Formatting label styles using arcpy

Question

In ArcGIS 10.1, I have a shapefile/layer with labels displayed on a map. Can I modify any of the formatting of the labels using Arcpy? Either directly in code or by importing style from another layer or the style manager would be fine. Specifically I want to add a halo around the text.

I have tried using arcpy.mapping.UpdateLayer with a source layer that has the label style that I want, but the only options are to update everything (including changing the source data, which I don't want) and to change symbology only (which doesn't cover the label style). Any way around this? Or another solution?

Answer 1

i think StyleItem (arcpy.mapping) can help you to solve your problem. it is reference of ListLayoutElements function.

Summary

Provides access to StyleItem class properties.

from the arcgis help document:

import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Project\Project.mxd")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
lyrFile = arcpy.mapping.Layer(r"C:\Project\Data\Rivers.lyr")
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(df, lyrFile, "TOP")
styleItem = arcpy.mapping.ListStyleItems("USER_STYLE", "Legend Items", "NewDefaultLegendStyle")[0]
legend = arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "LEGEND_ELEMENT")[0]
legend.updateItem(lyrFile, styleItem)

del mxd

i hope it helps you...