Error in Setting Extent using python

Question

Using ArcGIS 10.2.2 I am trying to set the extent in environment settings using arcpy.env.extent

My code is here:

for lyrVec in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df):
    if lyrVec.name == "Thresholds":
        desc = arcpy.Describe(lyrVec)
        lyrVecPath = desc.path + '\\' + str(lyrVec) + '.shp'
        fixedpath = os.path.normpath(lyrVecPath)
        arcpy.env.extent = lyrVecPath

Error message is thrown up:

RuntimeError: Object: Error in accessing environment

Answer 1

If you are trying to set the extent using a layer in your MXD you do not need to specify the path of the underlying feature class. arcpy.env.extent can be set to the actual layer.

>>> print arcpy.env.extent
None
>>> arcpy.env.extent = "testPoint"
>>> print arcpy.env.extent
1880391.189 5821879.3835 1885687.1515 5825657.3949 NaN NaN NaN NaN
>>> 

Try changing your code to find your layer and then set extent using that layer name.

for lyrVec in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df):
    if lyrVec.name == "Thresholds":
        arcpy.env.extent = lyrVec.name

If there is a reason you do need to specify your underlying shapefile, try the following

for lyrVec in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df):
    if lyrVec.name == "Thresholds":
        desc = arcpy.Describe(lyrVec)
        lyrVecPath = os.path.join(desc.path, "{0}.shp".format(lyrVec))
        arcpy.env.extent = lyrVecPath