topic Re: What's everyone using for Python reporting? in Python Questions

What's everyone using for Python reporting?

ZacharyHart — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 14:02:24 GMT

Starting a 'discussion' (rather than a specific 'question') seems like the best venue for my inquiry. I realize that many of you may have multiple reporting strategies and that other things like the output itself and audience would dictate or impact your choice for reporting.

I feel like I'm about to jump into ReportLab with all the talk of future integration into Pro. Some of my colleagues are more on the R side of things and use Shiny which seems light years more advanced than anything I've found for a python implementation (please, tell me I'm wrong! I want to hear about it). That said, Shiny might be overshooting the scope of what I need to accomplish.

My needs are mostly tabular outputs of acres/area categorizations but charts & graphs could become something the audience is interested in. Mostly, the product requirement is that the table be included directly on the map document. That creates some limitations & challenges right there. [One specific question I do have is: is there a way to output a Pandas dataframe directly into an ArcMap/Pro document? Having to export solely for the sake of having the ability to copy the content into ArcGIS is less than desirable (if not silly)].

So that's the context from my end. What are you all using? What's your output content requirement? Who's your audience?

Thanks!

Re: What's everyone using for Python reporting?

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 14:19:55 GMT

Shiny ==> web apps (pirates like shiny things)

ReportLab => pdf docs

not the same... where do you want your 'docs' to go?

I use neither of the above…

text? whatever to wordprocesser to pdf if needed
graphs, graphics?... many python packages including Matplotlib, to SnagIt or other graphics programs for postprocessing, then to the above
maps? rarely, but directly or indirectly to graphics
table into map? I don't and wouldn't
whatever to the web? I don't, reminds me of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch | The Ocean Cleanup

Re: What's everyone using for Python reporting?

ZacharyHart — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 14:39:31 GMT

Dan Patterson‌ To be clear: the folks I know are using Shiny to generate outputs directly into word docs.

I know that ReportLab directs outputs to PDF.

To reiterate: the requirements are generally that the table (example here) are included directly in the map document (exported as a PDF). These are often contractual documents so having the categorized acreage values on the map is a requirement.

Again, it is silly to me to have to generate a table, export it, only to have to copy & paste it back into the document but that's the required product and I don't currently see a way around it. [Pro Table Frames do not support the required categorization.].

My purpose here is to automate this task of report generation while enforcing a consistent format. We have a number of users generating this kind of content. Even if the user has to copy&paste the (pre-formatted) output and then manually resize to accommodate the various map elements (since record number, scale, and extent all vary) that is still a win.

Right now the ability to format Excel with Python appears to be too limited which is why I'm seeking reporting alternatives.