topic arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT") in Python Questions

arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

MichaelGartrell — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:17:51 GMT

MapDocument("CURRENT") returns an error "cannot open map document" if it is not run within an ArcMap session and I understand why. However, I need to be able to add a layer to the ArcMap TOC from outside the ArcMap application. How do I best approach that? Can it be done somehow from python outside an ArcMap session?

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "*")[0]
lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer(os.path.join(sPath,sFile))
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(df, lyr, "AUTO_ARRANGE")

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

JasonScheirer — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:27:12 GMT

Can't be done from Python.

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

JakeSkinner — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:52:12 GMT

You will just need to specify the path to mxd rather than "CURRENT":

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\data\Philadelphia.mxd")

After your code, be sure to save your mxd with:

mxd.save()

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

MichaelGartrell — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:58:25 GMT

Can't be done from Python.

OK, I half expected that. Any pointers to how it could be done?

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

JakeSkinner — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 04:28:50 GMT

Here is an example:

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

mxd = mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\temp\python\Airports.mxd")

for df in mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "*"):
    lyr = mapping.Layer(r"C:\temp\python\Airports.lyr")
    addLayer = mapping.AddLayer(df, lyr)

mxd.save()
del mxd

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

MichaelGartrell — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 04:28:53 GMT

Here is an example:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
...
mxd.save()
del mxd

Thanks JSkinn3 but that will modify an existing document, not the live, maybe unsaved document in a current session. I need a pointer on how to do that.

topic arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(&quot;CURRENT&quot;) in Python Questions

arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

Re: arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")

topic arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT") in Python Questions