I need to automate map creation using arcpy and pull specific fonts, styles, text alignment from a layer from an existing mxd. The existing mxd uses maplex. (I understand maplex is the new engine in 10.1, but I am on 10.0. Not sure if an upgrade would solve much of this. We have to do a lot of testing before we upgrade to 10.1, so I am wondering if it will help for this issue or not. )I am creating layers using arcpy with select by attribute method, then saving as .lyr file and adding this .lyr file to a fairly basic mxd template. Here are some things I have tried to apply layer styles.
I looked at this post http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/43240-Apply-symbology-labels-hatches-in-arcpy, but I don't understand how to change datasource on a layer. I'm not a GIS analyst, I am a programmer, so I'm just not understanding how to access or change the underlying data for a layer. (for example, the data that is the result of: select BOOK_PAGE like '12345%').
Applying only symbology is not enough, it does not bring over these items (ApplySymbologyFromLayer_management)
I do not see how to use LabelClass to do this. How do I align, bold etc?
UpdateLayer will update my new layer with all the font styles that I want from an exported layer from the original map. But, it essentially replaces my new layer with the exported layer that I am using as source, including a data source that I'm wanting to be dynamic.
Here is my code using UpdateLayer:# Setup database to work with
arcpy.env.workspace = "Database Connections/gis_inquire.sde/AS.Parcels"
# Create Feature Layer - all areas
base_layer = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("ASSESSORS.ParcelsWO")
# From Feature Layer, select by criteria
parcel_selection = arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(base_layer,"NEW_SELECTION","BOOK_PAGE LIKE '12345%'")
# Save parcels feature layer to disk as a .lyr file
arcpy.SaveToLayerFile_management(parcels_layer, "F:/Documents/Project Docs/GIS/ParcelLayer.lyr")
# Read existing mxd file (template)
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("F:/Documents/Project Docs/GIS/MAP_TEMPLATE.mxd")
# Get access to template's only data frame
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
# Read feature layers from disk
parcellayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(r"F:/Documents/Project Docs/GIS/ParcelLayer.lyr")
# Add my feature layers to existing template
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(df, parcellayer, "BOTTOM")
# apply known layer attributes to new layer (APN Markers and 1PT parcel border)
# ExportStyleLayer.lyr created from ArcMap existing map using "Save as Layer File..." - hoping to get font styles from here
updateLayer = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, parcellayer.name, df)[0]
sourceLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(r"F:/Documents/Project Docs/GIS/ExportStyleLayer.lyr") # a layer that represents look/labels etc that we want.
arcpy.mapping.UpdateLayer(df, updateLayer, sourceLayer, False) # OnlySymbology=False (want all attributes of the known layer)
# change datasource?
#updateLayer.replaceDataSource(?, ?, ?)Thanks.
