Summary
Provides the ability to remove a layer within a data frame in a map document (.mxd).
Discussion
RemoveLayer will remove a single layer or group layer from a specific data frame. If there is more than one layer that meets the criteria, then only the first layer will be removed unless the script iterates through each layer in a returned list.
Syntax
RemoveLayer (data_frame, remove_layer)
Code sample
The following script will remove all layers with the name Rivers from a map document.
import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Project\Project.mxd")
for df in arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd):
for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df):
if lyr.name.lower() == "rivers":
arcpy.mapping.RemoveLayer(df, lyr)
mxd.saveACopy(r"C:\Project\Project2.mxd")
del mxdThe following script will remove a layer from a data frame called County Maps based on it's name and data source because other layers exist within the data frame with the same name but different source.
import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Project\Project.mxd")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "County Maps")[0]
for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df):
if lyr.name.lower() == "lakes":
if lyr.dataSource == r"C:\Project\Data\Data.mdb\NE_Lakes":
arcpy.mapping.RemoveLayer(df, lyr)
mxd.saveACopy(r"C:\Project\Project2.mxd")
del mxd