how to dynamically update a data driven page excel table

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09-06-2012 11:49 AM
KenLucas
Occasional Contributor
I'm new to data driven pages. Is there a built-in function to update an excel table, embedded on a data driven page, from a linked table on my local drive or do I need a python script to do this?
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8 Replies
JeffBarrette
Esri Regular Contributor
This is not built into DDP.  In order to generate truely dynamic tables from one page to the next you will need to incorporate arcpy.mapping (a scripting API).  There is a sample that demonstrates how to create dynamic tables with arcpy.mapping.

http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=3a525b986b774a3f9cbbd8daf2435852

Jeff
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KenLucas
Occasional Contributor
Jeff,
  I have ArcGis 10, service pack 5. I get an error message when I attmept to open that DDP enabled hispanic mxd, you gave me, saying I should save as copy. However, there is nothing in the table of contents in  the mxd and catalog does not show the Toolbox.tbx. What do you suggest I try next; I'd really like to work thru this example today.
I'm new to DDP and seeking help on the forum. Thanks so much for your time and effort to answer my thread,
Ken
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JeffBarrette
Esri Regular Contributor
This is a 10.1 sample.  It used the new cloning functions that allow for creating dynamic tables.

A 10.0 sample that uses a static graphic table may be applicable for your work.  See:
http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=af4fe32a93554eadbd3be3b0e55326be

Jeff
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KenLucas
Occasional Contributor
Jeff,
  That 10.0 sample mxd, you just gave me, opens with broken links. When I attempt to repair the links arc map does not even see any data in the downloaded folder, including the file geodbase that I see in windows explorer. I can't seem to extract anything from the downloaded folder. Is there something else I should be doing after I download the folder? 
Ken
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JeffBarrette
Esri Regular Contributor
I installed 10.0 on a new machine, downloaded the zip and it all just worked.  I'm not sure why things are not working for you.  Could it be a file permissions issue, the location of your copy has spaces in the path, etc.  Over 100 people have downloaded this and there have been no other reports.

Jeff
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KenLucas
Occasional Contributor
Jeff,
  Reading your last thread, I was moved to keep trying to open the package and I finally got it open and working. Thank you so much for the patience. I'm new to using the forum and have overlooked some important details in managing the data.  I'm working thru the readme instructions.
Ken
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KenLucas
Occasional Contributor
I just worked thru MapbookwithGraphicTables 10v1 exercise. The section on the arcpy script for the tables seems to indicate that the 3 tables that show on the bottom center of the MXD were made from scratch and don't seem to reference Excel tables. Is there developer python script that allows us to embed a diff excel sheet for each different page of a DDP series? We can add an object to a DDP and even link that added ojbect table to an excel sheet, but this won't allow us to link diff DDP pages to diff excel sheets. What is the path for the place on the ESRI website where the developer python scripts are stored?
Ken
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JeffBarrette
Esri Regular Contributor
Dynamic excel tables are not supported with DDP.  You must use one of the techniques provided in an earlier response.

Jeff
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