topic Re: Automating layout extent fail on one map in Python Questions

Automating layout extent fail on one map

DominicRobergeIADOT — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 23:58:44 GMT

Hello,

I created a script that loop through 3 maps, update a definition query based on a parameter then change the extent of the layout and export the layout to PDF. It's "kind of working" however, every time I run the process ONE map (never the same) get stuck on the extent of the previous selection. Below is the code and the details info the process.

Weird thing is if I look in all 3 maps, the query definition has been updated...

import arcpy import os import sys from arcgis import GIS from datetime import datetime # Get today's date today = datetime.today() formatted_date = today.strftime("%m%d%Y") #******************************************************************************************** def GRMapExtent(MapName,LayerName,FieldNumber,FieldName, LayoutName): map_name = MapName arcpy.AddMessage(" " +map_name) layer_name = LayerName map_frame_name = 'Map Frame' # Access the map map_obj = aprx.listMaps(map_name)[0] # Get the layer layer = map_obj.listLayers(layer_name)[0] # Use arcpy.Describe to get extent desc = arcpy.Describe(layer) layer_extent = desc.extent count_result = arcpy.management.GetCount(layer) record_count = int(count_result[0]) arcpy.AddMessage(" number of records: " + str(record_count)) # Access the layout and map frame layout = aprx.listLayouts(LayoutName)[0] # or specify layout by name: aprx.listLayouts("LayoutName")[0] map_frame = layout.listElements("mapframe_element", map_frame_name)[0] cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(layer, ['SHAPE@',FieldNumber,FieldName]) arcpy.AddMessage("*****************") for c in cursor: arcpy.AddMessage(u' {0},{1}'.format(c[1],c[2])) strName = c[2] arcpy.AddMessage(" Final Name: " + str(strName)) extent = c[0].extent paddingFirst = extent.XMax-extent.XMin padding = (float(paddingFirst)/float(20)) new_extent=arcpy.Extent(extent.XMin-padding,extent.YMin-padding,extent.XMax+padding,extent.YMax+padding,None,None,None,None,extent.spatialReference) # Set the map frame extent to the layer extent map_frame.camera.setExtent(new_extent) arcpy.AddMessage(" " +"Mainframe extent done") GRLayoutTitle(SAGFieldNunber + " : "+strName+ " "+ l) arcpy.AddMessage(" " +"Title update") GRExportLayouttoPDF(template_name,strName,formatted_date) arcpy.AddMessage(" " +"Export to PDF done") #sys.exit(0) def GRLayoutTitle(TitleName): elm_name = "SAG Title" # the name you assign to the title (TEXT) element p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") for lyt in p.listLayouts(): # get the element for elm in lyt.listElements("TEXT_ELEMENT"): if elm.name == elm_name: elm.text = TitleName def GRExportLayouttoPDF(layoutName,FieldName, strDate): layout_name = layoutName # Name of the layout in your project output_folder= r"C:\GIS\OUTPUT_PDF" output_name = layoutName+"_"+FieldName+"_"+strDate+".pdf" layout = aprx.listLayouts(layout_name)[0] layout.exportToPDF(output_folder+"\\"+output_name, resolution=200) #******************************************************************************************** arcpy.AddMessage("Let's update the Definition queries") aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") LyrName = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0) FieldName = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1) name_field = 'SAG_FieldNumber' #'SAG_SiteName' SAGFieldNunber = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2) SAGFieldName = 'SAG_FieldName' listMaps = ['2021 Ortho','2023 Ortho','LIDAR'] for l in listMaps: arcpy.AddMessage(l + "-------------------------------------------") NewMapName = "SAG_Manure_Map_"+l template_name = "SAG_Manure_Layout_"+l newDefinitionQueryString = "SAG_FieldNumber = "+SAGFieldNunber arcpy.AddMessage(newDefinitionQueryString) m= aprx.listMaps(NewMapName)[0] arcpy.AddMessage(NewMapName) for lyr in m.listLayers(): arcpy.AddMessage(lyr.name) if lyr.name ==LyrName: arcpy.AddMessage("We found our layer to update") if lyr.supports('DefinitionQuery'): arcpy.AddMessage("here we go") # Updade Definition query dql = lyr.listDefinitionQueries() arcpy.AddMessage("original dql" + str(dql)) for dq in dql: arcpy.AddMessage("in dq") dq['sql'] = newDefinitionQueryString lyr.updateDefinitionQueries(dql) arcpy.AddMessage("revised dql" + str(dql)) count_result = arcpy.management.GetCount(lyr) record_count = int(count_result[0]) arcpy.AddMessage("number of records: " + str(record_count)) arcpy.AddMessage("Now let's change the extent of the map") GRMapExtent(NewMapName, LyrName,name_field,SAGFieldName,template_name) arcpy.AddMessage("------------------------") arcpy.AddMessage("Definition query updated")

This is the details from the proces

I looked at this for too long:(

Any help would be much appreciated

Re: Automating layout extent fail on one map

TonyAlmeida — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:05:50 GMT

Try adding a delay between operations. Also try adding a clear election before export.

def GRMapExtent(MapName, LayerName, FieldNumber, FieldName, LayoutName): map_name = MapName arcpy.AddMessage(" " + map_name) layer_name = LayerName map_frame_name = 'Map Frame' # Access the map map_obj = aprx.listMaps(map_name)[0] # Clear any existing selection for lyr in map_obj.listLayers(): if lyr.isFeatureLayer: lyr.setSelectionSet(None) # Get the layer layer = map_obj.listLayers(layer_name)[0] # Refresh the map and layout aprx.save() time.sleep(1) # Small delay

Re: Automating layout extent fail on one map

DominicRobergeIADOT — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:43:58 GMT

Thanks @TonyAlmeida but that didn't solved my issue. I also tried to create a function just for the query definition that didn't help either.

