topic Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase in Python Questions

Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase

JakeSkinner — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:14:38 GMT

Is it possible to change the data source of an MXD to another SDE geodatabase? I've tried this, but have only been able to get this to work when switching versions within the same SDE geodatabase. Ex:

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

env.overwriteOutput = True

mxdList = arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd")

for mxd in mxdList:
    mxd2 = workspace + "\\" + mxd
    mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd2)
    mapdoc.findAndReplaceWorkspacePaths(r"C:\TEMP\Python\VECTOR_Default.sde", r"C:\TEMP\Python\VECTOR_QAQC.sde")
    mapdoc.save()

del mapdoc

The above code works as I am switching from one version (SDE.Default) to another version (SDE.QAQC) within the same VECTOR geodatabase. When I try to switch to another SDE geodatabase that contains the same feature class (same owner and feature class name, just different database), it does not work. Ex:

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

env.overwriteOutput = True

mxdList = arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd")

for mxd in mxdList:
    mxd2 = workspace + "\\" + mxd
    mapdoc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd2)
    mapdoc.findAndReplaceWorkspacePaths(r"C:\TEMP\Python\VECTOR_Default.sde", r"C:\TEMP\Python\RASTER_Default.sde")
    mapdoc.save()

del mapdoc

Thanks for any suggestions!

Re: Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase

RuthEmerick — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:13:46 GMT

It sure is. I used replaceDataSource instead of findAndReplaceWorkspacePaths because it works better with group layers.

Attached is a copy of the script I used for all our mxds when we switched to ArcServer 10. It is meant to be run from the python interpreter in an open mxd, and does lots of extra things like copying files from one place to another that we needed so we could deploy this for non-techincal users. You can adapt this for a simpler case (we had a lot of name changes, too) and for looping through mxds in a specified folder; there is no need for the mxd to be open if the parameters are set correctly.

Have fun!

Re: Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase

JakeSkinner — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 20:50:01 GMT

Thanks, Ruth! The 'replaceDataSource' method was exactly what I needed. I was able to get this working with the following code:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy import mapping
env.workspace = workspace = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)

env.overwriteOutput = True

mxdList = arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd")

for mxd in mxdList:
    mxd = workspace + "\\" + mxd
    print mxd + " is being processed"
    mxd = mapping.MapDocument(mxd)
    for df in mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "*"):
        for lyr in mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "*", df):
            lyr.replaceDataSource(arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1), "SDE_WORKSPACE", "")
            print "Successfully updated data sources"
    mxd.save()

del mxd

Re: Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase

Lake_Worth_BeachAdmin — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 19:35:39 GMT

How do i find the path to the different versions in my SDE ? to use this method ( switch data sources from one version to another)

I only see the SDE name not the path for different versions?

Re: Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase

JakeSkinner — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 10:10:39 GMT

Joe Head‌ the version will be controlled through the .sde connection file. If you wan to connect to a different version, create a connection to your enterprise geodatabase > right-click on the connection > Geodatabase Connection Properties. Below is a helpful document:

Connect to a specific geodatabase version—Help | ArcGIS Desktop

Re: Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase

Lake_Worth_BeachAdmin — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:31:36 GMT

I understand how to do this with the GUI but I wanted to write a script to change all Layer Data sources within an MXD from Version 1 to version 2 within the same SDE.

Re: Change MXD data sources to another SDE geodatabase

JakeSkinner — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 21:38:30 GMT

Joe Head‌ once you create the .sde connection file to version 2 using the GUI, have the script point to this .sde connection file and you're all set. You can also create the .sde connection file using the Create Database Connection tool.