Change definition query programmatically for all layers in mxd

[Tim.Cashman]

Hi,
I want to change the definition query on fcs (about 40) loaded to a mxd to be able to extract region specific data to ArcPad.
Ideally, the user would have a picklist of regions (4) otherwise the query could be hardwired.
I'm not fussed whether VB or Python.

Thanks for any clues.

9.3

Tim

[esrikmarten]

Option #1 - Hardwired Definition Query

Public Sub DefQUpdate_HardWired()

Dim pMxd As IMxDocument
Set pMxd = ThisDocument
Dim pMap As IMap
Set pMap = pMxd.FocusMap

Dim i As Integer
Dim pFlyr As IFeatureLayer, pFlyrDef As IFeatureLayerDefinition

For i = 0 To pMap.LayerCount - 0
    Set pFlyr = pMap.Layer(i)
    Set pFlyrDef = pFlyr
    pFlyrDef.DefinitionExpression = "REGION_FIELD = 'FieldValue'"
Next i

pMxd.ActiveView.Refresh

End Sub

Option #2 - User-defined

In the code below; you will need a common field in each layer, otherwise the definition query will be invalid and the layer will not draw.

1. From the Customize dialog create and add UIComboboxControl
2. Copy and Paste code sample into VBA Editor
3. Use ComboBox control to update the Definition Query for all Layers in the active map

Private Function MxDocument_OpenDocument() As Boolean
    'Populate Combobox
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "OBJECTID IS NOT NULL", 0
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "OBJECTID > 2", 1
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "OBJECTID > 4", 2
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "OBJECTID > 6", 3
End Function

Private Sub UIComboBoxControl1_SelectionChange(ByVal newIndex As Long)

Dim pMxd As IMxDocument
Dim pMap As IMap
Set pMxd = ThisDocument
Set pMap = pMxd.FocusMap

Dim pFlyr As IFeatureLayer, pFlyrDef As IFeatureLayerDefinition
Dim pDisplayExp As String

'Get Selected Definition Query from Combobox
pDisplayExp = UIComboBoxControl1.Item(newIndex)

Dim i As Integer
i = 0

'Iterate layers in map and set Definition Query
For i = 0 To pMap.LayerCount - 1
    Set pFlyr = pMap.Layer(i)
    Set pFlyrDef = pFlyr
    pFlyrDef.DefinitionExpression = pDisplayExp
Next i

pMxd.ActiveView.Refresh

End Sub

[Tim.Cashman]

Thanks Martin,
That works perfectly.

All of the fcs of interest are in the same gdb, so can I get an IF statement that only applies the definition query to fcs / layers in that gdb, allowing drawing of other non-related feature classes / layers?

Also, is there a way to have an alternate label in the combo box rather than the explicit query?
eg if the query is very long, the user does not want to scroll to the end to find the defining bits, but rather see a label that makes sense?

Thanks again

[esrikmarten]

This should do it.

There are limitations to this code sample; if you create a joined dataset in your map and then apply a definition query it will not work, you will need to fully qualify the field name in the definition query. In the sample you'll need to update the definition queries, the Geodatabase path, and replace the text in the combobox:

Private Function MxDocument_OpenDocument() As Boolean
    'Populate Combobox
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 1", 0
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 2", 1
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 3", 2
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 4", 3
    UIComboBoxControl1.EditText = "<Select Definition Query>"
End Function

Private Sub UIComboBoxControl1_SelectionChange(ByVal newIndex As Long)

Dim pMxd As IMxDocument
Dim pMap As IMap
Set pMxd = ThisDocument
Set pMap = pMxd.FocusMap

Dim pFlyr As IFeatureLayer, pFlyrDef As IFeatureLayerDefinition
Dim pDisplayExp As String

'Get Selected Definition Query from Combobox
pDisplayExp = UIComboBoxControl1.Item(newIndex)

Select Case pDisplayExp
    Case "Region 1"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID IS NOT NULL"
    Case "Region 2"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID > 2"
    Case "Region 3"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID > 4"
    Case "Region 4"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID > 6"
End Select

Dim i As Integer
i = 0

Dim pFC As IFeatureClass
Dim pDS As IDataset
Dim pGDBPath As String, pDSPath As String

pGDBPath = "C:\temp\TEST.gdb"

'Iterate layers in map and set Definition Query
For i = 0 To pMap.LayerCount - 1
    Set pFlyr = pMap.Layer(i)
    Set pFC = pFlyr.FeatureClass
    Set pDS = pFC
    pDSPath = pDS.Workspace.PathName
    If (pDSPath = pGDBPath) Then
        Set pFlyrDef = pFlyr
        pFlyrDef.DefinitionExpression = pDisplayExp
    End If
Next i

pMxd.ActiveView.Refresh

End Sub

Good luck,

Kent M.
esri

[Tim.Cashman]

Kent,

All works.

Thanks very much.

Tim

[agray7501]

This should do it.

There are limitations to this code sample; if you create a joined dataset in your map and then apply a definition query it will not work, you will need to fully qualify the field name in the definition query. In the sample you'll need to update the definition queries, the Geodatabase path, and replace the text in the combobox:

Private Function MxDocument_OpenDocument() As Boolean
    'Populate Combobox
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 1", 0
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 2", 1
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 3", 2
    UIComboBoxControl1.AddItem "Region 4", 3
    UIComboBoxControl1.EditText = "<Select Definition Query>"
End Function

Private Sub UIComboBoxControl1_SelectionChange(ByVal newIndex As Long)

Dim pMxd As IMxDocument
Dim pMap As IMap
Set pMxd = ThisDocument
Set pMap = pMxd.FocusMap

Dim pFlyr As IFeatureLayer, pFlyrDef As IFeatureLayerDefinition
Dim pDisplayExp As String

'Get Selected Definition Query from Combobox
pDisplayExp = UIComboBoxControl1.Item(newIndex)

Select Case pDisplayExp
    Case "Region 1"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID IS NOT NULL"
    Case "Region 2"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID > 2"
    Case "Region 3"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID > 4"
    Case "Region 4"
        pDisplayExp = "OBJECTID > 6"
End Select

Dim i As Integer
i = 0

Dim pFC As IFeatureClass
Dim pDS As IDataset
Dim pGDBPath As String, pDSPath As String

pGDBPath = "C:\temp\TEST.gdb"

'Iterate layers in map and set Definition Query
For i = 0 To pMap.LayerCount - 1
    Set pFlyr = pMap.Layer(i)
    Set pFC = pFlyr.FeatureClass
    Set pDS = pFC
    pDSPath = pDS.Workspace.PathName
    If (pDSPath = pGDBPath) Then
        Set pFlyrDef = pFlyr
        pFlyrDef.DefinitionExpression = pDisplayExp
    End If
Next i

pMxd.ActiveView.Refresh

End Sub

Good luck,

Kent M.
esri

Kent,

Good stuff!! I can't wait to give it a try..

One question though.. How would I modify the script to only change the definition for one layer and modify selection information based on a range of values found in a field?..
Guess, that was two questions in one..

Example.. I want to provide a tool to allow the user to only see properties that are between 0<5 acres, 5<=10 acres, etc...

Thanks,
Alex

[esrikmarten]

Alex,

I'm not entirely sure what you are asking.

You want code that allows you to change the definition query for a single layer?

If you can, please clarify. The code samples in this thread can be easily modified to work with a specific layer.

Kent M.
esri