LayerFile

Summary

References a layer file (.lyr or .lyrx) stored on disk.

Discussion

Layer files authored with ArcGIS Desktop have a .lyr extension and layer files created with ArcGIS Pro have a .lyrx extension. There is a notable difference. Older .lyr files only store a single layer or a single group layer at the root level although a group layer can have multiple layers or group layers within it. Newer .lyrx files can store multiple layers and/or group layers at the root level. Therefore, a reference to a layer file will be a reference to a list of layers.

The ArcGIS Pro application can read legacy .lyr file types, but it can only save to .lyrx file types. If a .lyr file type is being referenced the save method will not work, you must use the saveACopy method instead.

For a more complete discussion on working with layers, refer to the Layer Class help topic.

Syntax

LayerFile(layer_file_path)

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
layer_file_path	A string that includes the full system path and file name of an existing layer file.	String

Return value

Data Type	Explanation
LayerFile	The LayerFile object provides access to all layers in a layer file and other basic layer management methods.

Code sample

LayerFile example

The following script references a layer file and inserts a single layer named Ranger Stations into a map above an existing layer named Points of Interest.

import arcpy
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(r"C:\Projects\YosemiteNP\Yosemite.aprx")
insertLyr = arcpy.mp.LayerFile(r"C:\Projects\YosemiteNP\LayerFiles\Ranger Stations.lyrx")
m = aprx.listMaps("Yosemite National Park")[0]
refLyr = m.listLayers("Points of Interest")[0]
m.insertLayer(refLyr, insertLyr, "BEFORE")
aprx.saveACopy(r"C:\Projects\YosemiteNP\Yosemite_updated.aprx")