Using Z and M feature geometry to create line graph in ArcPy/Python?

Question

I am a Python (v2.6.5) noob trying to plot a series of 3D polylines into graphs. So far I've come up with:

 # Import system modules
 import arcpy, os, sys, string
 from arcpy import env
 print "Modules imported."
 # Set environment settings
 arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
 arcpy.env.workspace = r"X:\HaulRoad\SpatialData"
 arcpy.env.scratchWorkspace = r"X:\HaulRoad\SpatialData"
 print "Workspaces set."
 # Set local variables
 infc = "\HaulRd.gdb\Treatment\XS_2009BEBRklnTerr_interpZ_Rte_isect"
 graph_template = r"\XS\XS_Seg02.55.grf" # template graph originally created with 3d Analyst profile tool, customized in Advanced Properties, then exported to grf format
 print "Local variables set."
 #create list of fields of interest from FC or table of interest
 fields = ['SegID','STA_calc','shape.Z','shape.M']
 #create empty list for cursor to populate
 list = []
 print "Table and empty list created."
 # use search cursor to get field value for a given record 
 rows = arcpy.SearchCursor(infc, "", "", "SegID; STA_calc")
 for row in rows:
 list.append(row.SegID)
 list.append(row.STA_calc)
 del row, rows
 print "Rows appended to temporary table. List deleted."
 #remove duplicates from list
 list = dict.fromkeys(list)
 list = list.keys()
 print "Duplicates removed."
 #create a temporary memory variable
 memoryFC = "in_memory" + "\\" + "virtualFC"
 print "Memory Feature created."
 for n in list:
 arcpy.TableSelect_analysis(infc, memoryFC, "STA_calc = " + str(n))
 out_Seg = fields[0]
 out_STA = fields[1]
 out_graph_name = n
 out_graph_pdf = r"\XS\Script\XS_chart_Seg" + str(out_Seg) + str(out_STA) + ".pdf"
 graph_data = memoryFC
 # Create temporary feature layer 
 arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(infc, "XS_lyr")
 # Create the graph from temporary feature layer
 graph = arcpy.Graph()
 # Specify the title of the Graph
 graph.graphPropsGeneral.title = "Segment " + out_Seg
 # Specify the subtitle of the Graph
 graph.graphPropsGeneral.subtitle = "Station " + out_STA
 # Specify the title of the left axis
 graph.graphAxis[0].title = "Elevation (ft)"
 # Specify the title of the bottom axis
 graph.graphAxis[2].title = "Station (ft)"
 # Add a vertical bar series to the graph
 graph.addSeriesLineVertical("XS_lyr", shape.Z, shape.M)
 # Output a graph, which is created in-memory
 arcpy.MakeGraph_management(graph_template, graph, out_graph_name)
 # Save the graph as an PDF
 arcpy.SaveGraph_management(out_graph_name, out_graph_pdf, "MAINTAIN_ASPECT_RATIO", 800, 600)
 #clean in-memory
 arcpy.Delete_management("in_memory")
 print "PDFs created and memory cleaned."

I get an error in line 82 where I am adding the vertical line series. I assume the problem is that I am trying to plot values based on feature geometry as opposed to values in the attribute table.

Is this possible without some intermediate conversion (e.g. converting vertices to points)?

The source data is a polyline feature class with Z and M values in an Arc 10.0 SP4 file geodatabase.

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My overall intent is communciated in an earlier post: Creating dynamic chart titles in ArcMap? I was unsuccessful in my attempts to perform from within Arc.

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error message I receive in IDLE follows:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "C:\temp\MakeGraphTest_v100_20140616.py", line 82, in graph.addSeriesLineVertical("XS_lyr", shape.Z, shape.M) NameError: name 'shape' is not defined

• GISGe: The 'out_graph_pdf' variable seems to have an incomplete path, could you check this? What is the error message you get?
• willfish: thanks for reply. code line with pdf conversion has worked for me in a different script. I'm assuming it's OK, but can't confirm as script bails before it gets to it. I've posted error message at end of my original post.

Answer 1

shape.Z and shape.M aren't fields, they are properties of the shape field. If you want to plot Z and M, you should export these to new fields and use the new fields in arcpy.graph.addSeriesLineVertical.

• willfish: @GISGe....thanks, I've been working on that part. have amended my process to converting vertices to points early in script (before FOR loop). Then seems, I can go one of two ways:<br> 1) add z and m fields to point table or 2) create a temporary table/array in memory. My impediment at this point is finding the syntax to extract z and m values from feature geometry. Ironic that it's as easy as right-clicking a field name in ArcMap and so hard to figure out for code. Thanks for any suggestions on syntax.