[GIS] Preventing ArcGIS crashes when exporting Data Driven Pages multiple times

arcgis-10.3arcgis-desktopdata-driven-pages

I am using ArcGIS 10.3 for Desktop.

When I export a data driven MXD using a strip index (i.e. 3 pages into a single pdf) it works fine the first time I export it.

However, if I try and export the same MXD again it crashes and I have to close and re-open the MXD.

This only occurs when data driven pages are used.

Does anyone have a solution to this, or is this a bug within the software?

Best Answer

We've also had this problem since upgrading to 10.3. So for the only work around I've found is if you disable DDP then re-enable before re-exporting it prevents the crash. A bit of a pain but if you're like us, the time to disable and re-enable DDP is a lot quicker than having to reload the MXD.

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[GIS] ArcPy Data Driven Pages AttributeError: PageLayoutObject: Error in executing ExportToPDF

I ran in to a memory leak type issue which I resolved with the code snippet below, but then ran into the "layout.exportToPDF(*args) AttributeError: PageLayoutObject: Error in executing ExportToPDF" error, and have not yet resolved it. Here's how I got around the memory leak (reload the map doc every 100 reports):

TotalPages = (ReportMXD.dataDrivenPages.pageCount + 1) 
print "Total number of reports to be generated: " + str(TotalPages)
for pageNum in range(1, TotalPages):
    if (pageNum % 100 == 0):
        print "Reopening map document to free up memory..."
        del ReportMXD
        ReportMXD = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(ReportName)        
    ReportMXD.dataDrivenPages.currentPageID = pageNum
    Destination = "c:\\temp\\reports\\results\\" + "LotID_" + str(ReportMXD.dataDrivenPages.pageRow.getValue("LegalLots.LegalLotsTemp_ID_LOT"))+ "_ServiceUtilitiesReport.pdf"
    print "Page " + str(pageNum) + " => " + Destination
    arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(ReportMXD, Destination, jpeg_compression_quality='10')
    print "Done saving report..."
del ReportMXD

[GIS] Export all data driven pages to PDF using Python script

I am a novice in Python as well, but I have a script that will do what it sounds like you are trying to do - export all pages of an MXD with Data Driven Pages to one PDF.

I run this through the toolbox in ArcCatalog or ArcMap. The MXD you are running it on does not have to be open.

#Set Input Parameters
mxd = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0) 
PDFpath = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1) 
PDFname = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)

#Create an MXD object
mxd_doc = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(mxd) 

#Export to DDP 
ddp = mxd_doc.dataDrivenPages 
ddp.exportToPDF(PDFpath + r"\\" + PDFname + ".pdf", "ALL") 
del mxd, mxd_doc, PDFname, PDFpath

I developed this code based on my question here: How to Prevent Data Driven Pages From Hanging on Subsequent Export?

Best Answer

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[GIS] ArcPy Data Driven Pages AttributeError: PageLayoutObject: Error in executing ExportToPDF

[GIS] Export all data driven pages to PDF using Python script

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