[GIS] Arcpy – AttributeError: PageLayoutObject: Error in executing ExportToPNG

arcpyattributeerrorpngpython-script-tool

I’m building a custom tool, where you input the city and state and the tool outputs an image file of a map with certain features buffered, labeled, etc. I’m running into problems on the last step, exporting to PNG. Here’s the relevant code:

#Set workspace
import arcpy
import arcpy.mapping
import os
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

yourstate = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
city = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
distances = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)
folderinput = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(3)
folderinput2 = '"'+ folderinput + '\"'
arcpy.env.workspace = folderinput2

(I deleted a bunch of code here…it’s for editing the mxd based on what state/city you select. FYI the GetParameterAsText(3) input is something like
C:\Users\first.last\Desktop\ArcGis\tool)

#exportasapng
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
fullname = '"' + city + yourstate + '.png' + '"'
arcpy.mapping.ExportToPNG(mxd, fullname, resolution=200)

Any suggestions? Here is the error when I try to run the tool:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\first.last\Desktop\ArcGis\tool\toolv6.py", line 79, in <module>
    arcpy.mapping.ExportToPNG(mxd, fullname, resolution=200)
  File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.3\arcpy\arcpy\utils.py", line 182, in fn_
    return fn(*args, **kw)
  File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.3\arcpy\arcpy\mapping.py", line 1228, in ExportToPNG
    layout.exportToPNG(*args)
  File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.3\arcpy\arcpy\utils.py", line 182, in fn_
    return fn(*args, **kw)
  File "c:\program files (x86)\arcgis\desktop10.3\arcpy\arcpy\arcobjects\mixins.py", line 586, in exportToPNG
    return self._arc_object.exportToPNG(*args)
AttributeError: PageLayoutObject: Error in executing ExportToPNG

If I replace
arcpy.mapping.ExportToPNG(mxd, fullname, resolution=200)

with something like the following the tool exports successfully:

arcpy.mapping.ExportToPNG(mxd, "BuffaloNY.png", resolution=200)

….which is frustrating since “BuffaloNY.png” is what is being passed through as the parameter (it’s the result for print = fullname).

I’ve tried lots of minor changes, making sure the arcpy.mapping.ExportToPNG parameter is being passed as a literal string, changing the direction of the slashes, putting in a mxd.save before exporting, inserting the full pathname instead of relying on setting the environment, etc. and nothing is working. From searching around online, it seems like this is a problem other people have run into, but the solution wasn’t readily apparent.

Best Answer

I think I found my own solution, which mostly involved the formatting the parameters. 

#Set workspace
folderinput = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(3)
arcpy.env.workspace = folderinput

#exportasapng
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
fullname = city + yourstate + '.png'
endname = folderinput + "\\" + fullname
arcpy.mapping.ExportToPNG(mxd, endname, resolution=200)

which seems to work. Thanks!

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