Hello - I've been trying to execute a small script from outside an ArcMap session - simply adding a layer and refreshing symbology, and nothing seems to work. The .mxd is open, and I am trying to add a newly layer and refresh the TOC by using this script from either another mxd document (as a tool), or just running it in the IDLE environment / CMD prompt. Is this not possible? The createLayerFile() creates the layer, but nothing is added or refreshed in the TOC.However, when I add the code to the python window of the map doc I want to edit, or run it as a tool from that same map doc, it runs fine. I'd like to be able to this without having to run it from that specific map document - so I can simply open the .mxd (os.startfile), add the layer I create, and update the symbology. Again, the tool works fine if I run it from the .mxd being edited, but I'd like to be able to do this without digging through the folder of maps I want to edit, and just open it using the script.I hope this makes sense ... Thank you!
def createLayerFile():
arcpy.AddMessage("Querying and updating layer file...")
qcMXD = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("C:\\Users\\kyanuk\\Desktop\\QCTest.mxd") #MXD WHERE DATA LYR IS CREATED
for lyrs in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(qcMXD):
if lyrs.name == "QC Issues":
QCI = lyrs
#rows = arcpy.SearchCursor(QCI, "QC_ID <> NULL OR QC_ID >= 90000")
qcSave = arcpy.SaveToLayerFile_management(QCI, "C:\\Users\\kyanuk\\Desktop\\shapes\\QC Issues.lyr")
arcpy.mapping.Layer("C:\\Users\\kyanuk\\Desktop\\shapes\\QC Issues.lyr")
arcpy.AddMessage("Adding layer to basemap...")
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(baseDF,arcpy.mapping.Layer("C:\\Users\\kyanuk\\Desktop\\shapes\\QC Issues.lyr")) #ADD NEW LAYER TO FOO.MXD
def updateTOC():
arcpy.AddMessage("Updating Table of Contents and map... ")
for row in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(baseMXD):
arcpy.AddMessage(row.name)
if row.name == "School" or row.name == "SDE_USER_PUBLIC_SCHOOLS_2008":
row.visible=False
if row.name == "New Castle County Collection Areas":
symLyr = row.name
row.visible=False
arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(baseMXD)[1].name = "New Castle County Collection Area"
colLyr = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(baseMXD)[1]
arcpy.ApplySymbologyFromLayer_management(colLyr, symLyr)
colLyr.visible=True
arcpy.RefreshupdateTOC()
arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
