Automating the export of pdf

[Steven.H]

Hi everyone,

I want to automate the starting of a map book export to pdf.

Has anyone got some code to accomplish this or suggestions?
My current process (for non map book maps) is to automate the opening
of the mxd, which on open calls a pdf export routine, then closes it's
self.

A suggestions that works with this workflow would be ideal.

Thanks in advance,
Steven

[John S.]

Hi Steve,

I'm looking into performing the same operation, did you ever find an
answer to this post.

Thanks,

John

[matt wilkie]

> My current process (for non map book maps) is to automate the opening
> of the mxd, which on open calls a pdf export routine, then closes it's
> self.
>
> A suggestions that works with this workflow would be ideal.

I would (a) install a virtual pdf printer driver which can be set to
save automatically, set that to be the default printer, and then (b)
use the r-click context menu item "Print" or a batch file

(a) PDFCreator works well in this regard. There are probably others.
The article is a bit long in the tooth now, but here is a general
outline of how we use it: http://yukongis.ca/oldsite/DoItYourselfPostscriptPrinter

(b) Windows command prompt example for Arcmap 9.1,9.2:

start /wait C:\path\to\ArcGIS\Bin\ArcMap.exe /p "Foobar Map.mxd"

Arcmap 9.3:

"C:\Path\To\Common Files\ArcGIS\bin\ArcGISFileHandler.exe" /p
"Foobar Map.mxd"

For more information and a batch file to print all mxd's in current
directory see http://yukongis.ca/How_To/BatchPrintMaps

cheers,

-matt

[John S.]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the suggestions, unfortunately the print to pdf driver I
have doesn't allow the embedding of the layers like the export option
does. This is the behavior I would really like to take advantage of.
As for the workflow I think it would be very similar, open the MXD via
command prompt, let the process run, save, and exit. The only problem
is with my limited programming knowledge getting access to the Export
Series command through VBA, if at all possible.

Thanks,

John