I am working on building a script to annotate one of our layers and am having some issues with it.
My main issue is it keeps defaulting to a reference scale of 1:24,000, however I need it to keep scale with the map which it is not doing. The reference scale changes, so I can't have a set reference scale, how do i fix this? I know it probably has to do with the Ensure map reference scale section, however I don't know how to fix it to use whatever the map is currently at.
Below is the script I am using.
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import arcpy
def Model():
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
Input_Map = "Map"
Stores_Sales_Label = "Stores - Sales Label"
Annotation_Group_Layer_Name = "Stores___Sales_LabelAnno"
print("Opening current project and map...")
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT")
current_map = aprx.listMaps(Input_Map)[0]
print(f"Current map: {current_map.name}")
default_gdb = aprx.defaultGeodatabase
print(f"Using default geodatabase: {default_gdb}")
# ---------------------------
# Ensure map has a reference scale
# ---------------------------
if not current_map.referenceScale or current_map.referenceScale == 0:
# Try to get current active view scale
active_view = current_map.defaultView
if active_view and hasattr(active_view, "camera"):
scale = active_view.camera.scale
if scale is None or str(scale) == 'nan':
scale = 24000 # fallback default
print("Active view scale is NaN. Using fallback scale 1:24000.")
current_map.referenceScale = int(scale)
aprx.save()
print(f"Map reference scale was missing. Set to current view scale: 1:{int(scale)}")
else:
# Fallback if no active view
current_map.referenceScale = 24000
aprx.save()
print("No active view. Map reference scale set to fallback 1:24000.")
conversion_scale = current_map.referenceScale
print(f"Using ACTIVE MAP reference scale: 1:{conversion_scale}")
# ---------------------------
# Get target layer
# ---------------------------
target_layers = [lyr for lyr in current_map.listLayers() if lyr.name == Stores_Sales_Label]
if not target_layers:
raise ValueError(f"Layer '{Stores_Sales_Label}' not found in map.")
label_layer = target_layers[0]
print(f"Found label layer: '{label_layer.name}'")
# ---------------------------
# Get feature layer under label layer
# ---------------------------
if hasattr(label_layer, "supportedLayers") and label_layer.supportedLayers:
source_feature_layer = label_layer.supportedLayers[0]
print(f"Using underlying feature layer: {source_feature_layer.name}")
extent_obj = arcpy.Describe(source_feature_layer).extent
else:
print("Label layer has no supported source layers. Using full map extent.")
extent_obj = current_map.defaultView.camera.getExtent()
print(f"Using extent: {extent_obj.XMin}, {extent_obj.YMin}, {extent_obj.XMax}, {extent_obj.YMax}")
# ---------------------------
# Remove old annotation group
# ---------------------------
for lyr in current_map.listLayers():
if lyr.isGroupLayer and lyr.name == Annotation_Group_Layer_Name:
current_map.removeLayer(lyr)
print(f"Removed existing annotation group: {Annotation_Group_Layer_Name}")
break
# ---------------------------
# Convert labels to annotation
# ---------------------------
print("Running ConvertLabelsToAnnotation...")
arcpy.cartography.ConvertLabelsToAnnotation(
input_map=current_map,
conversion_scale=conversion_scale,
output_geodatabase=default_gdb,
extent=extent_obj,
output_group_layer=Annotation_Group_Layer_Name,
which_layers="SINGLE_LAYER",
single_layer=label_layer
)
# ---------------------------
# Turn on annotation + zoom
# ---------------------------
anno_groups = [lyr for lyr in current_map.listLayers()
if lyr.isGroupLayer and lyr.name == Annotation_Group_Layer_Name]
if anno_groups:
anno_group = anno_groups[0]
anno_group.visible = True
print(f"Annotation group '{Annotation_Group_Layer_Name}' is now visible.")
try:
active_view = current_map.defaultView
anno_children = anno_group.listLayers()
if not anno_children:
print("No annotation layers inside group. Cannot zoom.")
else:
anno_feature_layer = anno_children[0]
anno_extent = arcpy.Describe(anno_feature_layer).extent
if active_view and hasattr(active_view, "camera"):
active_view.camera.setExtent(anno_extent)
print("Zoomed to new annotation extent.")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Could not zoom to annotation: {e}")
else:
print(f"Could not find annotation group '{Annotation_Group_Layer_Name}'.")
print("Annotation process completed successfully!")
# Run the model
Model()
