topic Re: Create and populate group layers with feature classes in Python Questions

Create and populate group layers with feature classes

HusamAbuOqer — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 17:23:06 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to create a Python script that creates several group layers with specific names on a pre-created aprx file (GIS Pro) and then iterates through the folders and adds each feature class to its corresponding group layer.

I have several trials now and I am unable to create the group layers with specific names.

The main issue is that I am unable to add the feature classes even to a pre-created group layer.

Re: Create and populate group layers with feature classes

AlfredBaldenweck — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:53:43 GMT

So, I was working on this the other day and it was a massive pain.

Below is a snippet from a larger script of mine. Given a file gdb, it'll add all the contents to a group layer named after said gdb.

This other thing too is that I had an impossible time trying to get "AddFeatureLayer" or whatever it is to work. Like I could create a layer but I couldn't move it because ??????? (Seriously Esri why is this so hard?). My solution here is to use addDataFromPath(), which will add a layer to your map. Then I feed it into my group layer, which for some reason duplicates it, so I just remove the layer that isn't in the group layer afterwards.

mp = arcpy.mp.ArcProProject("CURRENT").activeMap out_ds = #path\to\your\gdb outName = #the basename of your gdb. This made sense in context. outGroup = mp.createGroupLayer(os.path.basename(outName)) arcpy.env.workspace = out_ds for fc in arcpy.ListFeatureClasses(): fcLay = mp.addDataFromPath(os.path.join(out_ds,fc)) mp.addLayerToGroup(outGroup, fcLay) mp.removeLayer(fcLay) for tb in arcpy.ListTables(): fcLay = mp.addDataFromPath(os.path.join(out_ds,tb)) mp.addTableToGroup(outGroup, fcLay) mp.removeTable(fcLay) for fd in arcpy.ListDatasets(): fdGroup = mp.createGroupLayer(fd, outGroup) arcpy.env.workspace = os.path.join(out_ds, fd) for fc in arcpy.ListFeatureClasses(): fcLay = mp.addDataFromPath(os.path.join(out_ds, fd, fc)) mp.addLayerToGroup(fdGroup, fcLay, "TOP") mp.removeLayer(fcLay) arcpy.env.workspace = out_ds

Re: Create and populate group layers with feature classes

HusamAbuOqer — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 19:11:16 GMT

It's a painful task to do!
Thank you so much, the first try worked to create a group layer and populate it.
I need to continue working on it as the code requires to create of multi-group layers and adding layers in different folders based on their names!

Re: Create and populate group layers with feature classes

AlfredBaldenweck — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 19:12:30 GMT

Yup! Check out the feature dataset section to see how to do that.