Layout and page setup

[JonPedder]

I???m using a script to allow the users to select from different map templates, the templates range in paper size from Letter to ansi D.

My script finds a chosen attribute and zooms the map to that location, then exports to map as a pdf. My problem is that the page/paper size doesn???t appear to change when switching to the target mxd.

I notice the same behavior when using the ???switch layout??? function in the Layout toolbar.

Any idea how to use the page and paper settings of my target MXD?

Thanks

[MathewCoyle]

The page size property of mxds are read only in arcpy. You would have to set these manually, or use ArcObjects.

[JonPedder]

I have the page size set manually on my target mxd.

I'm in an mxd, lets call it default.mxd which is set at size letter, I want to print a ansi C sized map and have a template for that on my HD. Template is called ansiC.mxd and is set.

I run a python script that selects the ansiC.mxd and exports it to a PDF. However the page size used appers to be from Default.mxd rather than the template ansiC.mxd

I just want to honor the settings in my template mxd

Thanks

[MathewCoyle]

What interaction is there between the two mxds?

[JeffBarrette]

If you call multiple MXDs and export, the export functions will use the settings saved in each MXD.  For example:

mxd1 = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("c:/path/largeSize.mxd")
arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd1, outputPath)
mxd2 = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("c:/path/smallSize.mxd")
arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd2, outputPath)

Will produce two different PDFs, each at different page sizes.

If you are using "CURRENT" and trying to load properties from other MXDs, that is NOT possible.  As suggested, pagesize and orientation can not be modified within an MXD.

Jeff

[JonPedder · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your help. I'm wondering if

from arcpy import env

Might be my issue, I'll run through it again.

Thanks again

Jon

UPDATE - Yup that was it!