rename layers displayed on TOC

[FugroSurvey_Ltd_]

I???m brand new to Python so I???m not sure if what I want to do is possible or not and I apologise for my lack of technical terms.

Basically I need to export a few files from ArcMap to CAD on a daily basis. As part of company procedures my CAD layers need to have a specific name which is different from the original GIS layer name. The problem is that the Export to CAD tool picks up the name displayed on the TOC to create levels' name in CAD.
Having said that what I'm looking for is to make a script to rename all the layers on my TOC. Is this possible?

I appreciate any help or pointers in the right direction.

Thanks

PT

[MathewCoyle]

I think you want to access the arcpy.mapping.Layer(layer).name property.
See here http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//00s300000008000000

Here's a more complete example.

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("current")
layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)

for lyr in layers:
    if lyr.name == "something to change":
        lyr.name = "changed name"

arcpy.RefreshTOC()

[Yaron_YosefCohen]

how do it for 4 mxd's in one folder?

[JakeSkinner · Accepted solution]

Hi Y.Y.C,

You can do this using the ListFiles function.  Ex:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = r"C:\temp\python"

for mxdFile in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"):
    mxdPath = env.workspace + "\\" + mxdFile
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxdPath)  
    layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)  

    for lyr in layers:  
        if lyr.name == "something to change":  
            lyr.name = "changed name"  

    arcpy.RefreshTOC()

[Yaron_YosefCohen]

thank's- it's worked!! how do i mark your answer as the right one?

[RebeccaStrauch__GISP]

I changed your "discussion" to a "question" and marked Jake's answer as correct for you. 

[Yaron_YosefCohen]

now,i have mxd's and each of them has  3 and more data frame. if I wan't to rename layer  in  a specific data frame with position in the TOC, for example in the first data frame, how to do it ?

[Yaron_YosefCohen]

also i have this question Insert layer file to specific data frame

can you see it please?

[DanPatterson_Retired]

Branch multiple questions into individual ones and close the this thread by marking "helpful" or "like" to those that helped

[Raphael_Augusto_FoscariniFerre]

I put mxd.save() at the end of the script, to ensure keep the changing.