With the same code the Python script won't work, while Python window will

Question

I'm just trying to create a tool that zooms in on a layer and then exports the image as PDF, I'll add more functionality later. The code below will run and produce a PDF, but won't zoom to the layer. While running the same basic code in the Python window inexplicably works just fine. I've tried using zoomToSelectedFeatures and definitionQuery, both yield the same result. So now I'm rather lost.

import arcpy, csv, os
pole=arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
worksheet=arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
out=arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)+"\_"
mxd=arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
df=arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd)[0]
i=0
worksheet=r'C:\Users\Samuel\worksheet.csv'
with open(worksheet) as f:
    for row in csv.reader(f):
        i=row[0]
        text=row[1]
        arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("pole","lyr","FID="+str(i))
        arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("lyr","NEW_SELECTION")
        df.zoomToSelectedFeatures()
        arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management("lyr","CLEAR_SELECTION")
        arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
        arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, out+"_pole_"+i,"PAGE_LAYOUT")
        break
arcpy.Delete_management("lyr")

Answer 1

I've had varied results trying to use df.zoomToSelectedFeatures() so I tend to use lyr.getSelectedExtent() and df.extent() instead.

import arcpy, csv, os

pole = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
#worksheet=arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
out = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2) + "\_"

worksheet=r'C:\Users\Samuel\worksheet.csv'

mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument("CURRENT")
df = mxd.activeDataFrame

worksheet = r"D:\GIS\SE\output\worksheet.csv"

with open(worksheet) as f:
    for row in csv.reader(f):
        i = row[0]
        text = row[1]
        arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(pole, "lyr", 'FID = {0}'.format(i))
        lyr = arcpy.mapping.Layer("lyr")
        arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(lyr, "NEW_SELECTION")
        df.extent = lyr.getSelectedExtent()
        df.scale *= 1.10 # Zoom it out by 10% to give a little space around the edges if required.
        arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(lyr, "CLEAR_SELECTION")
        arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
        arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(mxd, "{0}_pole_{1}".format(out, i), "PAGE_LAYOUT")
        arcpy.Delete_management(lyr)

        break

Also note that you had worksheet defined twice in your code (I commented out the first one for my testing so I didn't need to define in a tool, and there was no need to defineibefore yourwith`.

I also changed the df line to df = mxd.activeDataFrame out of habit (I think it's nicer to read) but either will work.