topic How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD in Python Questions

How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

JoshJones9 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 20:23:13 GMT

I am using ArcGIS 10.5, and I need to frequently save MXDs as 10.4. It would be nice to be able to use this tool (How To: Save map documents in ArcGIS 10.x to previous version of ArcGIS in batch ) be able to batch process. I set up the script, but it does not work to save as 10.4. I can save as 10.3 and earlier, but it would be so much easier and cleaner if I was able to figure out whey this doesn't work for 10.4. It tells me that my MXD is originating as 10.4, but I even saved a brand new clean document in 10.5 and I get the same error:

Has anybody figured out how to use this tool to save 10.5 MXDs as 10.4 MXDs?

Thanks.

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

AbdullahAnter — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 20:58:30 GMT

Read the error you will find the answer.

Value Error: Invalid value for version u '10.4' ( choices are: [ '10.1' ,'10.0' , '8.3' , '10.3' , '9.0' ,'9.2 ' ,9.3'])

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

JoshJones9 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:01:57 GMT

That's not the answer. That may be the error, but that doesn't make sense. As I said, I am using a 10.5 MXD, not a 10.4.

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

AbdullahAnter — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:11:25 GMT

Did you notice that you are enter value not within the script. that cause the error.

7. Set the parameter for the Output Version and add an Input List for the different versions so that the newest version in the list matches the version of the software. Click Finish.
Note:Using the version '10.1' option from version 10 does not work. The function can only save to the current or previous versions.
Setup a Version List to Choose From
Double-click the Script tool to open and run it. Specify the input MXDs, output location, and output version. Click OK to run.
Open the Tool and Run It

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

JoshJones9 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:17:16 GMT

Again, I am using a 10.5 MXD. I am trying to save it as a 10.4. Even if this was a 10.4 documnt, i should still be able to save it as a 10.4. But, it's a 10.5 version.

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

AbdullahAnter — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:20:54 GMT

You can save the MXD as 10.3 and will open in 10.4 .

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

JoshJones9 — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:22:58 GMT

That's fine and I have already found that. i am wondering WHY 10.4 isn't working on ArcMap 10.5.

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

AbdullahAnter — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:34:43 GMT

10.4 isn't working on ArcMap 10.5.

that is not true .

the true is the script that you use does not include 10.4

I think you do not notice the you use script before ArcGIS 10.5 released.

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

JoshuaBixby — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:41:16 GMT

Why? It is a bug. I am still seeing it with 10.5.1. I say it is a bug because the GUI dialog box lists a 10.4 option, which strongly implies the geoprocessing tool should also support such an option.

Why does it matter whether you save it as 10.4 or 10.3? Is there some functionality that is getting lost when saved as 10.3 but not with 10.4?

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

MattWilkie3 — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 18:57:24 GMT

Bug still there in 10.6. A comment on GIS Stack Overflow says it's BUG-000103896:

Saving copy of 10.5 MXD to 10.4 using ArcPy at 10.5? - Geographic Information Systems Stack Exchange

I've given our Esri tech support rep a nudge to see what's going on with it.

Later: BUG-000103896 is Assigned and in the product plan. [...] You can use my.esri.com to follow the status of the bug.

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

MattWilkie3 — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 23:15:37 GMT

Here's an AutoHotKey script to make saving old versions with ArcMap slightly less painful:

Key sequence for ArcMap 10.6 to save copy of current map as 10.3 · GitHub

Re: How to save an ArcMap 10.5 MXD as a 10.4 MXD

MattWilkie3 — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 17:25:41 GMT

Updated to save as 10.4 instead, which was my actual goal to begin with. The earlier version of this saved as 10.3, which wasn't necessary because 10.3 is available from ArcPy. (Doh!) It's only versions 10.4 and 10.5 which are unavailable.