topic Re: Move Layer in Python Questions

Move Layer

CCWeedcontrol — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:04:15 GMT

I am trying to move TOC layers with the following python code, seems simple enough. Basically i am trying to move TaxParcels1 layer above the Sections layer of my current mxd but i am not sure why i keep getting the error is it because my layers start with an upper case? Also do i have to save to a new mxd for the layer move to happen?

import arcpy

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Temp\Split MXD.mxd")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Layers")[0]
for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df):
    if lyr.name.lower() == "Taxparcels1":
        moveLayer = lyr
    if lyr.name.lower() == "Sections":
        refLayer = lyr
arcpy.mapping.MoveLayer(df, refLayer, moveLayer, "BEFORE")
#mxd.saveACopy(r"C:\Temp\Split MXD2.mxd")
del mxd‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Error

Runtime error 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 12, in <module>
  File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.4\arcpy\arcpy\utils.py", line 182, in fn_
    return fn(*args, **kw)
  File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.4\arcpy\arcpy\mapping.py", line 1677, in MoveLayer
    assert move_c is not None, 'Did not find move layer.'
AssertionError: Did not find move layer.‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: Move Layer

RandyBurton — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:04:17 GMT

Since you are making lyr.name all lower case, I would try:

if lyr.name.lower() == "taxparcels1":
# and
if lyr.name.lower() == "sections":‍‍‍‍

Re: Move Layer

CCWeedcontrol — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 22:42:45 GMT

I would have to rename my TOC layer to taxparcels1 & sections. Which i done, i didn't want to do that but that got me passed the error but nothing happened.

So that brings me to the other question, do i have to use mxd.saveACopy in order for the taxparcels1 layer to be on top of sections?

Re: Move Layer

DarrenWiens2 — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 22:46:38 GMT

I think you're thinking about this backwards:

if lyr.name.lower() == "Taxparcels1":

The layer you're inspecting is "lyr". It has a name, maybe "TaXpArCeLs1". The .lower() representation would be "taxparcels1". In any case, no lyr.name.lower() will ever equal "Taxparcels1" because it has an uppercase letter.

Re: Move Layer

RandyBurton — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:04:20 GMT

You should not have to rename your TOC layers. The "lyr.name.lower()" converts the layer name to lower case letters, and then it is compared to a specified lower case string.

If you want to save the changes you will need to use either:

# save the current mxd
mxd.save()

# or save a copy
mxd.saveACopy(r"C:\Temp\Split MXD2.mxd")‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