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Equivalent of df = mxd.activeDataFrame in ArcGIS Pro?

Question asked by mboeringa2010 on Apr 14, 2016
Latest reply on Jan 16, 2018 by mboeringa2010

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Hi everyone,

I have wondered if there is currently an equivalent of df = mxd.activeDataFrame in ArcGIS Pro? I can't find anything up to now. I would have expected something like aprx.activeMap, but that doesn't exist on the ArcGISProject object.

activeDataFrame is such a crucial tool in working with arcpy in ArcMap, that I am slightly stumped to see no obvious equivalent in Pro. Yes, you can use listMaps to get to the maps, but that doesn't tell you anything about which one is currently active / in front view.

Of course, with multiple possible maps and layouts, there may also be a layout "active", but there should be ways to deal with that. Maybe a more generic aprx.activeFrame? ... with some possibility to test what type it is.

Anyway, is there anything I missed?

KKramer-esristaff

Jan 16, 2018 7:30 AM

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Marco Boeringa Yes, looks like it is in 2.1

See the reply in context

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bixb0012

Apr 14, 2016 3:54 PM

A similar question was asked a few days ago, Calling "Current" layout name in Arcpy. The functionality you seek hasn't been implemented yet in arcpy.mp.

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mboeringa2010 Apr 15, 2016 10:27 AM

Thanks, that was what I was already afraid of. Hope ESRI will add something in a future version. Otherwise, all arcpy tools being upgraded from ArcMap, and using mxd.activeDataFrame, will likely need an additional "Map" parameter to allow user to set the appropriate map, as there is no real way from arcpy to get it.

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bixb0012

@ mboeringa2010 on Apr 15, 2016 10:44 AM

Of all the ArcPy-related changes between ArcMap/ArcCatalog and ArcGIS Pro, the Mapping module has the most ground to cover since it deals with the UI and that is completely different between the two products. There are still plenty of mapping and cartographic features, outside of ArcPy, that haven't made it into Pro yet.

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Dan_Patterson

Apr 15, 2016 11:07 AM

Marco What is ArcPy?—ArcPy Get Started | ArcGIS for Desktop is your best guide for now, they are going back old school (aprx etc and multiple layouts ... hmmmm sounds familiar) and moving functionality out of arccatalog back into arcmap and as pointed out, mp is the latest change, but other than providing a terminology comparison, esri hasn't provided an arcpy comparison matrix... a good task for someone with spare time

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mboeringa2010 Apr 15, 2016 11:25 AM

Dan, I know, I have read through these pages dozens of times in search for different types of functionality and code examples that I needed for the conversion I was working on. In fact, I have succeeded in making my ArcGIS Renderer for OpenStreetMap "future prove" by re-writing parts of the code to be both Python 2.7/.3x compatible, and ArcMap / ArcGIS Pro compatible. I now have one advanced toolbox that can run both in ArcMap and Pro. That was no small feat, because it required quite some minor and major adjustements, only part of which could be deducted or was documented in the Pro Help pages like Python migration for ArcGIS Pro—ArcPy Get Started | ArcGIS for Desktop

This is just one of those last minor hurdles or annoyances that I can live with, but it would be nice to see a better support in Pro. Like Joshua wrote, we probably just need to be a bit more patient for ESRI to catch up in Pro.

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Dan_Patterson

@ mboeringa2010 on Apr 15, 2016 11:46 AM

I liked the old object model that used to appear (not the arcobjects monster)... that would be a nice addititon

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mboeringa2010 Jan 15, 2018 9:59 AM

Does anyone know if Pro 2.1 will finally implement something like this? As far as I can see, the current Pro 2.0 Help still doesn't list any equivalent function to the mxd.activeDataFrame of ArcMap, so you never know which Pro map is actually the one being actively used by the user from arcpy perspective...

This is fuctionality that is highly desirable for arcpy development and certain workflows.

1 person found this helpful

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KKramer-esristaff

@ mboeringa2010 on Jan 16, 2018 7:30 AM

Marco Boeringa Yes, looks like it is in 2.1

2 people found this helpful

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mboeringa2010 @ KKramer-esristaff on Jan 16, 2018 10:03 AM

Thanks @Kory Kramer. This is great to hear and will be really useful for Python script development.

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9 Replies

bixb0012 Apr 14, 2016 3:54 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
A similar question was asked a few days ago, Calling "Current" layout name in Arcpy. The functionality you seek hasn't been implemented yet in arcpy.mp.
Like • Show 1 Like1
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mboeringa2010 Apr 15, 2016 10:27 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Thanks, that was what I was already afraid of. Hope ESRI will add something in a future version. Otherwise, all arcpy tools being upgraded from ArcMap, and using mxd.activeDataFrame, will likely need an additional "Map" parameter to allow user to set the appropriate map, as there is no real way from arcpy to get it.
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- bixb0012 @ mboeringa2010 on Apr 15, 2016 10:44 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Of all the ArcPy-related changes between ArcMap/ArcCatalog and ArcGIS Pro, the Mapping module has the most ground to cover since it deals with the UI and that is completely different between the two products. There are still plenty of mapping and cartographic features, outside of ArcPy, that haven't made it into Pro yet.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
Dan_Patterson Apr 15, 2016 11:07 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Marco What is ArcPy?—ArcPy Get Started | ArcGIS for Desktop is your best guide for now, they are going back old school (aprx etc and multiple layouts ... hmmmm sounds familiar) and moving functionality out of arccatalog back into arcmap and as pointed out, mp is the latest change, but other than providing a terminology comparison, esri hasn't provided an arcpy comparison matrix... a good task for someone with spare time
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
mboeringa2010 Apr 15, 2016 11:25 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Dan, I know, I have read through these pages dozens of times in search for different types of functionality and code examples that I needed for the conversion I was working on. In fact, I have succeeded in making my ArcGIS Renderer for OpenStreetMap "future prove" by re-writing parts of the code to be both Python 2.7/.3x compatible, and ArcMap / ArcGIS Pro compatible. I now have one advanced toolbox that can run both in ArcMap and Pro. That was no small feat, because it required quite some minor and major adjustements, only part of which could be deducted or was documented in the Pro Help pages like Python migration for ArcGIS Pro—ArcPy Get Started | ArcGIS for Desktop

This is just one of those last minor hurdles or annoyances that I can live with, but it would be nice to see a better support in Pro. Like Joshua wrote, we probably just need to be a bit more patient for ESRI to catch up in Pro.
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
- Dan_Patterson @ mboeringa2010 on Apr 15, 2016 11:46 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  I liked the old object model that used to appear (not the arcobjects monster)... that would be a nice addititon
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
mboeringa2010 Jan 15, 2018 9:59 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Does anyone know if Pro 2.1 will finally implement something like this? As far as I can see, the current Pro 2.0 Help still doesn't list any equivalent function to the mxd.activeDataFrame of ArcMap, so you never know which Pro map is actually the one being actively used by the user from arcpy perspective...

This is fuctionality that is highly desirable for arcpy development and certain workflows.
1 person found this helpful
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- KKramer-esristaff @ mboeringa2010 on Jan 16, 2018 7:30 AM
  Unmark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Marco Boeringa Yes, looks like it is in 2.1
  2 people found this helpful
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  - mboeringa2010 @ KKramer-esristaff on Jan 16, 2018 10:03 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Thanks @Kory Kramer. This is great to hear and will be really useful for Python script development.
    Like • Show 1 Like1
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Equivalent of df = mxd.activeDataFrame in ArcGIS Pro?

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