How do I obtain layout coordinates of features using arcpy?

Question

I just read the topic about Convert point XY to page units XY using arcpy? but I didn't find a solution to my problem. I have a point layer file, I know coordinates in map view, I'd like to know coordinates in layout view. I suppose the main difference with the case of a dataframe is that the point is not a graphic element itself in layout view, so the referencing of the point is more tricky. Is there anyone who solved this (or similar) issue? ps. the dataframe where I'm working is rotated, the solution proposed in the Convert point XY to page units XY using arcpy? post doesn't work for rotated dataframe. Does anybody knows what is the base point for rotation of dataframes in ArcGIS?

• Pete: I'm confused, do you mean you know the spatial coordinates of the points but want to know their location based on the position they would have on a print page? Like if you were to measure them using the rulers on the top and bottom of the layout? So a point would be at (2in, 5in) on a 8.5X11 sheet?
• Annalisa Minelli: exactly, @Pete. This is the "problem".
• Pete: You could export the whole map as a raster and then convert it to ascii to see the pixel location and then figure out the distance based on how many pixels it is long by wide. That; however, seems like to most inelegant solution possible.
• Annalisa Minelli: Thanks Pete but I need a great precision in a very long script and raster doesn't seem to be the best solution.. moreover my dataframe is rotated, but I don't know what is the base rotation point in ArcGIS.
• Tomek: With arcpy it may be difficoult. Try arcobjects: gis.stackexchange.com/questions/56967/…

Answer 1

First, figure out the point that is at 0,0 on your layout. Lets say you're using mercator projection with a scale of 1:100 and the point at 0,0 on the page is 627103E 4484335N. A point you are trying to map is 627107E 4484342N so to figure out the position it would (E2-E1)/100, (N2-N1)/100. Putting it at 4cm, 7cm on the page. If it's rotated then you would also need to use a rotation matrix http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotation_matrix. You can run this equation through the field calculator or in a python script using a search cursor. If you don't know the rotation point you could figure it out by snapping to the points in layout view and then seeing what it says the layout coordinates are in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Hope this is of some help at least.