Latest Contributions by JeffBarrette

I agree that DDP is limited in terms of query capabilities (and other capabilities as well).  It was designed with a simple interface but it can be further extended via arcpy.mapping.  I have to disagree with the below statement that arcpy isn't far enough along.  For example, a page definition in arcpy.mapping is simply a layer's definition query.   See recent post on this topic: http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/67271 Some thoughts concerning this application idea. 1) One of the basic rules in setting up DDP is that each DDP index feature have a unique value.  In this case, the values are not unique so how does DDP know what feature to go to? 2) If the values are not unique then I don't think I would use that field.  I would probably use something like OID instead and then generate my own parcel parcer via arcpy.mapping.  For example,  I would build a script tool that displayed multiple field inputs (the first being required, and all the other being optional).  In this example, the first field would be parcel id.  If the value is 0, then I would use a second field to further isolate my selection (perhaps owner name), etc.  Using the scripting logic a query would be built against the database.  Based on the query, internally, I would return the proper OID and automagically set the DDP to match that OID. 2) All of #2 but do it in a Python addin rather than a script tool. To summarize, this becomes a very custom application which would never be a one-size-fits-all type of query in the out-of-the-box DDP.  This is partially why arcpy.mapping was made avaiable (I say partially because it can do a whole lot of other stuff too). Jeff PS - ok, ok, I know some of you are going to flame me for this response.  🙂 ... View more

Redirecting the active MXD app is not possible with arcpy.mapping.  It was not designed to do this.  Its purpose was to connect to existing, pre-authored MXDs.  For similar reasons, you can't change page size, orientation, etc. Jeff ... View more

Could you send me a map package, so I can give it a try?  Include the script and the layer file. [email protected] Jeff ... View more

I'd like to learn more about your workflow.  Would it be possible to include screenshots? The layer that you are using as your source layer must have the correct classification method.  You are not able to change classification methods using arcpy.mapping.  Reclassify essentially refreshes the layer against the source data (this is especially useful when using UpdateLayer).  If your classification methods are different I would expect things to get "clobbered".  You can always programatically control the breaks, labels, etc using arcpy.mapping. Again, it would be nice to see more of what you are trying to do. Jeff ... View more

Yes, it will update the data source. Jeff ... View more

Here are two friendly forum post reminders: 1) this new question should be a new thread.  Try not to ask new questions within a thread because it makes it difficult for other users to search and learn from. 2) don't address the questions directly to a single person.  They are for the community to read and respond to.  Granted I do check this forum every day but I am allowed to take time off.  🙂 Concerning your new issue.  It could be that you have raster layers/graphics in your mxd.  When graphics are involved, all layers below the highest graphic layer are rasterized.  If there is a raster picture in the layout, it too will cause everything to rasterize. Jeff ... View more

We do not have an arcpy.mapping Layer property that allows us to determine/set this.  UpdateLayer will apply the symbology however it is persisted in the source layer (i.e., collapse yes/no). In your case, why are you using UpdateLayer?   Are you just trying to replace data sources or are you also changing out symbology? Jeff ... View more

We'll need more specifics in order to evalute this issue.  Its the "# do some processing here" part that I'd like to see.  Is there any way you can provide more of the script?  Also, what version of the software are you using. Thanks, Jeff ... View more

I installed 10.0 on a new machine, downloaded the zip and it all just worked.  I'm not sure why things are not working for you.  Could it be a file permissions issue, the location of your copy has spaces in the path, etc.  Over 100 people have downloaded this and there have been no other reports. Jeff ... View more

A new feature dataset or a new GDB?  Feature classes with the same name can't exist in two different feature datasets in the same GDB.  I.e., all feature classes in a GDB must have a unique name. Jeff ... View more