ArcPy Data Driven Pages AttributeError: PageLayoutObject: Error in executing ExportToPDF

Question

I am trying to export a series of datadriven pages. Executing on a single page fine no issue, executing on a few pages no issue. executing on many pages serious drama. Initially i thought it might be an issue with my mxd (ESRI response) but if I execute the script on the page where it last failed (through definition query on the index) works fine.

My assumption was either memory issue or a timeout on the export to pdf function.

import arcpy, time
#Reference MXD and layers
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"C:\Working1円. Project Tasks\Constraints Maps\Constraints Maps - OW.mxd")
LabelsLayer = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "Labels")[0]
outpath = "C:\\Constraints\\"
#arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
#Reference page layout elements
for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd):
 if elm.name == "horzLine": horzLine = elm
 if elm.name == "Lot_Cell": Lot_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Landholder_Cell": Landholder_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "ATW_Cell": ATW_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Ass_Start_Cell": Ass_Start_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Ass_End_Cell": Ass_End_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Ass_Laar_Cell": Ass_Laar_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Con_Start_Cell": Con_Start_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Con_End_Cell": Con_End_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Con_Laar_Cell": Con_Laar_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "Notes_Cell": Notes_Cell = elm
 if elm.name == "MPC_LOGO": MPC_LOGO = elm
 if elm.name == "Header": Header = elm
 if elm.name == "Margin_Text": Margin_Text = elm
 if elm.name == "Data_Frame": Data_Frame = elm
 if elm.name == "vertLines": vertLines = elm
#Reference DDP object
ddp = mxd.dataDrivenPages
ddp.refresh()
#Graphic table variable values
maxtableHeight = 6.6
mintableHeight = 0.9
tableWidth = 41.2
upperY = 0.4
horzLineX = 0.4
Lot_CellX = 0.4001
Landholder_CellX = 2.5001
ATW_CellX = 7.0001
Ass_Start_CellX = 12.0001
Ass_End_CellX = 13.3001
Ass_Laar_CellX = 14.6001
Con_Start_CellX = 17.5001
Con_End_CellX = 18.8001
Con_Laar_CellX = 20.1001
Notes_CellX = 23.0001
#Loop through each DDP page
for pageNum in range(1, mxd.dataDrivenPages.pageCount + 1):
 mxd.dataDrivenPages.currentPageID = pageNum
 #Build selection set
 Outfolder = ddp.pageRow.Region
 PackageName = ddp.pageRow.Page_Name
 numRecords = int(arcpy.GetCount_management(LabelsLayer).getOutput(0))
 print str(PackageName) + " Number of Properties: " + str(numRecords)
 #if number of rows exceeds page space, resize row height
 if numRecords > 20:
 rowHeight = maxtableHeight / numRecords
 Data_Frame.elementHeight = 22.0
 Margin_Text.elementHeight = 6.6
 vertLines.elementHeight = 6
 MPC_LOGO.elementPositionY = 7.3
 Header.elementPositionY = 6.7
 else:
 rowHeight = 0.3
 Data_Frame.elementHeight = (28.3 - (numRecords * 0.3))
 Margin_Text.elementHeight = (12.6 - (numRecords * 0.3))
 vertLines.elementHeight = (numRecords * 0.3)
 MPC_LOGO.elementPositionY = (1 + (numRecords * 0.3))
 Header.elementPositionY = (0.4 + (numRecords * 0.3))
 #Set and clone horizontal line work
 horzLine.elementWidth = tableWidth
 horzLine.elementPositionX = horzLineX
 horzLine.elementPositionY = upperY
 y=upperY
 for horz in range(1, numRecords+1):
 y = y + rowHeight
 temp_horz = horzLine.clone("_clone")
 temp_horz.elementPositionY = y
 #Set and clone cell text elements
 rows = arcpy.SearchCursor(LabelsLayer)
 horzLine.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Lot_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Landholder_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 ATW_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Ass_Start_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Ass_End_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Ass_Laar_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Con_Start_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Con_End_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Con_Laar_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 Notes_Cell.fontSize = rowHeight / 0.043
 y=upperY
 for row in rows:
 if numRecords > 0:
 col1CellTxt = Lot_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col1CellTxt.text = row.getValue(unicode("Constrained_Access.LOT_PLAN"))
 col1CellTxt.elementPositionX = Lot_CellX
 col1CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col2 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Landholder"))
 if col2 is None:
 col2text = " "
 elif col2 == "":
 col2text = " "
 else:
 col2text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Landholder"))
 col2CellTxt = Landholder_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col2CellTxt.text = col2text
 col2CellTxt.elementPositionX = Landholder_CellX
 col2CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col3 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.ATW"))
 if col3 is None:
 col3text = " "
 elif col3 == "":
 col3text = " "
 else:
 col3text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.ATW"))
 col3CellTxt = ATW_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col3CellTxt.text = col3text
 col3CellTxt.elementPositionX = ATW_CellX
 col3CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col4 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Assessment_Start"))
 if col4 is None:
 col4text = " "
 elif col4 == "":
 col4text = " "
 else:
 col4text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Assessment_Start"))
 col4CellTxt = Ass_Start_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col4CellTxt.text = col4text
 col4CellTxt.elementPositionX = Ass_Start_CellX
 col4CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col5 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Assessment_Finish"))
 if col5 is None:
 col5text = " "
 elif col5 == "":
 col5text = " "
 else:
 col5text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Assessment_Finish"))
 col5CellTxt = Ass_End_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col5CellTxt.text = col5text
 col5CellTxt.elementPositionX = Ass_End_CellX
 col5CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col6 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Assessment_LAARs_reference_Number"))
 if col6 is None:
 col6text = " "
 elif col6 == "":
 col6text = " "
 else:
 col6text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Assessment_LAARs_reference_Number"))
 col6CellTxt = Ass_Laar_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col6CellTxt.text = col6text
 col6CellTxt.elementPositionX = Ass_Laar_CellX
 col6CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col7 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Construction_Start"))
 if col7 is None:
 col7text = " "
 elif col7 == "":
 col7text = " "
 else:
 col7text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Construction_Start"))
 col7CellTxt = Con_Start_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col7CellTxt.text = col7text
 col7CellTxt.elementPositionX = Con_Start_CellX
 col7CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col8 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Construction_Finish"))
 if col8 is None:
 col8text = " "
 elif col8 == "":
 col8text = " "
 else:
 col8text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Approved_Construction_Finish"))
 col8CellTxt = Con_End_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col8CellTxt.text = col8text
 col8CellTxt.elementPositionX = Con_End_CellX
 col8CellTxt.elementPositionY = y 
 col9 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Construction_LAAR_reference_number"))
 if col9 is None:
 col9text = " "
 elif col9 == "":
 col9text = " "
 else:
 col9text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Construction_LAAR_reference_number"))
 col9CellTxt = Con_Laar_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col9CellTxt.text = col9text
 col9CellTxt.elementPositionX = Con_Laar_CellX
 col9CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 col10 = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Land_Access_Notes"))
 if col10 is None:
 col10text = " "
 elif col10 == "":
 col10text = " "
 else:
 col10text = row.getValue(unicode("LAARs.Land_Access_Notes"))
 col10CellTxt = Notes_Cell.clone("_clone")
 col10CellTxt.text = col10text
 col10CellTxt.elementPositionX = Notes_CellX
 col10CellTxt.elementPositionY = y
 y = y + rowHeight
 #Export to PDF
 ddp.refresh()
 outputloc = str(outpath) + str(Outfolder) + "\\" + str(PackageName) + " Constraints Maps.pdf"
 print "Exporting page: " + outputloc
 time.sleep(1)
 arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, outputloc, image_quality="BETTER", jpeg_compression_quality=75,)
 print "Export Complete"
 #Clean-up before next page
 for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "GRAPHIC_ELEMENT", "*clone*"):
 elm.delete()
 for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "TEXT_ELEMENT", "*clone*"):
 elm.delete()
 del Outfolder
 del outputloc
 del y
 del PackageName
 del rows
 if numRecords > 0:
 del col2
 del col3
 del col4
 del col5
 del col6
 del col7
 del col8
 del col9
 del col10
 del col2text
 del col3text
 del col4text
 del col5text
 del col6text
 del col7text
 del col8text
 del col9text
 del col10text
 del col1CellTxt
 del col2CellTxt
 del col3CellTxt
 del col4CellTxt
 del col5CellTxt
 del col6CellTxt
 del col7CellTxt
 del col8CellTxt
 del col9CellTxt
 del col10CellTxt
 del numRecords
 time.sleep(1)
del outpath
del LabelsLayer
del mxd

