Displaying Dynamic Layout Title using ArcPy for ArcGIS Pro?

Question

I have a large ArcPy script where 80 layouts (created from 1 template layout - "Layout_King") are created and exported into a PDF, but right now each layout has the same generic title so sometimes it is hard to know what data is being shown in the layout. This problem could be solved if the layout's title was Dynamic with the feature class that is being portrayed in the layout.

The following script is my first pass at achieving a layout title that would be "Dynamic" with a feature class' name:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import sys
import os

elm_name = "My Dynamic Title"
p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(r"C:\arcGIS_Shared\Python\CenterHeatMaps.aprx")
for lyt in p.listLayouts("Layout_King") [0]:
    for elm in lyt.listElements("TEXT_ELEMENT"):
        if elm.name==elm_name:
            text_elm=elm
            break

for m in p.listMaps():
    for lyr in m.listLayers("BCBS*"):
        new_title=lyr.name
        elm.text=new_title
        lyt.exportToPDF(r"C:\arcGIS_Shared\Exports" + "\\BCBS" + elm.name[13:] + 
        ".pdf")
        print(elm.name[13:])

However, when I tested the code I got the following error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 8, in <module>
TypeError: 'Layout' object is not iterable

What I'm doing wrong? Also, does it look like I'm at least on the right track with the code?

Answer 1

Yes, you can change any text element (title) within the layout, try something like this:

aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(r"C:\Temp\myProject.aprx")
for lyt in aprx.listLayouts():
    for elm in lyt.listElements("TEXT_ELEMENT"):
        if elm.name == "title": # this is the element name set via text properties      
            # add your layout feature class check logic
            elm.text = "New Title" # changing title name

This example has title text element has a nema property set which we use to find the element then you change the value using the text() method.

Answer 2

I was able to get the results I was looking for using the following code:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import sys
import os
import datetime
elm_name = "My Dynamic Title" # the name you assign to the title (TEXT) element
p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(r"C:\arcGIS_Shared\Python\CenterHeatMaps.aprx")
for lyt in p.listLayouts("Layout_King"): # get the element
    for elm in lyt.listElements("TEXT_ELEMENT"):
        if elm.name == elm_name:
            text_elm = elm
            break

for m in p.listMaps(): # loop through your layer / layouts / maps
    for lyr in m.listLayers("BCBS*"):
        new_title=lyr.name # do your logic with the layer
        elm.text=new_title
        lyt.exportToPDF(r"C:\arcGIS_Shared\Exports" + "\\BCBS_" + elm.name[13:] + ".pdf") # export the map
        print(elm.name[13:])