Adding new group layer with ArcPy?

Question

Does anyone now how to add a group layer with Python in ArcGIS Desktop 10?

I can use arcpy.mapping.AddLayer but surely this is only for an actual layer as opposed to a group layer.

so far I have this

import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
df = arcpy.mapping.listdataframes(mxd, "layers")[0]
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer

Answer 1

I do not think ArcPy provides anything to create group layer directly, but there is a simple workaround. You can create a .lyr file which contains a single empty group layer and add it to your map:

groupLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(r"EmptyGroupLayer.lyr")
arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(dataFrame, groupLayer, "BOTTOM")

Then you can use the AddLayerToGroup function to add another layers under your group layer.

Answer 2

Save an empty group layer as a .lyr file. Then you can use AddLayer to add it to your map and then add new layers from there.

Answer 3

For ArcGIS 10.2 and 10.3, you cannot add a Layer to that group. You should refer to the layer added in the TOC and not the one on the drive. Finish with the steps described in the following post : AddLayertoGroup

newlyrGr = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(df)[0]

Then, all works!

arcpy.mapping.AddLayerToGroup(df, newlyrGr, feat_layer)