The error I keep getting is:

Traceback (most recent call last):
 File "C:\Working1円. Project Tasks\Constraints Maps\Constraints Map - OW.py", line 224, in <module>
 arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, outputloc, image_quality="BETTER", jpeg_compression_quality=75,)
 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 1156, in ExportToPDF
 layout.exportToPDF(*args)
AttributeError: PageLayoutObject: Error in executing ExportToPDF

• PolyGeo: To test your hypothesis that it may be memory (which seems reasonable) do you have an option to test on a machine with more memory or on your own with nothing else running (immediately after a reboot). You could also watch the Task Manager to see if memory is starting to get up there before it bails.
• Michael Stimson: It could be an unreferenced object (like an image that once was valid but now is not). Hisorically there was issues with export to PDF/Print with the metafile, it could be that issue is recurring, using the Advanced Arcmap Settings (ArcHome\utilities\AdvancedArcmapSettings.exe) change your metafile limit on print/export and see if that helps (default is 32MB, which doesn't take long to fill up).

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

If you are storing data in folders like where you appear to have placed your script C:\Working1円. Project Tasks\Constraints Maps\Constraints Map - OW.py" then I think you should experiment using simpler pathnames like C:\temp for a test.

If that is not it then I think you should include an mxd.save() or an mxd.saveACopy() before your arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF (and comment that out). Then try running the Export To PDF tool with precisely the same parameters you would use in the script. Be sure to double-check that any variables used there are what you think they are by printing them.

If the tool gives the same error then you have eliminated your script as being the problem and can focus on the tool instead.

Answer 3

I also encountered a problem similar to yours. After a long test, it should be an arcpy 32bit memory leak. I downloaded and installed the official Background Geoprocessing program (corresponding to ArcGis version). It supports python 64bit, processing data faster, and processing data can be larger.