topic Re: convert mxd to aprx problem in Python Questions

convert mxd to aprx problem

JinZ — Tue, 13 May 2025 21:32:55 GMT

I am trying to covert mxd to aprx using python scripts. Here is my code. however when open the new aprx, it's empty.

aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(blank_aprx_path)

# Import the MXD document
aprx.importDocument(file_path)

# Save a copy of the new APRX in the same folder
aprx.saveACopy(os.path.join(dirpath, f'{mxd_name}.aprx'))

here is the content of mxd.

please help.

Thanks very much

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

DanPatterson — Tue, 13 May 2025 22:00:33 GMT

code examples can be found here

ArcGISProject—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

It appears that some of your data can't be located, hence the red ! marks

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

JinZ — Wed, 14 May 2025 08:31:45 GMT

I tried to convert this mxd, still the result aprx is empty, the mxd use the sql geo databases, is it the reason?

Thanks!

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

DanPatterson — Wed, 14 May 2025 09:23:31 GMT

There is no one-to-one conversion, there are limits

Migrate existing work—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

TonyAlmeida — Wed, 14 May 2025 18:36:22 GMT

Here is something I've used in the past. Note, it will create an empty "Map", and you will have a map named whatever you had the Data frame named in the MXD. For example the Map frame in my mxd was named "Layers", so in the new .aprx I have a map named "Layers" and that is where the layers are.

import arcpy from pathlib import Path def convert_mxd_to_aprx(input_folder, template_path, output_folder=None): """ Converts MXD files to APRX format using a specified template APRX. """ input_folder = Path(input_folder).resolve() template_path = Path(template_path).resolve() # Validate paths if not input_folder.exists(): print(f"Error: Input folder does not exist: {input_folder}") return if not template_path.exists() or template_path.suffix.lower() != ".aprx": print(f"Error: Invalid template APRX file: {template_path}") return output_folder = Path(output_folder).resolve() if output_folder else input_folder output_folder.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True) print(f"\nSarting MXD to APRX conversion") print(f"put folder: {input_folder}") print(f"tput folder: {output_folder}") print(f"Tmplate APRX: {template_path}\n") for mxd_path in input_folder.rglob("*.mxd"): try: print(f"Cnverting: {mxd_path.name}") aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(str(template_path)) # Track original maps and layouts original_map_names = {m.name for m in aprx.listMaps()} original_layout_names = {l.name for l in aprx.listLayouts()} # Import MXD with layout aprx.importDocument(str(mxd_path), include_layout=True) # Detect new maps and layouts new_maps = [m for m in aprx.listMaps() if m.name not in original_map_names] new_layouts = [l for l in aprx.listLayouts() if l.name not in original_layout_names] if new_maps: imported_map = new_maps[0] layer_count = len(imported_map.listLayers()) print(f"ported map: {imported_map.name} ({layer_count} layers)") else: print(f"No new map found.") if new_layouts: imported_layout = new_layouts[0] mapframes = imported_layout.listElements("MAPFRAME_ELEMENT") print(f"ported layout: {imported_layout.name} ({len(mapframes)} map frame(s))") else: print(f"No new layout found.") # Save the converted APRX output_aprx_path = output_folder / mxd_path.with_suffix(".aprx").name aprx.saveACopy(str(output_aprx_path)) if output_aprx_path.exists(): print(f"Saved: {output_aprx_path}\n") else: print(f"Failed to save: {output_aprx_path}\n") except Exception as e: print(f"Error processing {mxd_path.name}: {e}\n") finally: if 'aprx' in locals(): del aprx print("All conversions complete.\n") # Example usage if __name__ == "__main__": convert_mxd_to_aprx( input_folder=r"C:\Temp\Test", template_path=r"C:\Temp\Test\MyNewProject.aprx", output_folder=r"C:\Temp\APRX_Output" )

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

JinZ — Mon, 19 May 2025 09:10:17 GMT

Thanks, just tried and not working for me. The converted aprx is still empty.

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

DanPatterson — Mon, 19 May 2025 09:31:34 GMT

Can you locate the missing data manually by adding it to a new project? If not, then the data location may be the issue.

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

JinZ — Mon, 19 May 2025 12:18:42 GMT

If I use Acgis Pro , Insert-->ImportMap, select the same mxd, all data loaded.

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

TonyAlmeida — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:40:44 GMT

After you run the script and when you first open the .aprx it will have an empty map. The script converts the arcmap map into a new map. You need check, under Catalog --> Project --> Maps, you should a another map--> this is your new map that was converted from Arcmap to Pro.

Re: convert mxd to aprx problem

JinZ — Mon, 19 May 2025 14:53:02 GMT

yes, it's there. Thanks!