Remove a layer from TOC in my printed PDF?

Question

I am new at writing Python code so I'm just grasping the basics. I am trying to clip two shapefiles so that they are within the map boundaries. After that, I want to remove the unclipped layers and add the clipped layers to the TOC. Finally, print the map to a PDF. As of now, my clipping seems to work, but when the PDF is printed, the layers I do not want on the map are still visible.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

#Local Variables

RI_Schools = "E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\RhodeIsland.gdb\\RI_Schools"
RI_Sewers = "E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\RhodeIsland.gdb\\RI_Sewers"
Providence = "E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\RhodeIsland.gdb\\Providence"
Schools_shp = "E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Schools.shp"
Sewers_shp = "E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Sewers.shp"

#Process: Clip

arcpy.Clip_analysis(RI_Schools, Providence, Schools_shp, "")
arcpy.Clip_analysis(RI_Sewers, Providence, Sewers_shp, "")

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Providence.mxd")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]

newLayer1 = arcpy.mapping.Layer("E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Schools.shp")
print newLayer1
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(df, newLayer1)

newLayer2 = arcpy.mapping.Layer("E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Sewers.shp")
print newLayer2
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(df, newLayer2)

arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
arcpy.RefreshTOC()

#Remove RI_Schools and RI_Sewers from TOC

names = [RI_Schools, RI_Sewers]

df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Layers")[0]
layers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "*", df)

for layer in layers:
  if layer.name in names:
    layer.visible = False

arcpy.RefreshTOC()
arcpy.RefreshActiveView()

#Export to PDF

arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, ""E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Providence1.pdf")
del mxd

Answer 1

On first glance I would recommend that after toggling the layer visibility to False and refreshing...that you the save the mxd before exporting. Either use the save() method or the saveACopy method on the MapDocument object.

Consider also trying the RemoveLayer function as an alternative. You likely need to save after this operation as well before exporting. Notice how in both python examples on the Remove Layer page a copy of the mxd is saved before the script completes.

Answer 2

Per my comment.

You are looping through and checking the layer.name property against the file paths declared in your #local variables section and added to your names list.

The 2 options I can see to fix your code as-is are,

1. Wrap RI_Schools & RI_Sewers in quotes, e.g.
   

   names = ["RI_Schools", "RI_Sewers"] or

2. Use the layer.dataSource property (more info) suggested by @amarinel.

Answer 3

# save mxd and export to pdf

for df in arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd):
  mxd.activeView = df.name
  mxd.title = df.name
  mxd.saveACopy("E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Providence_1.mxd" + df.name + ".mxd")

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Providence_1.mxd" + df.name + ".mxd")
# I also tried this code
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Providence_1.mxdLayers")
# Layers is my df.name

arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, "E:\\Python Lab 2\\PythonInArcGIS\\Providence1.pdf")
del mxd