idea Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Data driven pages layer control

AdamForknall — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 14:07:19 GMT

Data Driven Pages are great but they could be a whole lot better if a 'Layers' tab was added to the 'Set Up Data Driven Pages' dialogue which allowed configuration of layer visibility dependent on the page being displayed. The page would be selected by drop-down list, and layers turned on or off for that page via check boxes. Another check box could provide the ability top apply the layer display settings to all Data Driven Pages.
I guess something could be set up to do this based on fields in the layer attributes but that would probably be a bit too complicated for my liking.

Make sure you give this idea the thumbs up! 🙂

Re: Data driven pages layer control

AdamForknall — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:12:19 GMT

This is kind of like having a page definition query, but heaps better because it's not dependant on attributes!

Re: Data driven pages layer control

KirkHayer — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:44:05 GMT

This would be especial nice when using a differnt mask for page to highlight the data of interest.

Re: Data driven pages layer control

CameronWallace — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 00:18:53 GMT

You can sort of fake it with the page definition query...
If you're interested in a "Layer Driven Pages" tool that relies on layer attributes, I can upload the tool I built. It will turn on one layer at a time when cycling through a group layer (and each of those layers can be a group. To update text elements I built it to update a user-selected text element from each of the three layer attributes (name, description, credits). I typically use these fields to update: "Title, Notes, and Figure Number, respectively, but they can be set to anything.

I like the solution you propose, it's a bit more elegant. The version I built doesn't change location/extent... which would be nice to have as an option (although I'd probably end up using a page defintion for most of the applications at this point).

Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

MichaelGrieco — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:43:02 GMT

Request: Have Data Driven Pages actually produce a thematic map book.

As discussed in the Esri Desktop help:

From the Ersi ArcGIS Help 10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2

Thematic map book

A thematic map book is similar to a reference series, except that the detail pages show unique thematic maps of a single location.

The ability to display different unique themes (layers) covering a single location would be invaluable to display the results of a multi phase analysis. I have many clients that are tired of making a separate mxd for each theme.

Following is the clever solution supplied by Esri Support for my initial specific request:

import arcpy, os mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C; file location ") mxdDDP = mxd.dataDrivenPages for i in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd): if i in ["geology_geochem","glaciation","Precipitation Regime","geology_sed"]: i.visible = False arcpy.RefreshActiveView() for i in range(mxdDDP.pageCount + 1): mxdDDP.currentPageID = i name = mxdDDP.pageRow.getValue(mxdDDP.pageNameField.name) print name if name == 'GEO': for i in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd): if i.name == "geology_geochem": i.visible = True arcpy.RefreshActiveView() mxdDDP.exportToPDF(r"C:\temp\GEO.pdf", "CURRENT") i.visible = False arcpy.RefreshActiveView() if name == 'GEO_sed': for i in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd): if i.name == "geology_sed": i.visible = True arcpy.RefreshActiveView() mxdDDP.exportToPDF(r"C:\temp\GEO_sed.pdf", "CURRENT") i.visible = False arcpy.RefreshActiveView() if name == 'GLA': for i in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd): if i.name == "glaciation": i.visible = True arcpy.RefreshActiveView() mxdDDP.exportToPDF(r"C:\temp\GLA.pdf", "CURRENT") i.visible = False arcpy.RefreshActiveView() if name == 'PRE': for i in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd): if i.name == "Precipitation Regime": i.visible = True arcpy.RefreshActiveView() mxdDDP.exportToPDF(r"C:\temp\PRE.pdf", "CURRENT") i.visible = False arcpy.RefreshActiveView()

This solution is just a go-by as my actual need is to display 40 different themes over the same extent.

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

jcokin1 — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 19:12:18 GMT

This request is long overdue ever since ESRI introduced Data Driven Pages in ArcGIS 10 (released on 06/30/2010).

As of right now, the only other way that this can be accomplished is with a 3rd party extension from MapLogic.

http://www.maplogic.com

*Note to ESRI Moderator - Please add the "Petroleum" & "Natural Resources" tag to the idea as well.

