Export Maps Based on Time Interval or Attribute

[LeeDavis1]

A time enabled map works similarly to data driven pages in that the view of the data frame changes based on an index (page or time). But there's no option to automatically export individual pages for each time step interval.

I would like the ability to set time enabled data and export individual pages for each time interval like data driven pages.

I was working on a project where I created a time phased build out of a large infrastructure project over 15 years and used the time slider to show the development. I had to export each year as a separate PDF manually. I then converted PDF to JPG and created a nice animation GIF. If I had 100 time intervals this wouldnt have worked at all. It would be great to have an extra option to export GIF file of animation in addition to AVI video.

This actually would be a feature add on for Data Driven Pages. It is simply the ability to add a common attribute to multiple layers and export individual pages based on that attribute. So that you can create and export variations of the data display from a single MXD. For instance if I have various different options for a powerline route.
 

[TomBole]

Hi @JonathanDandois 

Currently, you can utilize the date/time stored in a bookmark in order to create a Bookmark Map Series that sets the time for the map frame. You can use dynamic text to display the date/time. One caveat, you won't be able to set a page query on layers such as you can with Spatial Map Series.

This may not be the clean workflow/solution you're looking for, but it might help you get "most" of the job done in the meantime.

Hope this helps,

Tom

[JonathanDandois]

@TomBole Interesting, I will investigate that.

My current approach is just to use Spatial Map Series with a number of polygons with a "named" timestamp string, then use that for a page query.

So in a new polygon FC I just create a bunch of identical rectangles that match the map extent. I assign an MapSeriesOrder INT and then a MapSeriesTimeStep string that corresponds to the same new string in the time aware FC. So if the time aware FC has features with Start 2025/11/01 - End 2026/01/31, then the MapSeriesTimeStep in the time aware FC and the map series extent FC have the same value of 'November 2025 - February 2026' and then the Page Query can be applied to only reveal the features relevant for that time period based on the string.  Kind of breaks the time aware aspect, but it is workable.