # create a new layer newlayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(path_to_shapefile_or_feature_class) # add the layer to the map at the bottom of the TOC in data frame 0 arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(df, newlayer,"BOTTOM")

Re: Adding a shapefile to a blank .mxd in Arcpy

JakeSkinner — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:41:33 GMT

Hi John,

If you are running this code within ArcMap in the Python window, try adding the line:

arcpy.RefreshActiveView()

Re: Adding a shapefile to a blank .mxd in Arcpy

AravindatStoryMaps — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:45:19 GMT

Are you using (r'Path') or just ('Path) for "path_to_shapefile_or_feature_class"?

Re: Adding a shapefile to a blank .mxd in Arcpy

DarrenWiens2 — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 21:45:43 GMT

Your code runs fine for me, referencing a shapefile. It adds the layer to the TOC.

newlayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(r'C:\junk\points.shp')

Just make sure you're writing a proper Python path (like above).

Re: Adding a shapefile to a blank .mxd in Arcpy

johnrogers4 — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 22:14:17 GMT

I am trying to run the script outside of ArcMap in command line window.

Re: Adding a shapefile to a blank .mxd in Arcpy

DarrenWiens2 — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 22:37:08 GMT

In that case, I'm surprised that it knows what "CURRENT" is (not saying it can't be done, I've just never done it that way). Do you have better luck running MakeFeatureLayer?