Shape files are not being adding to MXD using arcPy

Question

I want to add a shapefile to an mxd document using arcpy but it generates the following error when used by adding script in arctoolbox

import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
dataFrame = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "*")[0] 
addLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(r"D:/Data/input/Line.shp")
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(dataFrame, addLayer)

ERROR--------------

<type 'exceptions.ValueError'>: Object: CreateObject Layer invalid data source
Failed to execute (Script).

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

I tested your snippet (at least in ArcMap's interactive Python window) and got the same error until I changed the formatting of the string parameter to the Layer() method. Either single or double quotes work, but I had to use forward slashes, not backslashes, and no leading 'r'. Like:

addLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer('C:/path/to/shapefile.shp')

or

addLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer("C:/path/to/shapefile.shp")

Good luck!

Answer 2

You need add into argument of Layer class the "lyr_file_path". Layer() class accepts *.lyr file!

Can you try with layer (*.lyr) file?