Seeking Python script for creating .mxd files?

Question

I am new to both ArcGIS and Python. My requirement is to automate the below MANUAL process:

1. Creating a layer in ArcGIS for Desktop. To put it in another words, creating an ArcMap document (.mxd).
2. Publishing the created ArcMap document (in Step 1) as a service to ArcGIS Server.

Currently we are doing this manually. I have come across scripts to automate step 2 using Python.

How can I automate step 1 and step 2?

Answer 1

This isn't really a standalone answer, more of an addition to @PolyGeo's answer as it addresses the 'mxd creation from scratch' in python issue.

You can create MXD's from scratch in python if you access ArcObjects. You will need the comtypes package and if using ArcGIS 10.1, you need to make a small change to automation.py. See ArcObjects + comtypes at 10.1

Below is some code to create an MXD from scratch in python:

import arcpy
import comtypes,os

def CreateMXD(path):
    GetModule('esriCarto.olb')
    import comtypes.gen.esriCarto as esriCarto
    pMapDocument = CreateObject(esriCarto.MapDocument, esriCarto.IMapDocument)
    pMapDocument.New(path)
    pMapDocument.Save() #probably not required...

def GetLibPath():
    """ Get the ArcObjects library path

        It would be nice to just load the module directly instead of needing the path,
        they are registered after all... But I just don't know enough about COM to do this

    """
    compath=os.path.join(arcpy.GetInstallInfo()['InstallDir'],'com')
    return compath

def GetModule(sModuleName):
    """ Generate (if not already done) wrappers for COM modules
    """
    from comtypes.client import GetModule
    sLibPath = GetLibPath()
    GetModule(os.path.join(sLibPath,sModuleName))

def CreateObject(COMClass, COMInterface):
    """ Creates a new comtypes POINTER object where
        COMClass is the class to be instantiated,
        COMInterface is the interface to be assigned
    """
    ptr = comtypes.client.CreateObject(COMClass, interface=COMInterface)
    return ptr

if __name__=='__main__':
    #testing...
    arcpy.SetProduct('arcview')
    filepath='c:/temp/testing123.mxd'
    if os.path.exists(filepath):os.unlink(filepath)
    CreateMXD(filepath)

Answer 2

Sample code to Create a layer in ArcGIS for Desktop is on the Online Help for AddLayer (arcpy.mapping).

The steps for Publishing an ArcMap document as a service to ArcGIS for Server are in the Online Help for Publishing a map service with Python.

Note that it is not possible to create an MXD using ArcPy - you need to have an existing MXD to which you can add layers. That design decision is described in the Online Help on Guidelines for arcpy.mapping , but being able to create a new Map Document from nothing in ArcPy is an ArcGIS Idea that I would like to see implemented.

See @Luke's answer for an advanced Python and ArcObjects method that I have not tested but may provide you with a workaround for creating an MXD from a Python script that ArcPy can then go on to manipulate.