I have hundreds of lyr files with a complex tree structure containing both layer groups and nested layers. What I would like to achieve is to grab each lyr files, iterate through every single layer (also within a layer group), change the data source and the name of the dataset it points to and most importantly change the support from ArcSDE (underlying sql server DB) to a gpkg file that already contains the tables which the lyr will point to.
I produced a lyr file with all layers pointing to the wanted gpkg file and table manually, it works fine; I used it as a template for the other lyr files I want to change, so that I only have to change the source with the replaceDataSource method.
def update_from_template(self):
# adds the template lyr to the temp mxd
source_main_lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer(self.template_lyr)
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(self.updt_df, source_main_lyr, "BOTTOM")
for upd_lyr in self.layers_list:
if not upd_lyr.isGroupLayer:
# keeps track of the original datasetname
datasetname = upd_lyr.datasetName
# tracks down the source lyr (pointing to SDE)
source_lyr = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(self.updt_mxd, upd_lyr.name, self.updt_df)
if len(source_lyr) > 0:
# change the source lyr properties to the same of the template (pointing to GEOPACKAGE)
arcpy.mapping.UpdateLayer(self.df, upd_lyr, source_lyr[0], False)
# changes the name of the source back to its original
newName = datasetname.replace("SDE_LIVE.DBO.GLOBAL_", "main.")
# I use SDE again here (there is no GEOPACKAGE OPTION) I tried also NONE but I get the same
# results
servProp = upd_lyr.replaceDataSource(self.repointed_GPKG_location, "SDE_WORKSPACE", newName, False)
upd_lyr.DataSource = servProp
But result of the lyr file are broken links, pointing to the old (template) dataset. I imagine what I am trying to do is not immediatly supported by ESRI but I was wondering there is anyone out there who had tried this, and maybe give advice. I am using ArcGIS desktop 10.4 and arcpy python 2.x but could update if required.
