Refreshing display for newly added labels with ArcObjects from Python?

Question

I've added a shapefile to an MXD and Edited the symbolization of it with ArcObjects. Now I'm trying to edit the labeling with ArcObjects. I've successfully been able to edit the default class in the IAnnotateLayerPropertiesCollection2 object. I've also successfully added two more label classes to that collection object.

The default class that I edited is displaying correctly, but the extra two Label Classes aren't displaying after the script is run. When I manually open the properties of the layer and open the properties for each label class that I added and choose OK or Apply, then they show up. So I know that they are being added properly, but how do I get them to display through the script?

I've tried MxDoc.UpdateContets(), MxDoc.ActiveView.Refresh(), arcpy.RefreshActiveView() and none of them work for this.

I'm using Python to handle the ArcObjects, but if you know how to do it in VB or C#, I can interpolate it.

def ApplyLabels_arcobjects(layersource, pFLayer, pStyleGallery, carto):
 # If there are no labels in the custom symbology object
 if not layersource.symbology.labels:
 return
 # Get Annotation Properties Collection
 geofeaturelayer = Snippets.CType(pFLayer, carto.IGeoFeatureLayer)
 pAnnoPropColl = geofeaturelayer.AnnotationProperties
 pAnnoPropColl2 = Snippets.CType(pAnnoPropColl, carto.IAnnotateLayerPropertiesCollection2)
 # Loop through each label in the custom symbology object
 i = 0
 for labelsource in layersource.symbology.labels:
 print("This is label number {0}".format(i+1)) # TODO Remove, for debugging
 # Get the premade Label Style from the style file
 pStyleGallery.LoadStyle(labelsource.style_filename, labelsource.label_classname)
 gallerystyle = getLabelSymbol(labelsource, pStyleGallery, carto)
 pLabelStyle = Snippets.CType(gallerystyle, carto.ILabelStyle2)
 # If I can get a Annotation Property that is already there, great:
 if i <= pAnnoPropColl2.Count - 1:
 print("Editing the one already there") # TODO Remove, for debugging
 pAnnoLayerProp = pAnnoPropColl2.QueryItem(i)[0]
 # Class Name
 pAnnoLayerProp.Class = labelsource.name
 # Sql string for Where expression
 pAnnoLayerProp.WhereClause = labelsource.sql_string
 # Set Sympol and Placement Properties
 pLabelEngineProp = Snippets.CType(pAnnoLayerProp, carto.ILabelEngineLayerProperties2)
 pLabelEngineProp.Symbol = pLabelStyle.Symbol
 pLabelEngineProp.OverposterLayerProperties = pLabelStyle.OverposterLayerProperties
 # If I have to add an Annotation Property to the Collection, then:
 else:
 print("Adding new Label Engine")# TODO Remove, for debugging
 # New Label Engine
 pLabelEngineProp = Snippets.NewObj(carto.MaplexLabelEngineLayerProperties, carto.ILabelEngineLayerProperties2)
 # Apply Symbol
 pLabelEngineProp.Symbol = pLabelStyle.Symbol
 # Apply Placement Properties
 pLabelEngineProp.OverposterLayerProperties = pLabelStyle.OverposterLayerProperties
 # Cast
 pAnnoLayerProp = Snippets.CType(pLabelEngineProp, carto.IAnnotateLayerProperties)
 # Class Name
 pAnnoLayerProp.Class = labelsource.name
 # Sql string for Where expression
 pAnnoLayerProp.WhereClause = labelsource.sql_string
 # Display Annotation
 pAnnoLayerProp.DisplayAnnotation = True
 # Add it to the collection
 pAnnoPropColl2.Add(pAnnoLayerProp)
 # Turn on Annotation for the Map Layer
 geofeaturelayer.DisplayAnnotation = True
 i += 1

Answer 1

AnnotationProperties is a get/put property meaning a reference is not handed out. You need to set the collection back into the FeatureLayer after modifying it.

Answer 2

I've not done much with labelling with ArcObjects so this may not be relevant or you have tried it already? Have you tried setting IAnnotateLayerProperties.DisplayAnnotation Property?

• TSJ: Yes I have. I'll add my code too.
• Reza: I'm not familiar with Python but what I've done with ArcObject_C# is something like this:Write a class which implements IExtension interface,in this class use a varible for IActiveView and assign it properly.Then cast it to IActiveViewEvents_Event interface.Now you can overload the AfterDraw event or ItemAddes,ItemDeleted.In that overloaded event you can write your code to refresh map view.
• TSJ: You should make this an answer. I can't test it anymore but it sounds like it might work.

Answer 3

Try this ELSE statement:

else:
 print("Adding new Label Engine")# TODO Remove, for debugging
 # New Label Engine
 pLabelEngineProp = Snippets.NewObj(carto.MaplexLabelEngineLayerProperties, carto.ILabelEngineLayerProperties2)
 # Apply Symbol
 pLabelEngineProp.Symbol = pLabelStyle.Symbol
 # Apply Placement Properties
 pLabelEngineProp.OverposterLayerProperties = pLabelStyle.OverposterLayerProperties
 # Cast
 pAnnoLayerProp = Snippets.CType(pLabelEngineProp, carto.IAnnotateLayerProperties)
 # Class Name
 pAnnoLayerProp.Class = labelsource.name
 # Sql string for Where expression
 pAnnoLayerProp.WhereClause = labelsource.sql_string
 ((ILabelEngineLayerProperties2)pAnnoLayerProp).Expression = labelExpression;
 ((ILabelEngineLayerProperties2)pAnnoLayerProp).Symbol = pLabelStyle.Symbol;
 ((ILabelEngineLayerProperties2)pAnnoLayerProp).OverposterLayerProperties = pLabelStyle.OverposterLayerProperties;
 # Display Annotation
 pAnnoLayerProp.DisplayAnnotation = True
 # Clear existing labelling classes
 pAnnoPropColl2.Clear()
 # Add it to the collection
 pAnnoPropColl2.Add(pAnnoLayerProp)
 # Turn on Annotation for the Map Layer
 geofeaturelayer.DisplayAnnotation = True