Deleting Picture Element using ArcPy in ArcGIS 10.3 Desktop?

Question

I'm trying to delete a Picture Element from 45 MXDs. This code is a start for me:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

env.workspace = r"G:\PROJECTS\landuse\gis"
for mxdname in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"):
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(
                r"G:\PROJECTS\landuse\gis\\" + mxdname)
    for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd,"PICTURE_ELEMENT"):
        if elm.name == "F:\GIS\practical_shapefile\notes\aer1_logo1.jpg":
            elm.sourceImage =r"F:\GIS\practical_shapefile\general\esd_logo1.jpg"
            mxd.save()
del mxd

I read:

• http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/10.3/analyze/arcpy-mapping/listlayoutelements.htm
• http://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/analyze/arcpy-mapping/pictureelement-class.htm

but didn't find any hint how to do it.

Answer 1

It appears you cannot add or remove picture elements using ArcPy. If it's acceptable you can use a work around and set the element height to 0.

pict = arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "PICTURE_ELEMENT")[0]
pict.elementHeight = 0

Here's a red bar picture element which disappears once I set its height to zero. It sounds like you're working outside the mxd but if not make sure you refresh the view to see the results.