topic Symbol Rotation not honored during arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF in Python Questions

Symbol Rotation not honored during arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF

Brian_McLeer — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:53:29 GMT

In several MXDs, I have symbology displayed based on a rotation field. In each MXD, I rotate the data frame based on the site plan. When I export to a PDF within ArcMap, the symbols stay rotated as they should.

I have already gone into ArcMap Advanced Settings Utility and checked off Rotate marker symbols with dataframe.

Sample when exporting to PDF from ArcMap:

When I use arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF, the PDF exports correctly, but it will not honor the rotation. I would like to use Python because I have several dozen MXDs that will be updated on a monthly basis.

Sample when using arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF

Sample Code:

import arcpy, os

folderPath = r"J:\GIS\PrePlans" 
for filename in os.listdir(folderPath): 
    fullpath = os.path.join(folderPath, filename) 
    if os.path.isfile(fullpath): 
        basename, extension = os.path.splitext(fullpath) 
        if extension.lower() == ".mxd": 
            mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(fullpath)
            mapPath = mxd.filePath
            fileName = os.path.basename(mapPath)
            print "Exporting " + fileName
            txtFile.write("Exported " + fileName +'\n')
            arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, basename + '.pdf')‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: Symbol Rotation not honored during arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF

JeffBarrette — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:40:37 GMT

Hello Brian,

I'm with the arcpy.mapping team. I was not able to reproduce your scenario.

What version of ArcMap are you using?

It would be best to open an incident with support services for tracking purposes but you are also welcome to send me data / exact steps to jbarrette@esri.com.

Thanks,

Jeff

Re: Symbol Rotation not honored during arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF

janrykr1 — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:53:31 GMT

Was this resolved?

I am having the same issue when exporting to .AI using arcpy on 10.4.1

I don't rotate the data frame but I have a few layers displayed using rotation field. When exporting through standard way (File>Export>...) everything works fine. But when I export using arcpy the symbols end up un-rotated.

MXD:

AI file:

The code I am using:

import arcpy, os

MapMainFolder = r"Z:\Workspace"  # topmost folder
AIoutLoc = r"J:\CURRENT PROJECTS"
for (root, dirs, files) in os.walk (MapMainFolder):
  for fileName in files:
    if os.path.splitext (fileName)[1] == ".mxd":
      arcpy.AddMessage (fileName)
      fullPath = os.path.join (root, fileName)
      mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument (fullPath)
      print fileName
      df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd, "Layers")[0]
      
#ungoup layers
      for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "*", df):
          depth = len(lyr.longName.split("\\"))
          if depth == 1:
              refLayer = lyr
          elif depth == 2:
              moveLayer = lyr
              arcpy.mapping.MoveLayer(df, refLayer, moveLayer, "BEFORE")

      arcpy.RefreshTOC()      
      
#export AI      
      ai = fileName.replace (".mxd",".ai")
      AIpath = os.path.join (AIoutLoc,ai)
      arcpy.AddMessage ("Exporting " + ai)
      arcpy.mapping.ExportToAI(mxd,AIpath,"PAGE_LAYOUT",0,0, resolution=300, image_quality="BEST", convert_markers="true")‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: Symbol Rotation not honored during arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF

Brian_McLeer — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 21:17:44 GMT

This was not resolved as our project decided to export PDFs manually instead of via Python. This is because the number of pages per each location relates to the number of stories at a building, which involves exporting PDF for floor 1, checking off floor 1 and checking on floor 2, exporting, so on.

Re: Symbol Rotation not honored during arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF

MartinEgger — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 07:55:29 GMT

You have to use 32-bit python when you execute the script. If you have installed 64-bit background geoprocessing then 64-bit python is used and rotation i not honored.

Re: Symbol Rotation not honored during arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF

Brian_McLeer — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 21:19:58 GMT

Thank you,

This seems to happen in other areas as well such as exporting TPKs via ArcPy and using Data Reviewer ArcPy functions.