mswkt = '''GEOCCS["WGS 72",DATUM["World_Geodetic_System_1972",SPHEROID["WGS 72",6378135,298.26,AUTHORITY["EPSG","7043"]],AUTHORITY["EPSG","6322"]],PRIMEM["Greenwich",0,AUTHORITY["EPSG","8901"]],UNIT["metre",1,AUTHORITY["EPSG","9001"]],AXIS["Geocentric X",OTHER],AXIS["Geocentric Y",OTHER],AXIS["Geocentric Z",NORTH],AUTHORITY["EPSG","4984"]]''' m = mapObj('') m.setWKTProjection(mswkt) lyr = layerObj(m) lyr.setWKTProjection(mswkt)