Can Python geoprocessing be used to symbolise / reclassify data?

[JT2]

A colleague wants to know if Python can be used to resymbolise polygon datasets via the symbology -> quantities route. Eg change a classification from quantiles to jenks, or from 3 classes to 4. Can this type of batch job be done with Python?

Thanks

[markdenil]

Only, I believe, by first setting up and saving layer files whith the desired symbolization scheme.
Then you can use the 'updateLayer' method on the target layer to update the symbolization.

[JT2]

So it sounds like a job for ArcObjects? this is a shame as ArcObjects is not my forte, and will take 100x longer than Python...Thanks for your reply.

Can lyr files be manipulated in any way? IF they had an xml schema it would be easy to edit them programmatically I guess.