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I am building a script to automate a water outage map(I'm new to Python). In the ArcGIS Desktop 10.1 window the script runs fine. However in Pythonwin and IDLE I get syntax errors(In Pythonwin reads: Failed to run script-syntax error-Invalid syntax). The goal is to use task scheduler to run the script outside of ArcGIS.

enter image description here

import arcpy
mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(r"X:\Mikes_Workspaces\Outage\Outage.mxd") 
df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd,"Layers")[0]
# Script arguments
OutCurrent = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
if OutCurrent == '#' or not OutCurrent:
    OutCurrent = "X:\\Geodatabases\\WebData\\Water_Service.gdb\\OutCurrent" # provide a default value if unspecified

# Local variables:
Service_Group = "Service_Group"
Update_ = "X:\\Mikes_Workspaces\\Outage\\Outage_Board.xls\\Update$"
Group_Out = "Service_Group"

# Process: Add Join
arcpy.AddJoin_management(Service_Group, "Group_", Update_, "Group_Out", "KEEP_COMMON")

# Process: Copy Features
arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(Group_Out, OutCurrent, "", "0", "0", "0")
    # Process: Symbology
arcpy.ApplySymbologyFromLayer_management("OutCurrent", "X:\Mikes_Workspaces\Online Shapefiles\Outage_today.lyr") 
# Process: Remove Join
arcpy.RemoveJoin_management(Service_Group, "")
mxd.save()
arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
share|improve this question
    
I think there must be something else in your script that we are not seeing. Did you post your code by using a ctrl-A/ctrl-C in your script, ctr-V into the edit window here and then apply {} with no other steps? –  PolyGeo♦ Apr 9 at 22:13
1  
The path in ApplySymbologyFromLayer is not escaped as the others. Can you try that? Also, just curious what you plan is for GetParameterAsText, run from Task Scheduler. edit: it doesn't look like either \M or \O is an escape sequence, so that may not be the issue. –  phloem Apr 9 at 22:21
    
Did you run the script as a saved file and then via the toolbox, or in the Python window? –  Erica Apr 10 at 0:13
    
I would suggest to execute each statement one by one in IDLE to identify where the hang up is. –  artwork21 Apr 10 at 1:36
    
RemoveJoin should have the name of the join and not "", try adding the join and removing it in model builder then export that to python to understand the syntax a bit better. Joining with Excel spreadsheets can be a bit flaky and can insert random errors, could you convert it to a file/personal geodatabase table? –  Michael Miles-Stimson Apr 10 at 3:53

2 Answers 2

up vote 0 down vote

arcpy.GetParameterAsText is for accessing parameters in Script Tools.

If you're going to run this outside of ArcGIS, you'll need another way to pass parameters in a command line, such as sys.argv.

Have a look at this page for some examples uses: http://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/python_command_line_arguments.htm

Here's more information on the sys module: https://docs.python.org/2/library/sys.html

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1  
Using arcpy.GetParameterAsText(i) outside of script tools works just fine. –  Luke Apr 10 at 0:42
    
I stand corrected. Good to know. –  Fezter Apr 10 at 0:43
    
Either works, sys.argv[] is less typing and is all lower case, it's GetParameter that's funny as it expects an object which doesn't convey well on the command line. –  Michael Miles-Stimson Apr 10 at 3:56
up vote 0 down vote

check your indentation, your OutCurrent = "X... line looks like it is indented 5 spaces compared to the others. An error should have thrown more information as well

share|improve this answer
    
Looks like 4 spaces to me. –  Fezter Apr 10 at 4:01

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