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Scaling: Small, but large. :)

DannyLackey

So, I have a map I'm outputting to PDF based on specific bookmarks (that part is working fine), but I can't find the right method to make it produce the way I need. This is a detailed map with many points/labels. I need to be able to make these maps appear zoomed in, yet show the whole map. In other words, the map pdf will be enormous and I'd just have to zoom-in in order to read the text over the point. I've been messing with

.scale

but that doesn't seem to do what I need (unless I'm using it wrong). For example,

df.scale = 2000

shows the level of detail I need and individual points/labels are separated and clear, but is WAY too close on the map. If I zoom way down in ArcMAP, I can see all labels/points. That's what I want, just with high resolution to see everything at once when zoomed out.

I realize it will be pretty gnarly when zoomed way out - the points (and text within them) would all appear very small when zoomed out, but I need to be able to see the detail if I zoom in on the PDF.

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JoshuaChisholm

Maybe it's character spacing?
In ArcMap: Layer Properties > Labels tab> Symbol > Edit Symbol > Formatted Text tab > Character Spacing

DannyLackey

Nope, no overlapping labels selected. It looks any character longer than 1 and smashing together. The points with a label with 1 character look fine. Weird. Need a solution... Still researching.

JoshuaChisholm

Nice, map automation > static maps.

Do you have overlapping labels enabled on any of the layers that have overlapping text? Check here (using ArcMap):
Layer Properties (2x click target layer) > Labels tab > Placement Properties > Conflict Detection tab > Place overlapping labels

DannyLackey

Ok, tried manually changing the reference scale in ArcMAP and this IS what I need. I haven't really been understanding what reference scale did (I'm more familiar with scriping for ArcMAP than USING ArcMAP....weird I know). So, I've been playing with reference scale and I can get the icons/labels to shrink...but now there is a weird situation with the labels.

Here is the complete code I'm using:

import arcpy
import os
from arcpy import env

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"I:\GIS_Workspace\Output\test.mxd")
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Layers")[0]

lyrs=arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "*", df)

#Turn off "Sections" and "MGT" layers:
for lyr in lyrs:
    if lyr.name in ["GRP_SAV_1-0"]:
        lyr.visible=False

#Loop through layers (and bookmarks) to export PDFs
for lyr in lyrs:
    if lyr.name in ["Sections", "MGT"]:
        lyr.visible=True #Turn on layer
        for bkmk in [bkmk for bkmk in arcpy.mapping.ListBookmarks(mxd,"*",df) if bkmk.name in ["North","Middle"]]:
            df.extent = bkmk.extent
            df.referenceScale=1500
            outFile = r"I:\GIS_Workspace\Output\\" + bkmk.name + ".pdf"
            arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
            arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, outFile, df, picture_symbol="VECTORIZE_BITMAP",layers_attributes="LAYERS_AND_ATTRIBUTES")

Here is an example of what the labels are doing in the produced PDF...all smashed together. It's like only the labels are being scaled down:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31966[/ATTACH]

When I modify reference scale to 1:1000 within ArcMAP, it displays perfectly (within ArcMAP). Maybe I'm placing this line in the wrong spot?

PDF.jpg

Clip_265.jpg

JoshuaChisholm

The polygon areas themselves shouldn't shrink if you're altering the reference scale, but I don't think there is any way to change the reference scale for individual layers in your mxd.

If you're looking for a work around, you can try creating 2 or 3 sets of layer. Each set of layers could have different symbology and label settings for different scales. You can use you script to turn on/off these layer sets depending on the current scale of the map being exported.

DannyLackey

Is there a way I can alter the reference scale for only certain layers? Its as if I need to only shrink down the icons/labels and NOT the colored shapes.

JoshuaChisholm

If you're exporting your map from Arcmap, you have to manually change your reference scale:
Data Frame Properties > General tab > Reference Scale
(the script sets it to 1/4 of the scale)

As for the bookmark not exporting to right extent (using arcpy), I've had that issue before too. In my case it would export to the correct area, but the scale would be off (like 1:125,264 instead of 1:95,000). In other words it would be more zoomed in/out than I had specified in the bookmark. Let me know if you're having the same issue. Perhaps this is a bug....or we're both just missing a step.

DannyLackey

In the attached image (from arcmap) the focus area of the map is perfect (as saved in the bookmark), but points/labels too large. On the PDF output, the points/labels are good, but the focus area of the map is too large (larger than bookmark parameters). So, each attachment has elements that are correct - just have to get both aspects to output on my pdf. The screen shot jpg has the correct focus of the map, while the PDF has the correct icon/label size.

JoshuaChisholm

Hello Danny,

Your line df.extent = bkmk.extent should be setting up the right zoom/extent. It seems to be working on my end. I'm not sure I understand the problem correctly. Is the problem that the symbols are too large in the attached picture? Or is the problem that the map was exported as the data view only (and not the layout mode)?

