Batch Exporting MXDs using Python script tool?

Question

I am trying to put together my second tool so pretty new to this. What I want it to do is batch plot MXD's layouts to PDF found in a specific folder, without having to be in ArcMap. I'm trying to run the tool from ArcCatalog solely. When I run the Python script on its own in ArcCatalog and replace the parameter with the folder location, it works just fine. When I try to make it into a tool with the only input being the folder location, it doesn't work. All it does is pop up my script in notepad and says the process is complete.

Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

import arcpy, os

ws = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)  

mxd_list = arcpy.ListFiles("*.mxd")

for mxd in mxd_list:

    current_mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(os.path.join(ws, mxd))
    pdf_name = mxd[:-4] + ".pdf"
    arcpy.mapping.ExportToPDF(current_mxd, pdf_name)

del mxd_list

Answer 1

The "GetParameterAsText()" method generally is used from within a Script process, where you create a Toolbox saved in Catalog and inside that right click in your Catalog to Add -> Script. In the window that pops up, you can drive to a saved version of the .py file (which can be simply the code lines you have above). In the subsequent screen, you can add your parameter (the user will input a folder, and your Python script will use that to create the pdfs). See the example here:

Then, when you finish your script, it will be saved in the toolbox. When you double click it, it will provide the option of setting your folder Parameter, which your script will read on the back end: