topic Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python in Python Questions

How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

MattHowe — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 14:53:13 GMT

According to the ArcGIS Pro support pages, "You can add memory datasets to a map in ArcGIS Pro.".

I have a layer in the 'memory' workspace that I would like to add to my current active map. I've tried:

mem_lyr = r"memory\Test_Layer" aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") aprx_map = aprx.activeMap aprx_map.addDataFromPath(mem_lyr)

but get the below error. Is there a correct way to add layers in memory to the current map?

Traceback (most recent call last): File "<string>", line 1, in <module> File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\_mp.py", line 1862, in addDataFromPath return convertArcObjectToPythonObject(self._arc_object.addDataFromPath(*gp_fixargs((data_path,), True))) RuntimeError

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

JoshuaBixby — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 15:46:11 GMT

Most ArcPy functions and GP tools understand the "memory" and "in_memory" aliases, but not all of them. The addDataFromPath method of the ArcPy Map object does not understand or honor it.

I suggest changing your workflow to start with Make Feature Layer (Data Management)—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation and then use addLayer method of Map—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation.

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

MattHowe — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 20:17:52 GMT

Thanks Joshua. Unfortunately I get the same error. I'll contact Esri support.

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

JoeBorgione — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 23:25:51 GMT

@MattHowe ; can you tell us what version of arcgis pro you are using?

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

MattHowe — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 06:37:40 GMT

@JoeBorgione sure, I'm using 2.7.2

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

MatthewDriscoll — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:41:25 GMT

Still does not work in 2.9.3 - Copy Features works but not Make Feature Layer.

Code runs fine in 2.4.2.

Code runs fine in 2.9.3 when ran in the interactive widow. If fails when run in a Toolbox.

Tempcopy = arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(ParOrionLayer, "memory/tempParReg") arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(Tempcopy, "memory/tempO")

Traceback (most recent call last): File "<string>", line 91, in execute File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\__init__.py", line 1287, in Describe return gp.describe(value, data_type) File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 384, in describe self._gp.Describe(*gp_fixargs(args, True))) OSError: "memory/tempO" does not exist Failed to execute (PDFTool).

With addLayer

ParOTempcopy = arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(ParOrionLayer, "memory/tempParReg") ParOrion = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(ParOTempcopy, "memory/tempOrion") m.addLayer(ParOrion, "TOP")

File "<string>", line 85, in execute File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\utils.py", line 191, in fn_ return fn(*args, **kw) File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\_mp.py", line 1843, in addLayer return convertArcObjectToPythonObject(self._arc_object.addLayer(*gp_fixargs((add_layer_or_layerfile, add_position), True))) ValueError: memory/tempOrion

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

Anonymous User — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 01:15:21 GMT

Still seems to be a problem in ArcGIS Pro 3.0.2.

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

Anonymous User — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 21:27:27 GMT

I think I found the solution, at least for 3.0.2.

You have to make a feature layer, and then use the .getOutput() method on the results object to get the actual layer object. That can be added to a map. You still need to run the script from a toolbox inside of the map, since it's in memory, a standalone python script will add the layer to the map, but the connection to the data source will be broken.

If you look at the datatypes in the second screenshot you can see why it works.

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

MattHowe — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:01:41 GMT

Interesting, thanks @Anonymous User. I'll give that a shot.

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

MattHowe — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:38:03 GMT

@Anonymous User I can confirm this works. Thanks a lot and happy holidays when you get there!

Re: How do I add a layer in the 'memory' workspace to the current active map in ArcGIS Pro using Python

EricEagle — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 21:36:40 GMT

@Anonymous User Thanks for this! I ran into this same issue in a larger geoprocessing tool where I wanted to display rapid, ephemeral results and the IO expense really hurt user experience. Based on your solution I threw together a helper function that I reference in a bunch of scripts now:

def memory_to_active_map(self, memory_fc): active_map = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT").activeMap lyr_result = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management( memory_fc, arcpy.Describe(memory_fc).name) mem_lyr = lyr_result.getOutput(0) return active_map.addLayer(mem_lyr)[0]