ExecuteError: Failed to execute. Parameters are not valid. ERROR 000732: Layer Name or Table View: Dataset L does not exist

Question

I am trying to create a loop so that each layer is produced in its own map.

This is my code:

import arcpy
path = "C:\Users\Et\Documents\ArcGIS\Default.gdb"
mxd=arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(path +"\WinterGritting.mxd")
df=arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Layers")[0]
lyrList =arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd,"",df)[0].name
elements=arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements (mxd)
for eachlyr in lyrList:
 arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(eachlyr,'NEW_SELECTION')
 df.zoomToSelectedFeatures() 
 arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(eachlyr,'CLEAR_SELECTION')
 mxd.title=eachlyr.name
 arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
 arcpy.mapping.ExportToJPEG(mxd, path + "\Routes" + eachlyr.name + "jpg")
del mxd

The Error I get is:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:/Users/Et/Documents/Python", line 9, in arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(eachlyr,'NEW_SELECTION') File "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.2\arcpy\arcpy\management.py", line 6494, in SelectLayerByAttribute raise e ExecuteError: Failed to execute. Parameters are not valid. ERROR 000732: Layer Name or Table View: Dataset L does not exist or is not supported Failed to execute (SelectLayerByAttribute).

Answer 1

Here's a different way to do this by setting the dataframe equal to the current layer's extent. It a lot more simple. Also, you'd better check your path because it shows the MXD being inside the geodatabase.

import arcpy
import os
path = "C:\\Users\\Et\\Documents\\ArcGIS" #need to use two backslashes
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(os.path.join(path, "WinterGritting.mxd")) #use os.path.join
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Layers")[0]
layer_list = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df) #don't use indexing here
for layer in layer_list:
 layer_name = str(layer.name)
 for layer_check in layer_list: #turns on/off other layers
 if layer_check != layer:
 layer_check.visible = False
 layer.visible = True
 mxd.title = layer_name 
 layer_extent = layer.getExtent() #get the extent of the current layer
 df.extent = layer_extent #set the dataframe to the layer's extent
 arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
 arcpy.mapping.ExportToJPEG(mxd, os.path.join(path, "Routes", layer_name + ".jpg"))
del mxd

---

Updated for comment.

Add the names of whatever layers you don't want to turn off into the landbase list.

import arcpy
import os
path = "C:\\Users\\Et\\Documents\\ArcGIS" #need to use two backslashes
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(os.path.join(path, "WinterGritting.mxd")) #use os.path.join
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Layers")[0]
layer_list = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df) #don't use indexing here
landbase = ["Roads", "Lakes"] #add layer names you want always visible here
for layer in layer_list:
 layer_name = str(layer.name)
 if layer_name not in landbase:
 for layer_check in layer_list: #turns on/off other layers
 if layer_check != layer and layer_check.name not in landbase:
 layer_check.visible = False
 else:
 layer_check.visible = True
 mxd.title = layer_name
 layer_extent = layer.getExtent() #get the extent of the current layer
 df.extent = layer_extent #set the dataframe to the layer's extent
 arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
 arcpy.mapping.ExportToJPEG(mxd, os.path.join(path, "Routes", layer_name + ".jpg"))
del mxd

• Wiz Townley: Hi Thank you very much that is working perfectly now. I just have another query. How do i set a layer (e.g roads) to feature behind all my other layers instead of being produced as a single JPEG.
• ianbroad: @WizTownley I updated my answer.