A Journey of Solving a GIS Automation Problem: from Google to Settle

1. A Land Cover Map Created in ArcGIS

ArcGIS Pro

2. Question: How to transfer the symbology to another software?

QGIS

3. Let’s ask Google.

3.1 Google Search 1: “arcgis pro export symbology”

• https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/arcgis-pro-quot-export-map-styles-quot-for-bulk/idi-p/937605

• https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/404262/how-to-save-symbol-to-style-for-layer-with-unique-values-style-in-arcgis-pro-2

3.2 Google Search 2: “save all symbols as a style arcgis pro”

• https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/2.7/help/mapping/layer-properties/save-symbols-in-styles.htm#:~:text=Click a symbol in the,open the Format Symbol pane.&text=in the upper right corner and click Save Symbol to Style.

• https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/404262/how-to-save-symbol-to-style-for-layer-with-unique-values-style-in-arcgis-pro-2

3.3 Google Search 3: “arcpy get rgb of symbology”

• https://community.esri.com/t5/python-questions/how-to-get-the-symbology-colors/td-p/475163

4. Solution: Access properties of symbology through arcpy.mp module

4.1 Develop the code

• Think of the end goal: i.e., a pandas DataFrame containing all classes in a symbology with associated color rgb values.

• What are the specific usage scenarios?

• What tools are available? arcpy.mp, pandas

• Establish a preliminary strategy (roadmap) to the final product.

• Continue researching to figure out the nuts and bolts.

4.2 Save for future use

• GitHub Gist

• Let’s talk about git.