Let me know, I think we're getting close!

DannyLackey

This is how the bookmark should come out (but with all labels/icons visible and smaller):
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31952[/ATTACH]

This is what's actually producing with the code provided:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31953[/ATTACH]

So, somehow I need to keep the focus of the bookmark, but make the icons/labels smaller.

North.pdf

This does work in terms of shrinking the points/labels down to what I need, but it also expands the view beyond the parameters of the bookmarks. Any way to force the bookmark parameters in terms of zoom level?

JoshuaChisholm

Have you tried something like this?

for bkmk in [bkmk for bkmk in arcpy.mapping.ListBookmarks(mxd,"*",df) if bkmk.name in ["North","Middle"]]:
    df.extent = bkmk.extent
    df.referenceScale=df.scale/4
    outFile = r"I:\GIS_Workspace\Output\\" + bkmk.name + ".pdf"
    arcpy.RefreshActiveView() #this line can often help
    arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, outFile, resolution=900,picture_symbol="VECTORIZE_BITMAP",layers_attributes="LAYERS_AND_ATTRIBUTES")

DannyLackey

Hello Danny,

I was playing with the reference scale (manually in ArcMap) and made these three maps (with made up data). Is this the kind of thing you're looking for?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31907[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31905[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31906[/ATTACH]

Yes! It's ok if they are tiny points when zoomed out. Although, in your last pic it looked like the points were changing size appearing closer together. That wouldn't be the case in a PDF, right? I would want them to stay separated when zoomed in as in your first 2 pics. I need the map they are on to stay in relation to the points as well. I want the labels/points to THINK it's a 1:1000, yet produce a zoomed out map (without jumbling the points/labels).

JoshuaChisholm

Hello Danny,

I was playing with the reference scale (manually in ArcMap) and made these three maps (with made up data). Is this the kind of thing you're looking for?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31907[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31905[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]31906[/ATTACH]

Map250KRef.jpg

MapNoRef.jpg

Map24KRef.jpg

data3.zip

Parse_Path_Example.jpg

Clip_270.jpg

DannyLackey

Hello Danny,

I don't know if I've done that before. Sounds interesting though. Maybe you could play with df.referenceScale.

Let me know if it works!

Tried. No dice. Might go back to the drawing board and ditch the bookmark reference. Might be hosing me. I liked that it already had the section in focus, just not to the right scale...

JoshuaChisholm

Hello Danny,

I don't know if I've done that before. Sounds interesting though. Maybe you could play with df.referenceScale.

Let me know if it works!

DannyLackey

Hello Danny,

I'd try playing with the export to pdf settings (see here). You should be able to make a really high resolution pdf and then be able to zoom in and look around (on the pdf). I'd also try using the layers_attributes setting so you can turn on and off layers in the pdf. The picture_symbol setting can keep your vector data as vectors in the pdf so you can theoretically zoom in infinitely!
arcpy.ExportToPDF(map_document, out_pdf,resolution=900,picture_symbol="VECTORIZE_BITMAP",layers_attributes="LAYERS_AND_ATTRIBUTES")
Let me know if that's what you're looking for!

Perhaps I'm implementing it wrong... Seems to still be missing the symbology data for the points and points all jumbled together. Here is what I used:

for bkmk in [bkmk for bkmk in arcpy.mapping.ListBookmarks(mxd,"*",df) if bkmk.name in ["North","Middle"]]:
    df.extent = bkmk.extent
    #df.scale *= 1.5
    #df.scale = 2000 # ex 12000 = 1:2,000
    outFile = r"I:\GIS_Workspace\Output\\" + bkmk.name + ".pdf"
    arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, outFile, resolution=900,picture_symbol="VECTORIZE_BITMAP",layers_attributes="LAYERS_AND_ATTRIBUTES")

The "LAYERS_AND_ATTRIBUTES" toggle is pretty cool. I didn't know PDF could handle layers. If it can also handle showing more data as you zoom in, I might not have to go this trouble.

What I'm trying to achieve is for all of the data to be present as if I'm zoomed in to say 1:1,500, freeze it that way, then zoom out to the extent I need. Could it be because I'm referencing a bookmark which has a predefined zoom?

JoshuaChisholm

Hello Danny,

I'd try playing with the export to pdf settings (see here). You should be able to make a really high resolution pdf and then be able to zoom in and look around (on the pdf). I'd also try using the layers_attributes setting so you can turn on and off layers in the pdf. The picture_symbol setting can keep your vector data as vectors in the pdf so you can theoretically zoom in infinitely!

arcpy.ExportToPDF(map_document, out_pdf,resolution=900,picture_symbol="VECTORIZE_BITMAP",layers_attributes="LAYERS_AND_ATTRIBUTES")

Let me know if that's what you're looking for!

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