ArcGIS Pro: Tips & Tricks

James Sullivan
Solution Engineer
Agenda
• Project Structure/Set Up
• Data Visualization/Map Authoring
• Data/Map Exploration
• Geoprocessing
• Editing
• Layouts
• Sharing
• Working with the Ribbon & Panes
• Backstage

• Questions
• Survey/Reception Information
Project Structure/
Set Up
How is ArcGIS Pro Structured?
Understanding Key Differences with ArcMap

ArcMap .mxd (Map Document) ≠ ArcGIS Pro .aprx (Project File)

A project file can contain multiple maps, scenes, & layouts

Other Pro Project file extensions include:

• .ppkx (Project Package) and .aptx (Project Template)
Individual maps and layouts can also be saved
• .mapx (Pro Map) .mpkx (Pro Map Package) & .pagx (Pro Layout File)
Where to create your Project File

Tip # 1A: – Create your Project file in the same location as the data you will be using.

• Switching to Pro requires a shift in mindset from a map centric, to a project centric
workflow.

• When you use the insert/import features of Pro, the application will already be pointed to
where your data lives.
Maintaining Folder/Database Connections

Tip # 1B: – Use a Project Template (.aptx) to maintain key folder/database connections
when building a new project.
Data Visualization/
Map Authoring
Bookmark Manager

Tip # 2A: – Use bookmarks and the bookmark manager to quickly and easily navigate
around your map.
Symbology – Scale-Based Sizing

Tip # 2B: – Use scaled layers to symbolize the same layer differently for multiple scales.
This eliminates the old work around of adding the same layer multiple times with reference
scales.
Symbology – Visual Variables

Tip # 2C: – Incorporate multiple fields from a layer into its symbology using visual variables
to adjust a features transparency, color, or rotation.
Distance Visibility

Tip # 2D: – When working with 3D data, specifically a large amount of point data (ie:
realistic trees), set the “out beyond” viewing limit when those features draw.
FPS Readout

Tip # 2E: – Inside any map frame, press “Shift E” on your keyboard to bring up the FPS
readout as a developer tool to help troubleshoot issues.
Data/Map
Exploration
Range & Time Sliders

Tip # 3A: – Take advantage of the range and time sliders to efficiently explore your data.
Queries used in a slider will be shown across your map, attribute table, and charts.
Essentially a dynamic definition query for your data.
Using Charts To Filter Data

Tip # 3B: – To quickly visualize different categories in your data, create a categorical bar
chart and take advantage of the interactive selection sets, as opposed to writing numerous
queries.
Zoom to Selected Features Button*

Tip # 3C: – The selected features dialog in the lower right corner of the map frame is
actually a button. Click it to quickly zoom to selected features in the map.

*Hidden Gem
Animation Options

Tip # 3D: – Add titles and overlays to your animations to provide additional content and
context to your data.
Check On Learning
Can you recall what we’ve covered thus far?

Q: What is the biggest difference between how ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro are
structured?
A: ArcMap is “map centric,” whereas ArcGIS Pro supports “project centric”
workflows, which more closely fits how analysts typically work.
Q: What 3D layer property setting can you utilize to improve drawing speed for maps
containing large amounts of complex symbol geometries?
A: Distance visibility. Essentially a 3D reference scale to determine how far out to
start or stop drawing features.
Q: What are the two kinds of sliders that act as dynamic definition queries to help you
quickly visualize subsets of your data?
A: Time & Range.
Demo 1
Geoprocessing
Check Tools For Compatibility With Pro

Tip # 4A: – See if your existing tools or scripts will work in Pro by checking for compatibility
one of two ways:
- Check the option to analyze for compatibility on in the Geoprocessing (GP) Options
- Run the Analyze Tools For Pro GP Tool
Save Time Using Esri’s Services

Tip # 4B: – If you don’t have your own network dataset or address locator, take advantage
of various GP tools that use Esri’s services from ArcGIS Online, or from your Portal. You can
also leverage the Enrich Layer tool to enhance your layer’s attributions. You can tell if a tool
will consume credits if you see a small coin icon next to it.
Open Multiple GP Tools At Once*

Tip # 4C: – If you’ve already opened and filled in parameters for a GP tool, and want to go
back and run another first, click the “burger” button from the Geoprocessing Pane. This will
allow you to open a different tool simultaneously, while not losing the parameters you’ve
already filled in.

*Hidden Gem
Geoprocessing History

Tip # 4D: – To speed up iterative workflows, take advantage of using the geoprocessing
history that Pro is automatically logging for you. You can then copy and paste the python
syntax from a previously run tool to get a head start when writing your own tools/scripts.
Editing
Automatically Save Edits

Tip # 5A: – Set the editing automatic save parameters to ensure you never lose your work.
These parameters can be established by time interval (minutes), or by number of
operations.
Editing Grid

Tip # 5B: – Take advantage of the editing grid to help you easily digitize features that are
parallel and perpendicular to one another. It can be configured to the map by setting the
origin, spacing, and rotation.
Multipatch Editing

Tip # 5C: – When working with 3D multipatch geometries, use the multipatch editor to
quickly create new features from scratch, or edit existing ones.
2D/3D Linked Views

Tip # 5D: – If your editing workflow calls for visualizing your data in both 2D and 3D, link the
views together to simplify your workflow.
Layouts
Map Series & Dynamic Legends

Tip # 6A: – When creating multiple maps over the same area, utilize the map series function
to save time. You can also take advantage of the dynamic legends feature which will
automatically filter your legend to only display features in that map’s extent.
Guides & Locking Elements

Tip # 6B: – Use guides to help you quickly and accurately line up your various map
elements in your layout. Once set, lock the element in the contents pane to ensure it isn’t
accidently altered or moved.
Adjust Map Extent In A Layout

Tip # 6C: – To switch between your active maps, highlight the map you want to work with in
the contents pane, and click the Activate button from the Layout tab in the ribbon. This will
allow you to work with the regular map tools to adjust the zoom and scale of your map.
Check On Learning
Can you recall what we’ve covered thus far?

