In several MXDs, I have symbology displayed based on a rotation field. In each MXD, I rotate the data frame based on the site plan. When I export to a PDF within ArcMap, the symbols stay rotated as they should.
I have already gone into ArcMap Advanced Settings Utility and checked off Rotate marker symbols with dataframe.
Sample when exporting to PDF from ArcMap:
When I use arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF, the PDF exports correctly, but it will not honor the rotation. I would like to use Python because I have several dozen MXDs that will be updated on a monthly basis.
Sample when using arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF
Sample Code:
import arcpy, os
folderPath = r"J:\GIS\PrePlans"
for filename in os.listdir(folderPath):
fullpath = os.path.join(folderPath, filename)
if os.path.isfile(fullpath):
basename, extension = os.path.splitext(fullpath)
if extension.lower() == ".mxd":
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(fullpath)
mapPath = mxd.filePath
fileName = os.path.basename(mapPath)
print "Exporting " + fileName
txtFile.write("Exported " + fileName +'\n')
arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, basename + '.pdf')
You have to use 32-bit python when you execute the script. If you have installed 64-bit background geoprocessing then 64-bit python is used and rotation i not honored.