inconsistent Arcpy.Mapping behaviour

[JoshuaChan]

I've written a script using Arcpy.mapping module to automate map making. It works as a one-off for use in ArcMap if I use the ArcToolbox to call the script. But if I call it from python (eclipse) I get weird error messages ("ExecuteError: ERROR 000358: Invalid expression") pointing towards the "Select by Layer" tool. But it executes fine if run from ArcToolbox, no errors... same script.

Part 2: I gave up running it from Eclipse and ran it from ArcToolbox within ArcMap. Now I'm trying to run a batch - multiple maps. It used to work until this morning. this morning I made the most minor of changes... to check to see if a variable.upper() == 'YES'

again, this works in the "one-off" scenario within ArcMap called from ArcToolbox. But I'm trying to run my batch script (also called by ArcToolbox) and I get that same query error as above. Why is that? it's the exact same script. I don't want to interactively run this script in ArcMap for all 350+ maps. Why is arcpy.mapping so flaky? Is there a way to fix this???

[JoshuaChan]

p.s. I've uploaded the most recent version of the batch script and the other one.

minor changes included checking for upper case value for a text variable, changing a UNC path to a drive letter mapping, and adding a bunch of Add Message to see where it's bombing.

search for "check 1" "check 2" etc and you'll see... it doesn't get to check 6.

[ThomasStanley-Jones]

I think "ListLayers" returns a list.  I'm assuming that you are only expecting one layer called "Dimensions" to be returned.  Try changing this:

arcpy.mapping.UpdateLayer(dFrame, upLyr, srcLyr, False)

to this:

arcpy.mapping.UpdateLayer(dFrame, upLyr[0], srcLyr, False)

[IanMurray]

yea, you are missing an 0 index on a listlayers by check 3

arcpy.AddMessage("check 3")

#upLyr = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(self.mxd, "Dimensions", dFrame)[0]

upLyr = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(self.mxd, "Dimensions", dFrame)

[JoshuaChan]

i've tried both 0 and not 0 (i've taken turns commenting out one or the other one)

same result... bombs before check 6

[JoshuaChan]

if I leave the [0] in there I just got an error saying "list index out of range".

But I do have a layer called "Dimensions" in my mxd... I just double checked

I decided to close out ArcMap - re open ArcMap and now the error message has reverted back to the

"

ERROR 000358: Invalid expression

Failed to execute (SelectLayerByAttribute).

"

very weird because other than re-activating the line upLyr = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(self.mxd, "Dimensions", dFrame)[0]

I didn't do anything different.   Seems so random.

[JoshuaChan]

I closed ArcMap again, re opened and now I'm back at the List Index out of range error for the updateLayer

[ToddUlery]

How come your using this OO formatted python script?

Seems like a few added steps, for what may seem to cut time.

[JoshuaChan]

@ToddUlery

the idea was to utilize python to be able to send a batch of maps - 350+

it included lots of customization like truncating text fields, creating text files where it was truncated, adding text if it meets certain conditions, filtering out a layer, zooming to it, etc. Not all of those functions are readily available in Data Driven Pages yet.

as for OO formatting I'm still learning this stuff. I was told that programming best practices in python (or anything else) was to use modules, classes, etc

[JoshuaChan]

P.S. is there a way to order these replies by date? it's pretty confusing... I don't know where my last addition to this thread went to now.