Q: What are two ways you can check to see if your tools/scripts are compatible with
Pro?
A: Checking on the box for “Analyze script and model tools for ArcGIS Pro
compatibility” in the geoprocessing options, or running the “Analyze Tools for Pro”
GP tool.
Q: What are the two ways you can set up automatic saving of your edits?
A: By time interval (minutes), or by the number of operations.
Q: What is a dynamic legend?
A: A legend that only shows the layers for features displayed in your current map’s
extent. These work great when creating a map series.
Demo 2
Sharing
Sharing Configurations

Tip # 7A: – Take advantage of different sharing configurations for maps intended for
exploratory, editable, or visualization purposes.
Quickly Change File Paths

Tip # 7B: – To quickly change the file paths for multiple different layers in a map, save it out
as a map file, then open in Notepad ++ (or arcpy) and use a find and replace to redirect
many different paths at once.
Create Scene Layer Package

Tip # 7C: – Leverage the Create Scene Layer Package geoprocessing tool to share a point
cloud to ArcGIS Online, or Portal (10.5.1). Once the package has been created, you can add
it back into Pro as a layer to preview the service, or to use for faster visualization. (e.g. LAS
dataset).
Working with the
Ribbon and Panes
Keyboard Shortcuts

Tip # 8A: – On the ribbon, hover over the explore tool to see a screen tip of navigation
shortcuts. Additionally, press Alt to reveal further KeyTips.
Add Data Preview*

Tip # 8B: – When using the Add Data window, there is a button in the upper right corner that
allows you to change views and preview the data before adding it.

*Hidden Gem
Docking Panes

Tip # 8C: – You can interactively dock the various panes around different sides of the
application, or on top of one another to be delimited by tabs. In addition, you can float a
pane or view (such as the map view) on another monitor.
Backstage
Taking Pro Offline

Tip # 9A: – Select the Licensing section backstage, and check the box under “Settings” to
authorize ArcGIS Pro to work offline. To learn more about this, hover over the blue “i” or
press F1 to launch the online help page.
Options: Customize the Ribbon

Tip # 9B: – From the Pro Options window, select the “Customize the Ribbon” section to add
or remove tabs, groups, and tools from the ribbon to tailor Pro for specific teams or
workflows in your organization.
Options: Dark Theme

Tip # 9C: – From the Pro Options window, select General > Personalize > Theme to change
the look of Pro between light and dark theme. Take advantage of dark theme to minimize
eye strain when working in dimly lit spaces and help focus on your content, not the UI.
Options: Choose How Projects Are Created

Tip # 9D: – From the Pro Options window, select General, then uncheck the box next to
“always create a new folder for a project” to help organize your files if you’re saving your
projects with your data.
Options: Navigation

Tip # 9E: – Adjust the transition time setting under “Navigation” to get Pro to pan between
bookmarks. This is useful when presenting to prevent an audience from becoming
disoriented as you move around a map. 2.5 seconds is a good default in most cases.
Options: Stereoscopic Mode

Tip # 9F: – From the Display section of the Pro Options, you can enable or disable
stereoscopic rendering, which provides the illusion of depth from your flat monitor by
creating two separate images, one for each eye.
Check On Learning
Can you recall what we’ve covered thus far?

Q: How do you share a point cloud to ArcGIS Online?

A: The Create Scene Layer Package geoprocessing tool.
Q: True or False: You can dock a map outside of the application to display it on a
separate monitor.
A: True.
Q: What section of the ArcGIS Pro options is the location of where you can set the
application to use dark theme?
A: General (then Personalize > Theme)
Demo 3
Check On Learning
Bonus Round

Q: What were the three “hidden gems” covered in this workshop?

(hint: there was one in each of the three main sections)

A: Zoom to Selected Features Button

Opening Multiple Geoprocessing Tools at Once
Add Data Button – Show Details Panel
Summary

• Project Structure/Set Up……………………………………………………2 Tips & Tricks

• Data Visualization/Map Authoring………………………………………...5 Tips & Tricks
• Data/Map Exploration……………………………………………………….4 Tips & Tricks
• Geoprocessing……………………………………………………………….4 Tips & Tricks
• Editing………………………………………………………………………….4 Tips & Tricks
• Layouts………………………………………………………………………...3 Tips & Tricks
• Sharing………………………………………………………………………...3 Tips & Tricks
• Working with the Ribbon & Panes………………………………………..3 Tips & Tricks
• Backstage……………………………………………………………….…….6 Tips & Tricks

…34 Total Tips & Tricks

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