So I ended up splitting the code into 2 scripts: Step 1 create the query definition, Step2 update the layouts and PDF. Using a Mode Builder I can run both scripts at the same time and no issue.

I would love to get the code to run into 1 script but whatever works for now.

Thanks!

below was my revised code with the definition query function:

import arcpy import os import sys from arcgis import GIS from datetime import datetime # Get today's date today = datetime.today() formatted_date = today.strftime("%m%d%Y") #******************************************************************************************** def GRDefinitionQuery(MapName,LayerName,FieldNumber,LayoutName): newDefinitionQueryString = "SAG_FieldNumber = "+FieldNumber arcpy.AddMessage(newDefinitionQueryString) m= aprx.listMaps(MapName)[0] arcpy.AddMessage(MapName) for lyr in m.listLayers(): arcpy.AddMessage(lyr.name) if lyr.name ==LayerName: arcpy.AddMessage("We found our layer to update") if lyr.supports('DefinitionQuery'): arcpy.AddMessage("here we go") # Updade Definition query dql = lyr.listDefinitionQueries() arcpy.AddMessage("original dql" + str(dql)) for dq in dql: arcpy.AddMessage("in dq") dq['sql'] = newDefinitionQueryString lyr.updateDefinitionQueries(dql) arcpy.AddMessage("revised dql" + str(dql)) count_result = arcpy.management.GetCount(lyr) record_count = int(count_result[0]) arcpy.AddMessage("number of records: " + str(record_count)) break aprx.save() time.sleep(5) # Small delay def GRMapExtent(MapName,LayerName,FieldNumber,FieldName, LayoutName): map_name = MapName arcpy.AddMessage(" " +map_name) layer_name = LayerName map_frame_name = 'Map Frame' # Access the map map_obj = aprx.listMaps(map_name)[0] # Clear any existing selection for lyr in map_obj.listLayers(): if lyr.isFeatureLayer: lyr.setSelectionSet(None) # Get the layer layer = map_obj.listLayers(layer_name)[0] # Use arcpy.Describe to get extent desc = arcpy.Describe(layer) layer_extent = desc.extent count_result = arcpy.management.GetCount(layer) record_count = int(count_result[0]) arcpy.AddMessage(" number of records: " + str(record_count)) # Access the layout and map frame layout = aprx.listLayouts(LayoutName)[0] # or specify layout by name: aprx.listLayouts("LayoutName")[0] map_frame = layout.listElements("mapframe_element", map_frame_name)[0] cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(layer, ['SHAPE@',FieldNumber,FieldName]) arcpy.AddMessage("*****************") for c in cursor: arcpy.AddMessage(u' {0},{1}'.format(c[1],c[2])) strName = c[2] arcpy.AddMessage(" Final Name: " + str(strName)) extent = c[0].extent paddingFirst = extent.XMax-extent.XMin padding = (float(paddingFirst)/float(20)) new_extent=arcpy.Extent(extent.XMin-padding,extent.YMin-padding,extent.XMax+padding,extent.YMax+padding,None,None,None,None,extent.spatialReference) # Set the map frame extent to the layer extent map_frame.camera.setExtent(new_extent) arcpy.AddMessage(" " +"Mainframe extent done") GRLayoutTitle(SAGFieldNunber + " : "+strName+ " "+ l) arcpy.AddMessage(" " +"Title update") GRExportLayouttoPDF(template_name,strName,formatted_date) arcpy.AddMessage(" " +"Export to PDF done") #sys.exit(0) def GRLayoutTitle(TitleName): elm_name = "SAG Title" # the name you assign to the title (TEXT) element p = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") for lyt in p.listLayouts(): # get the element for elm in lyt.listElements("TEXT_ELEMENT"): if elm.name == elm_name: elm.text = TitleName def GRExportLayouttoPDF(layoutName,FieldName, strDate): layout_name = layoutName # Name of the layout in your project output_folder= r"C:\temp" output_name = layoutName+"_"+FieldName+"_"+strDate+".pdf" layout = aprx.listLayouts(layout_name)[0] layout.exportToPDF(output_folder+"\\"+output_name, resolution=150) #,jpeg_compression_quality=80, output_as_image=True,compress_vector_graphics=True #******************************************************************************************** arcpy.AddMessage("Let's update the Definition queries") aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT") LyrName = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0) FieldName = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1) name_field = 'SAG_FieldNumber' #'SAG_SiteName' SAGFieldNunber = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2) SAGFieldName = 'SAG_FieldName' listMaps = ['2021 Ortho','2023 Ortho','LIDAR'] for l in listMaps: arcpy.AddMessage(l + "-------------------------------------------") NewMapName = "SAG_Manure_Map_"+l template_name = "SAG_Manure_Layout_"+l arcpy.AddMessage("Now let's change the Query Definituon") GRDefinitionQuery(NewMapName,LyrName, SAGFieldNunber,template_name) arcpy.AddMessage("Now let's change the extent of the map") GRMapExtent(NewMapName, LyrName,name_field,SAGFieldName,template_name) arcpy.AddMessage("------------------------") arcpy.AddMessage("Definition query updated")

Re: Automating layout extent fail on one map

HaydenWelch — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:33:54 GMT

I like the programmatic solution you're coming up with here, I do think this might be more easily solved with a map series and page query though:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/layouts/page-queries.htm

If you can't use those, I can help clean up your flow a bit! I think you're iterating backwards, you probably want to iterate each feature in your main loop then update the maps and layouts