Esri Mapping Center - Ask a Cartographer

Export to different output formats

November 09 2011 | 6 comments
Categories: Publishing

Does a process or script exist allowing for the export of MXDs to multiple formats? I have 160 MXDs and need to output to PDF, PNG and EMF formats. I would like a tool or process that will allow me to export to these three formats. I have seen the tool for 'Export to PDF', but I need the other two formats as well.

Mapping Center Answer:

There are none already available that we are aware of, but writing an arcpy script would be the easiest route provided that you are running 10.0. There are ExportToPNG, ExportToEMF, and ExportToPDF commands available, and it would be a matter of writing a simple loop to access them all and each mxd. The only trick might be in the path to the mxd if they are located in multiple locations.

Where are these referenced? posted by Craig Poynter on Nov 9 2011 7:02PM

I can find a reference to the 'Export to PDF', but not the other two methods. Where do I look or what is the best way to search?

An associated issue is that I am finding PDF exporting results are good, but PNG export results are missing fine line work that shows in the PDF and EMF (when each method is performed manually from File > Export Map).

Running 10.0 SP3.

References posted by Aileen Buckley on Nov 10 2011 9:50AM

Here is the link to the online help reference for ExportToEMF:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//00s300000026000000

Here is the online help reference for ExportToPNG:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/ExportToPNG/00s30000002s000000/

PNG Export Results posted by Aileen Buckley on Nov 10 2011 9:59AM

The PDF and EMF are vector formats (as long as there isn't any transparency in the layers), which is why you see the PNG (raster) missing fine lines. There are some good tips for controlling graphic quality in the ExportToPNG help topic.

.PNG Not Supported at 10 posted by Lyndy worsham on Sep 13 2012 1:33AM

Hi,

There's some nice .png symbols I would like to use; however, I understand that 10 does not support .png.

Is there any work around that would allow me to use .png files with 10?

Thanks,
Lyndy

Sorry posted by Aileen Buckley on Sep 14 2012 2:41PM

So sorry -- there is really no way to use PNG sybmols in ArcGIS 10. You can only use them in ArcGIS 10.1 and later. Of course, you could convert the symbols to a format that IS supported in ArcGIS 10 (BMP or EMF), but the scaling capabilites of the PNG symbols will not necessarily work (unless you convert to an EMF vector format).

If you would like to post a comment, please login.