Convert all .lyr in an .mxd into kmz using arcpy

Question

I wrote a simple script supposed to convert all layers in a mxd into kmz and it doesn't work. Kmz are being created but they're not what they should be.

import arcpy

arcpy.env.workspace = pathworkspace
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(pathmxd)

allLayers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)
for layer in allLayers:
    outputkmz = layer.name[:-4]+".kmz"
    arcpy.LayerToKML_conversion(layer,outputkmz)

If i try to open myself in ArcMap the kmz created by the script, I get this error message.

Some points are being displayed but in a strange way, like if they were aligned while it's not the case. If I open them with Google Earth, it just doesn't display anything.

Other information: - I'm using I'm using ArcMap 10.5.

• I'm using PythonWin

• If I try the script with a .mxd where there's only one layer in the ToC, it's working. As soon as I add another layer, it doesn't work anymore.

• If I try the conversion manually with the toolbox in ArcMap (convert layer to kml), it's working, so I guess it means the problem doesn't come from my .lyr files.

• Doesn't seem to be a problem of coordinates system

This question is related to my other (more global) question here: Convert Shp to KMZ displaying labels using arcpy?

Answer 1

To summarise:

1. A *.lyr can be considered to be an empty file containing the definitions of symbology for a shapefile / feature class or raster. This link explains it fully ESRI Explanation
2. You cannot directly add a kml or kmz file directly into ArcMap, you would need to convert it to a layer or shapefile.

I have looked over your code, and your needs and there are two potential solutions.

The First - Reading Directly from a Map Document (MXD)

Use this if you want to set up the symbology of the Feature first - in a MXD (as you want the KML to appear in Google Earth). The Python Script below takes all of the Features present on the map and converts them to KML / KMZ.

import arcpy

arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Temp\kmltest.mxd") #update with your mxd path
allLayer = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd)

for layers in allLayer:
    outputkmz = "C:/temp/" + layers.name[:-4] + ".kmz" #update with your path
    arcpy.LayerToKML_conversion(layers,outputkmz)
print 'complete'

I tested this with a number of different input layers with varying projection systems and they all loaded into Google Earth correctly, as expected.

The Second - Reading directly from a Folder

This is for when you want to convert all Features in a directory to KML / KMZ. It can be used in a situation where a folder is constantly being updated with new features / or features are continually being updated. I haven't tested this with features in a database.I took some inspiration from this code: Example

import os
import arcpy
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/temp/" #Update to your path
fclass = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()

for fc in fclass:
    fcout = os.path.splitext(fc)[0]
    arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(fc, fcout)
    arcpy.LayerToKML_conversion(fcout, fcout + '.kmz')
    print 'Completed conversion'

I have tested both sets of code and it works, both sets ran using features that were projected differently and some were even empty. From what we have discussed and how I have understood your issues, there is no reason why these wont work.

If these fail, then I would re-look at the input feature you are using on your side.