How to update element text in arcpy.mapping? [closed]

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Closed 12 years ago.

I have a problem updating a map element text (named element1) in a map document using the following code:

a1 = '"' + ("element" + str(1)) + '"'
for elm in arcpy.mapping.ListLayoutElements(mxd, "TEXT_ELEMENT"):
if elm.name == a1:
 elm.text = str("new text")
 elm.elementPositionX = 0.6046
 elm.elementPositionY = 6.4636

The code above does not update the element1 with the new text value.

It looks like the following part does not work:

if elm.name == a1:

Because when using the below hard coded approach:

if elm.name == "element1":

It worked, but I need to have it as variable.

What am I doing wrong here?

• geogeek: replace <<a1 = '"' + ("element" + str(1)) + '"'>> by a1 = "element" + str(1) , should work
• Mike T: 'element1' == "element1" != '"element1"'
• meryloo: many thanks for your help - the geogeek's hint worked a trick for me! and thanks Mike - all understood :)

Answer 1

You don't need to wrap the element name in quotes like you are doing.

You can use string formatting to do this slightly more cleanly:

a1 = "element{0}".format(1)

See also my suggestions on general Python tips in this answer.