Latest Contributions by JaredPilbeam2

Using ArcMap 10.5.1 and Python 2.7, I have a script that finds a text box in map layout of an MXD(s) by two key words "PRINT DATE" and changes the text to new text. I believe the script is doing what I want it to and it runs with no error. However, the resulting text in the text box is illegible.  Script: import arcpy, os from arcpy import env arcpy.env.workspace = ws = r"path\to\TestFolder" # format new text txtBlock = [ 'Prepared by the Will County GIS Division', '302 N Chicago St. Joliet, Il 60432', 'T:(815) 774-6343, E:gis@willcountyillinois.com', 'Print date: <dyn type=\"date\" format=\"\"/>' ] # create variable that joins lines together with new line character newTxt = "\n".join(txtBlock) # list the mxds of the workspace folder for mxdname in arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd"):     print "checking document: {}".format(mxdname)     mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(ws + "\\" + mxdname) # find textbox by keywords and give it the new text     for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "TEXT_ELEMENT"):         if "PRINT DATE" in elm.text.upper():             elm.text = newTxt‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍   Text box before: and after: The following trouble shoots were suggested on my previous post: find text element in MXD with wildcard?  1. I printed out the context of the text box before it was replaced and after using the repr() class:     for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "TEXT_ELEMENT"):         if "PRINT DATE" in elm.text.upper():             print str(elm.text) + "\n"             print "++++++++++++++below is repr+++++++++++++++++++++"             elm.text = newTxt             print repr(elm.text)‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ Print out: Prepared by the Will County GIS Division Print Date: 11.2.2018 302 N. Chicago St. Joliet, Il 60432 ++++++++++++++below is repr+++++++++++++++++++++ u'Prepared by the Will County GIS Division\n302 N Chicago St. Joliet, Il 60432\nT:(815) 774-6343, E:gis@willcountyillinois.com\nPrint date: <dyn type="date" format=""/>'‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ 2. I ran the MXD through the MXD Doctor and Documet Defragmenter. There was no corrupted element and running the script on a defragmented copy of the MXD made no difference. 3. There were no changes to the font, font size or centering in the Properties of the text box from old to new. As in, the Properties weren't affected. 5. I gave the text box element a name, 'PrintDate'. This didn't seem to have any effect as using the "PRINT DATE" keywords were enough.     for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "TEXT_ELEMENT"):         if "PRINT DATE" in elm.text.upper():             elm.name == 'PrintDate'‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ 6. I know the script works. I tested the script on a new MXD with similar text in a text box. The script ran fine and the resulting new text was displayed correctly! I also had a second text box in the MXD that had the word "date" among the text . I ran the script once with only "DATE" as a key word and it found both text boxes. It knowingly changed both. The odd thing was that while the one I'm after came out illegible again, the second text box was displayed correctly!  I'm wondering if anyone has seen this behaviour before? ... View more