topic Re: initializeParameters Error started at Pro 3.2.1 in Python Questions

initializeParameters Error started at Pro 3.2.1

danbecker — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:57:06 GMT

We have a python script wired to a toolbox that suddently started throwing the below error at 3.2.1. Pro 3.1.3 doesn't have any issues opening this tool in Pro, but 3.2.1 will not even open the tool for users to input parameters.

Anyone experience this, how to diagnose?

initializeParameters Error: UnicodeDecodeError: 'utf-8' codec can't decode byte 0x91 in position 8: invalid start byte

The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\david\QAP_Toolbox.tbx#CIPAutoQAPRound2.InitializeParameters.py", line 29, in <module>
File "C:\Users\david\QAP_Toolbox.tbx#CIPAutoQAPRound2.InitializeParameters.py", line 8, in __init__
File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\__init__.py", line 1603, in GetParameterInfo
return ParameterArray(gp.getParameterInfo(tool_name))
File "C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\Resources\ArcPy\arcpy\geoprocessing\_base.py", line 457, in getParameterInfo
self._gp.GetParameterInfo(*gp_fixargs(args, True)))
SystemError: <built-in method getparameterinfo of geoprocessing object object at 0x000001D11824C150> returned a result with an error set

Re: initializeParameters Error started at Pro 3.2.1

Sven_Harpering — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 16:03:50 GMT

Hey,

I have observed the same problem. I use the Validation Tool Class very intensively. Everything runs smoothly in ArcGIS Pro 3.1. As of 3.2 I get the same error as you. The error only disappears if I reset the Validation Tool Class to the default, i.e. I don't have my own code in it. Of course it doesn't make sense since I already need my code in there. I don't use a special character either.

I am also interested in a solution :).

Best

Sven

Re: initializeParameters Error started at Pro 3.2.1

HF_LBD — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 09:11:00 GMT

Hey,

We had the same problem with some of our custom python scripts in ArcGIS Pro 3.2.1. Looks like the parameters name (not the label) must not contain any special characters (we're german, so we used ä,ö,ü,ß before). Worked for us.

Best

Holger

Re: initializeParameters Error started at Pro 3.2.1

SeanT — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:52:06 GMT

Great tip, I found that in one of the tool's input parameters (a boolean in this case, not that it matters) Name had apostrophes and a dash like this: '-999' and once I retyped the '-' around the 999 it fixed the issue!

Re: initializeParameters Error started at Pro 3.2.1

mmarkovic — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:10:00 GMT

Works with removing special characters from parameters names, thanks @HF_LBD !

Re: initializeParameters Error started at Pro 3.2.1

Espen — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:05:31 GMT

Great tip!

Had the same problem, when updating to ArcGIS pro 3.4.2 and the error-code is not really helpful. Replaced "special characters" (ÆØÅ) from parameter labels and names, and now no problems.

Weird that these different program updates makes tools not function by removing the use of special characters, but lesson learned: the age-old-arcgis saying of "Never use spaces or special characters..."