topic Re: rename layers displayed on TOC in Python Questions

rename layers displayed on TOC

FugroSurvey_Ltd_ — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:27:11 GMT

I???m brand new to Python so I???m not sure if what I want to do is possible or not and I apologise for my lack of technical terms.

Basically I need to export a few files from ArcMap to CAD on a daily basis. As part of company procedures my CAD layers need to have a specific name which is different from the original GIS layer name. The problem is that the Export to CAD tool picks up the name displayed on the TOC to create levels' name in CAD.
Having said that what I'm looking for is to make a script to rename all the layers on my TOC. Is this possible?

I appreciate any help or pointers in the right direction.

Thanks

PT

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

MathewCoyle — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 19:16:12 GMT

I think you want to access the arcpy.mapping.Layer(layer).name property.
See here http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//00s300000008000000

Here's a more complete example.

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("current")
layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)

for lyr in layers:
    if lyr.name == "something to change":
        lyr.name = "changed name"

arcpy.RefreshTOC()

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Yaron_YosefCohen — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 13:57:13 GMT

how do it for 4 mxd's in one folder?

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

JakeSkinner — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 14:34:03 GMT

Hi Y.Y.C,

You can do this using the ListFiles function. Ex:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = r"C:\temp\python"

for mxdFile in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"):
    mxdPath = env.workspace + "\\" + mxdFile
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxdPath)  
    layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)  
      
    for lyr in layers:  
        if lyr.name == "something to change":  
            lyr.name = "changed name"  
      
    arcpy.RefreshTOC()

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Yaron_YosefCohen — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 06:17:28 GMT

thank's- it's worked!! how do i mark your answer as the right one?

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Yaron_YosefCohen — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 06:25:51 GMT

now,i have mxd's and each of them has 3 and more data frame. if I wan't to rename layer in a specific data frame with position in the TOC, for example in the first data frame, how to do it ?

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Yaron_YosefCohen — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 06:35:41 GMT

also i have this question Insert layer file to specific data frame

can you see it please?

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 10:28:22 GMT

Branch multiple questions into individual ones and close the this thread by marking "helpful" or "like" to those that helped

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 16:00:05 GMT

I put mxd.save() at the end of the script, to ensure keep the changing.

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 19:19:44 GMT

Is there a way to change the 'label' of the layerfile? The script above, changes the layer name. But i want to change the layer name. I'm refering to the name is written right after the symbol, in the TOC.

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:02:25 GMT

since you posted this question https://community.esri.com/message/673130-re-how-can-i-change-the-layer-label-in-toc-with-py you may want to delete your comment/question above. If geonet doesn't allow you to, I might be able to do it for you.

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:04:36 GMT

I changed your "discussion" to a "question" and marked Jake's answer as correct for you.

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:16:15 GMT

i'm just trying to get as many options as possible.

Re: rename layers displayed on TOC

Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 19:16:14 GMT

I figured how to do it. I just need to change it, the way i want one time, than save a .lyr from the correct information (it can also change symbology, and other stuff).

The script below, will apply the .lyr file to your layer in the TOC. You just must specify the name of the layer, like displayed in TOC.

It will do to all MXD files, in the same folder of the script.

import arcpy, os
from arcpy import env  
env.workspace = os.curdir

  
for mxdFile in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"):  
    mxdPath = env.workspace + "\\" + mxdFile  
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxdPath)    
    layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)    
        
    for lyr in layers:    
        if lyr.name == "layer_name_in_TOC": #change here
            print mxdPath
            symbologyLayer = r"D:\LayerFile.lyr" #change here
            arcpy.ApplySymbologyFromLayer_management (lyr, symbologyLayer) 

            arcpy.RefreshTOC()
            mxd.save()‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