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

PeterRussell — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 00:52:21 GMT

A nice option for this would be the ability to append all PDF's into one rather than having separate outputs

Adding MPS Atlas capabilities, like the ability to create multiple maps with one geographic extent, to Data Driven Pages

LauraBrent — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 14:00:32 GMT

I have used the MPS Atlas tool for years creating multiple maps (100's at a time) using one geographic extent, like the United States, but showing different data (like population, income, language preferences, country of origin) on each map. I had the ability to create my map and place all the elements where they need to go, and then 'unlink' the maps so I could turn on/off the different features I would like to show, with all of the maps in one mxd. Data Driven Pages doesn't allow for this capability. To create the maps that I want to, using Data Driven Pages, I'll have to create hundreds of mxds, which is time/space consuming.

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

JeffBarrette — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 18:15:52 GMT

In ArcGIS Pro, we have it in our plans to build a thematic map series function as part of the application but in the meantime, it can really only be done using arcpy.mapping (in ArcMap) or arcpy.mp (in Pro). I got this question several times at UC2019 and just recently got it again from a customer using ArcGIS Pro. So below is a very simple example that demonstrates the basic arcpy.mp mechanics (similar to the code above, this same thing can be done in ArcMap with slight modification). In both cases, you do need to modify the paths below.

I hope you find this useful,

Jeff

### This script is a very simple example of how to use arcpy.mp to create a
### thematic map series. The basic concept is to 1) control layer visibility
### between each export and 2) append the results into a single multi-page PDF.

### Understand there are many ways to manager layer visibility. One way is to
### have a series of group layers with a collection of layers you want displayed.
### A more advanced method is to manage a dictionary or text file that controls
### the layer visibility for each export.

### The example below is very basic. It first toggles off all layers
### except for the basemap. Next it creates a final PDF to store the pages.
### Next it toggles each layer on, exports to PDF, appends the results to the
### final PDF, and then removes the temporary file. It does this for each
### layer. At the very end, it uses the OS to open the final result.

import arcpy, os

#Reference Project, Layout, MapFrame, and Map
p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject(r"C:\Temp\GreatLakes\GreatLakes.aprx")
lyt = p.listLayouts('Layout')[0]
mf = lyt.listElements('MAPFRAME_ELEMENT', 'Map Frame')[0]
m = mf.map

#Turn off all layers in the map frame's map except the basemap
for lyr in m.listLayers():
if not lyr.isBasemapLayer:
lyr.visible = False

#Create final PDF (and remove if it already exists)
pdfPath = r"C:\Temp\GreatLakes\ThematicMapSeries.pdf"
if os.path.exists(pdfPath):
os.remove(pdfPath)
pdf = arcpy.mp.PDFDocumentCreate(pdfPath)

#Toggle each layer on, export, append the results, remove temp page
for lyr in m.listLayers():
if not lyr.isBasemapLayer:
print(lyr.name)
lyr.visible = True #toggle on
tempFile = os.path.join(r"C:\Temp", lyr.name + ".pdf")
lyt.exportToPDF(tempFile)
pdf.appendPages(tempFile)
os.remove(tempFile)
lyr.visible = False #toggle off (before next page)

#Commit the PDF and open
pdf.saveAndClose()
os.startfile(r"C:\Temp\GreatLakes\ThematicMapSeries.pdf")

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

MichaelMorgan4 — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 22:24:33 GMT

It looks like the dropdown menu for the Map Series tab in Layout Properties in Arc Pro is just dying for a Thematic option, just to keep Spatial company.

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

JeffBarrette — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 22:50:32 GMT

Hi Michael,

At 2.6 we will be introducing a Bookmark Map Series option. This will allow you to set the extents for each 'page' in the map series to a bookmark extent. Thematic map books are something we are strongly considering for a future release but for now arcpy.mp is really the only way to control the precise logic needed to generate each unique page in the series.

Jeff

Esri Layout and arcpy.mp teams.

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

MarcelSt-Germain — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 18:54:01 GMT

Hope this thematic map thing will allow multiple layout each one pointing to a specific page. For now it's time consuming to do so with map series.

