Adding all GIS Layers from a folder

[Ryan_Galbraith]

Anyone know how to create a looping statement that adds all the GIS layers from a folder?  Using arcpy.mapping.

Here is what I got:

arcpy.env.workspace = '#whatever the folder is'
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("Current")
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
for fc in fclist:
     .....#something to add to your feature classes

[Anonymous User]

Original User: jscheirer

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(fc, fc)

[JeffBarrette]

You are on the right track.  Check out the samples for MakeFeatureLayer.  Also check out arcpy.mapping.AddLayer.

Jeff

[Anonymous User]

Original User: rdg129

arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(fc, fc)

No, that, didn't work, the two fcs can't be the same.

[JasonScheirer]

The second one is the name of the layer in the TOC. If that's not working, something like this:

arcpy.env.workspace = '#whatever the folder is'
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("Current")
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
for i, fc in enumerate(fclist):
    arcpy.CreateFeatureLayer_management(fc, "layer_%i" % i)

[Anonymous User]

Original User: rdg129

That doesn't work either.  Not sure why not it always brings up an error.

[RichardFairhurst]

That doesn't work either.  Not sure why not it always brings up an error.

Perhaps a dumb question, but what are you actually putting in the first line to specify the workspace folder?  If the path is unspecified or invalid (such as incorrect slashes, which is common with path strings), that could be the source of the error.

arcpy.env.workspace = 'C:\\GIS_DATA\\' # or r 'C:\GIS_DATA\'
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("Current")
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
for i, fc in enumerate(fclist):
    arcpy.CreateFeatureLayer_management(fc, "layer_%i" % i)

[Anonymous User]

Original User: rdg129

I am using shapefiles, does that matter?

[RichardFairhurst]

I am using shapefiles, does that matter?

I think the problem is in the fact that the fc variable is a numeric value and not a feature class because it has been converted to an enumerated value.  The CreateFeatureLayer expects fc to be an actual feature class and not a number.  Separte the enumeration variable i from the fc variable.  Try the code below:

arcpy.env.workspace = 'C:\\GIS_DATA\\' # or r 'C:\GIS_DATA\'
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("Current")
fclist = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()
i = 0
for fc in fclist:
    i += 1
    arcpy.CreateFeatureLayer_management(fc, "layer_%i" % i)

[Anonymous User]

Original User: rdg129

GRRR.  Nothing is working.  thanks for all your help though.