ArcGIS Pro: map.MoveLayer not working as expected

lbd_bayern — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 08:36:35 GMT

Hi everyone.

I am trying to move a Group Layer (A) next to another Group Layer (B). B is the child of a third Group Layer (C). When I try to move the A next to B with the method map.MoveLayer, A is not placed on the same hierarchy level as B but on the same hierarchy level as C.

Intended result:

∟ B

∟ A

Actual result:

∟ B

To make this more concrete, please see my example code starting from an empty map. In the code, the respective Group Layers correspond to the following variable names:

A = group_layer_to_move_next_to_child_layer

B = child_group_layer

C = parent_group_layer

Here is my code:

##### SCRIPT VARIABLES TO ADJUST ##### PATH_LYRX_FILE = r'C:\Projects\ArcGISPro\Test_GroupLayer_below_GroupLayer6\all.lyrx' # TODO: adjust to your project ##### ACTUAL SCRIPT ##### current_project = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") map = current_project.activeMap lyrx_file = arcpy.mp.LayerFile(PATH_LYRX_FILE) # add parent_group_layer to the map parent_group_layer = map.addLayer(lyrx_file)[0] parent_group_layer.name = 'Parent_Group_Layer' # add child_group_layer to the map ... child_group_layer = map.addLayer(lyrx_file)[0] child_group_layer.name = 'Child_Group_Layer' # ... and move it below parent_group_layer map.addLayerToGroup(parent_group_layer, child_group_layer) map.removeLayer(child_group_layer) # add group_layer_to_move_next_to_child_layer to the map ... group_layer_to_move_next_to_child_layer = map.addLayer(lyrx_file)[0] group_layer_to_move_next_to_child_layer.name = 'Group_Layer_to_Move_Next_to_Child_Layer' # ... and try to move it next to child_group_layer map.moveLayer(child_group_layer, group_layer_to_move_next_to_child_layer, "AFTER")

So initially, my map and the table of contents are empty:

Then, my script adds C (or parent_group_layer) (line 10). Afterwards, B (or child_group_layer) is added (line 14) and moved below C (line 17-18). In the next step, A (or group_layer_to_move_next_to_child_layer) is added to the map (line 21).

The table of contents now looks as follows:

Finally, I want to move A next to B (line 24). However, A is not placed as child of C and on the same hierarchy level as B, but on the same hierarchy level as C:

My intended result would look as follows:

How can I achieve my goal by using the map.moveLayer method?

I am running my script in the ArcGIS Pro Python Window.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: map.MoveLayer not working as expected

AlfredBaldenweck — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 13:32:30 GMT

Try addLayerToGroup() instead?

From the documentation: The addLayerToGroup method is the only way to add a layer or collection of layers into an existing, empty group layer in a map.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: map.MoveLayer not working as expected

lbd_bayern — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 08:42:28 GMT

Hi @AlfredBaldenweck,

thanks for your reply, and good to know that this restriction is explicitly stated in the documentation. I was able to solve my problem with addLayerToGroup().

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ArcGIS Pro: map.MoveLayer not working as expected

Re: ArcGIS Pro: map.MoveLayer not working as expected

Re: ArcGIS Pro: map.MoveLayer not working as expected