Using arcpy to access Pro map layer metadata

[davedoesgis]

I am trying to access the metadata for a map layer in ArcGIS Pro via arcpy. When I have a map layer, all of its properties from the Pro metadata tab of the layer properties are null. Here is a screenshot of my Python editor when I look at the map layer object in debug mode: 

This is a layer that has its own metadata attached to the data source feature class. I copied the metadata to the layer, so it looks like the screenshot below, but I get the same result with null values. 

If I go to the feature class (in a file geodatabase), I do get values: 

>>> from arcpy import metadata as md
>>> tgt_item_md = md.Metadata(fc_path)
> tgt_item_md.isReadOnly
False
>>> tgt_item_md.title
'NOAA_WRC_Fish2015'
>>> tgt_item_md.description
'<DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>The base geospatial information is the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) [...etc...]'‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Can anyone tell me how to correctly read the metadata from the layer properties metadata tab? 

thanks!

[DanPatterson]

All I see is...

Metadata—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation 

the last code example

Get a Metadata object from a map layer.

pulling out the properties as needed.  So you can read from various start levels of info (project, map, layer) if you want.

[davedoesgis]

Unfortunately, that's the example I was following. The layer and metadata objects in the screenshot above from my IDE came from that code sample.

[DanPatterson]

Then just make a def out of what you need, so you can reuse it when you need it

[davedoesgis]

Dan Patterson‌, Joshua Bixby‌

I'm connecting to a Pro map layer that has metadata, but arcpy is returning all None values in the metadata properties. I'm not seeing how making a reusable def is going to help. 

I thought the screenshot from my IDE would help, but it looks like it's a distraction. Here is what I am doing. This is a map layer that has metadata defined. Assume in_project (path to aprx), map_name, and map_layer_name are strings defined above. 

aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(in_project)
map_out = aprx.listMaps(map_name)[0]
layers = map_out.listLayers()
for layer in layers:
    if layer.name == map_layer_name:
        map_layer_out = layer
map_layer_out
<arcpy._mp.Layer object at 0x000001D64CFCFC50>
layer_md = map_layer_out.metadata
layer_md
<arcpy.metadata.Metadata object at 0x000001D64CFC0438>
layer_md.title   # has no output
type(layer_md.title)
<class 'NoneType'>
layer_md.description   # has no output
type(layer_md.description)
<class 'NoneType'>
type(layer_md.tags)
<class 'NoneType'>
type(layer_md.summary)
<class 'NoneType'>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Shouldn't I be getting actual values there, like what I see in the Pro screenshot I posted? 

[JoshuaBixby]

Can you share a layer or layer package? 

I tried several different scenarios, and all of them work as expected with metadata.  I am using Pro 2.6.1, what version are you using?

[DanPatterson · Accepted solution]

https://community.esri.com/message/951861-re-issue-with-arcpy-metadata?commentID=951861#comment-9518... 

my recent post there.

I am using 2.6.1 

[davedoesgis]

I'm on 2.5, I think that bug must be it. Ugh. Waiting for my agency to approve a higher version. Thanks for the help!