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

KoryKramer — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 13:01:44 GMT

Adding a link here to the Thematic Map Series samples just shared for ArcGIS Pro http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=eba53351ceb84b58b505dec5272e526c

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

MarcelSt-Germain — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 14:57:56 GMT

Nice but still waiting for useful cartographic map series to make map. I think, Esri doesn't understand the needs.

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

KoryKramer — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 19:42:25 GMT

Hi Marcel,

Did you look at the Readme provided with the download? From the first paragraph of the Background, I think it is clear that the team does understand the needs, and was just touching on the surface of some of the complexities that will need to be addressed in order to design a user interface for this.

Background
A thematic map series is when the extent of the map doesn’t change but the layers displayed modified for each page in the map series. An example might be a residential site location where you want to display parcel information on one page, then fire districts, school districts, flood zone information, an so on, all on different pages. A thematic map series currently can’t be created in the ArcGIS Pro interface, but it can be done using Python map automation. A thematic map series can be more complex than just turning layers on and off before exporting a page and that is why a solution in the application interface isn’t available. In many cases, depending on the thematic page, layers may need to be displayed in a different order, or display different symbology, definition queries, and different scale thresholds might be applied to a layer as well. The layer specific logic can be automated in a Python script more easily than an application user interface that may not always satisfy all requirements. Esri hopes to build a basic user interface for thematic maps but there may always be a need to further customize it with Python.

That aside, the team created this recent sample in an effort to be helpful. I shared it on this thread with the same motivation. We hope that users seeking this functionality will be aided by the provided samples.

Thank you!

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book

MarcelSt-Germain — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 20:31:44 GMT

Maybe I'm not on the right path. Effectively, it's like I'm mistaken the thematic map functions.

For me, at least, I think the problem still there. No way to make maps like we need. Call it map series, datadriven pages or so, still no function to do it the way it should be to make maps. In a project we can have hundred layouts with one or more maps on each.

You can created annotations link to pages. Very nice feature introduces years ago to clean up annotation in adjacent pages. The problem that ESRI has not taken in context is that the datadriven pages or map series is for pages only, or I miss something.

I know ESRI have thought of datadriven or map series for one layout to many extent of one map only. What we need is very simple.

In a map workflow you can have more than one map in a page. Each one with his one name (ie map 1, map2, map 2-A etc on the page one). So, you can't make the layout on page 1 that is not the same on page 2 or 3 or...

What we need is a map series were in opening the page of a layout the map series of each of the map inside is activated. And so on for each of the layout with one or more map on it. For now, only one map is allowed (map series) by pages and when you change layout, pro do not remember (arcmap does) the update the mapseries.

Thematic (layer-based) map series functionality needed

KirstenHazler — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 14:19:53 GMT

Currently, map series only support an extent-based series, where the extent of each map in the series is based on a set of features in a feature layer, or on a set of bookmarks.

I frequently need to make maps all with the same exact extent, but displaying a different layer or theme in each one. For example, I might want to show the same feature class symbolized based on different attributes. Or I might want to show a series of different layers based on different feature classes entirely. As it is now, I have to make a separate map and layout for each theme. What a waste of time!

It would be great to make a single map with all the layers I want to show, and a map series layout that cycles through the layers I specify, while keeping the same basemap. The title of each map should also change to match the particular layer being displayed.

Thanks for considering this idea.

Re: Thematic (layer-based) map series functionality needed - Status changed to: In Product Plan

JeffBarrette — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 14:31:32 GMT

The Layout team does hope to implement this in the Pro application but not for a few releases. In the meantime, this was always possible using Python Map Automation. There is a python sample and detailed README at this location:

https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=eba53351ceb84b58b505dec5272e526c

Jeff - Layout and arcpy.mp teams

Re: Thematic (layer-based) map series functionality needed - Status changed to: In Product Plan

KirstenHazler — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 14:34:42 GMT

Thank you, Jeff!

Re: Data Driven Pages Thematic Map Book - Status changed to: Under Consideration

KoryKramer — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:34:28 GMT