topic Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python? in Python Questions

How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

Anneka_France — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 21:45:03 GMT

I'm trying to save all layers in my mxd as .lyr files using the script below. However, I'm getting an error because some layer names contain special characters (e.g. © : * ) and cannot be written into file names. How can I make sure special characters are ignored/replaced?

import os
basepath = r'C:\Users\Anneka\CaBA_Data_Phase_5\Layers'
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd):
if lyr.isGroupLayer == True:
grpPath = os.path.join(basepath, str(lyr))
if not os.path.exists(grpPath):
os.makedirs(grpPath)
else:
fn = os.path.join(basepath, str(lyr) + ".lyr")
lyr.saveACopy(fn)
print "Saved: " + fn

Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

JoeBorgione — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 06:35:05 GMT

Can't you just rename them in the table of contents sans the special characters? I did it and go this result:

import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd):  
    print lyr.name

'''' returns :    
Bonneville_Shoreline_Trail
RegionalTrails_1
Trails''''

''' name change'''
for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd):  
    print lyr.name
''' returns:
     
BonnevilleShorelineTrail  <- note name change
RegionalTrails_1
Trails
'''
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Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

Anneka_France — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 22:26:24 GMT

I'm hoping there is a way to edit the script so that it will ignore special characters when naming the new .lyr files. My mxd contains over 100 different layers so manually changing the layer names to remove any special characters would be extremely time consuming. Some symbols, like the copyright symbol, are also quite important so would only like them removed in the file name, not the layer name.

Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

JoshuaBixby — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 22:48:58 GMT

Take a look at ValidateTableName—ArcPy Functions | ArcGIS Desktop . If you don't pass a workspace, it will simply validate the name you pass it. By the way, the copyright symbol is valid, so it should not be throwing an error.

Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

Anneka_France — Wed, 01 May 2019 10:20:34 GMT

You are right, the problem wasn't with the file names. Problem is you can't have special characters in folder names so it's still throwing an error when it comes across a group with special characters...

Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

JoeBorgione — Wed, 01 May 2019 12:14:42 GMT

IMHO special characters are worse than under cooked hash browns. Here's another example of how they can spoil an oherwise perfect day https://community.esri.com/thread/232565-mystery-with-excel-files ....

Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 01 May 2019 12:42:40 GMT

Anneka…

/blogs/dan_patterson/2016/08/14/filenames-and-file-paths-in-python

especially in the world of python 3 and Unicode, many traps abound

Re: How to save layer files and ignore special characters using python?

JoshuaBixby — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 06:35:08 GMT

See if using this regular expression works for you (adapted from How to remove bad path characters in Python? - Stack Overflow 😞

>>> import re
>>>
>>> pattern = '[^:\\\ \w\-_\.]'
>>> bad_lyr_path = r"C:\tmp\esri©\layers,mxds\mylayer.lyr"
>>>
>>> print(re.sub(pattern, "_", bad_lyr_path))
C:\tmp\esri_\layers_mxds\mylayer.lyr
>>> ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