Map Series (seemingly) randomly exporting PDF as multiple pages since update to 3.4.2

[HollyTorpey_LSA]

Hi all,

I haven't figured out the pattern yet, but a couple of us at my workplace have recently noticed that a map series will suddenly start exporting to PDF as individual files for each page after exporting as a single file previously. We all use the same export preset for exporting layouts, if that matters. When this happens and we go to the Map Series tab of the Export Layout pane, it is set to Multiple Pages rather than Single File even though Single File is the default and was the setting the last time the layout was exported. 

The workflow that produced the issue this morning was this:

1. Yesterday I exported a map series layout as a single file. After that I summarized the attribute table of a layer that was in the layout and exported that to CSV. Then I saved and closed the project.

2. Today I opened the project and opened the layout. I made edits to the attributes of two features in the same layer that I had summarized the night before. Then I selected my export preset from the Export Layout item in the Share ribbon, changed the output path (which had reverted to my default folder) and then checked the Map Series tab of the Export Layout pane. It was set to one of the Multiple Pages options.

After I changed it back to Single File and exported, I saved my project and reopened it to see if I could reproduce the issue, but it was still on Single File. So I'm at a loss as to what is triggering it to change to Multiple Pages, but it happened to me twice yesterday in two different projects where I re-exported a map series that had previously been exported as a single file, and it has happened to one of my co-workers last week as well. We export map series very regularly and we have never noticed this issue prior to last week.

Anyone else noticing this?

[RTPL_AU]

@HollyTorpey_LSA  I don't think the Single/Multiple option is saved in the project. 
I'm still on 3.3.2 - don't have the time to deal with some of the bugs mentioned for 3.4.x.

I double check the pages setting every time before I export pdfs - also not sure what triggers it but have had weird behaviour in this part of the export dialog.  I've had it in a state where it did not show the single file option at all but export the series to a single pdf..... Fixed after a restart. 

Something to check is if you've exported a map (not layout) recently. Because Pro sometimes goes back to the 'wrong' window (map instead of layout, etc) after completing a task in other dialog boxes such as GP or labelling,  you have to make sure any following task is applied to the correct window.

Bottom line, for me, is to just double check everything all the time as much as I can, and swallow the cost as I can't on-charge this inefficiency to clients.

[HollyTorpey_LSA]

All good points, but I still think something is actually wrong here. That's partly because this is a new issue, and partly because two of us have noticed that sometimes when this happens and we go to the Map Series tab of the Export Layout pane, the "single file" option is not even there. Only the two "multiple pages" options are available. If we go back to the ribbon and initiate the Export Layout process again, the setting is restored. One of our team members pointed out that for some image file types, "single file" is never an option, so it's almost like Pro is getting confused about what kind of file is being exported.

[TomBole]

Hi @HollyTorpey_LSA 

I can confirm the behavior you outline - when the Export pane is set for a non-PDF output type that supports map series but does not support a single file (ex: PNG) the Files setting is carried over to the PDF. Though it is a valid setting for PDF, Pro should not be changing this based on the setting for a different output type.

If this is an issue you want to monitor I would recommend contacting support. They can be contacted at https://support.esri.com/en/contact-tech-support. In the meantime, I'll take this to the team.  

Thanks for the feedback!

Tom

[HollyTorpey_LSA]

Thanks, @TomBole! 🙂 

[Orca654]

I have similar issues: the UI in the [Export Layout] -- [Map Series] tab acts as the export file type is an image, not the PDF (missing the "Single File" option in the [Files] dropdown list). After saving and re-opening my Project, the function returned to normal.