In the previous chapter we discussed ArcGis Pro’s Pane and View Project. You can compare the pane Project at the ArcMap’s ArcCatalog window, but better. In this chapter we will discuss how to use it in order to set up your project.
The moment has come to load data into our Maps window, which has remained so far desperately empty.
We are launching ArcGis Pro and as for the project type choice, we answer “Virgin Project”. And we have an ArcGis Pro window similar to this:
Maybe not quite like this, as the posted signs are the last signs posted during your last working session. Since in the previous chapter we were working on the project panel, it is displayed. If this is not the case, display it with the VIEW -> Project -> Project Window tab. In order to add data, we need a map view. We will start by adding one to the view window.
In the INSERTION tab of the ribbon, click New map
A map view is added:
You must have a map of France displayed by default. If it annoys you as much as it does to me, you can remove this option by clicking on the tab Project -> Options -> Map and Scene , then selecting the button No of Map background .
For the impatient For those who want to go fast and load a layer of data immediately, it is not at all complicated: In the tab MAP ribbon, click Add data
The window Browse opens.Point to the layer to load and click Open
The layer is loaded in the map
For those who want to follow the best practices for ArcGis Pro
The central idea of ArcGis Pro revolves around the Project, unlike ArcMap where it revolved around the layout map (a document-> a layout). Here the idea is to gather all the elements of a project and, eventually, package and communicate them.
The problem with the expeditious approach we have just explained is that nothing is added to our window Project. If we bundle the project, of course, the loaded layer will be packaged. But for the rest of the work we deprive ourselves of some features. If before loading the data directly, we open a connection to their directory in the “records”, this allows us to see at a glance the directories used by the project (without going to explore the content window).
And once the connection is added:
Indeed, when you add an item to the project, ArcGis Pro indexes the contents of that item automatically. At the top of the pane Project , you have a search field. This search field works on all the elements loaded in the project, but only on the loaded elements.
If before making our connection we would type “country*” in the research field, we would have no results. Now that we have established this connection:
All the layers containing “country” appear in the result.
This is valid for all items of the project: models, styles, data, etc. It works like the ArcMap search window except that it is limited to the project elements and not to all those accessible by the network. The indexing is automatic, and it updates as additions, creation and modification of items.
However, it can take quite a long time in a project that you unpack.
What can be added to the project?
There are three main groups of elements:
- the data
- the items
- the services
The data
Regarding the data we will distinguish those found in geodatabases and those that are in the form of files.
As for Geodatabases, do not forget that personal geodatabases (.mdb) are no longer supported by ArcGis Pro at all. Only file geodatabases and SDE geodatabases are. If we take into account the three operations: creation, display and editing in ArcGis Pro, we have:
The datatypes of geodatabases fully compatible with ArcGis Pro, where you can achieve the three operations are:
- geodatabase feature classes
- raster mosaics
- the rasters
- the tables
- relationship classes
- the data Reviewer tables
The types of data that you can only display but you cannot create or edit are:
- geometric networks
- network entity classes
- parcel fabrics
- topologies
There are two types of data that you can create but not display (!): Feature datasets and terrain data, and two for which you cannot do anything: geodatabase locators and schematics datasets.
The file types fully compatible with ArcGis Pro, where you can do all three operations (creation, display and editing) are:
- dbase IV tables (.dbf)
- raster functions (.air)
- LAS data (.lasd)
- raster files from the long list available on ArcGis help
- shapefiles (.shp)
- TIN files
The types of files you can only display but you cannot create or edit are:
- DAO files (.dxf, .dwg, .dgn)
- text files (.csv, .txt)
Items
Items can be divided into two categories. The first is about items that you can add directly to an ArcGis Pro project. The second concerns items that can be added, but which are first imported.
The items you can add directly are:
- ArcGIS Server Connections (.ags)
- Data Reviewer batch job (.rbj)
- Connecting to a Data Reviewer Workspace (.gdb)
- Connecting to a corporate database (.sde)
- File Geodatabase (.gdb)
- Packaged layer file (.lpkx)
- ArcGis Pro Layer File (.lyrx)
- Layout file (.pagx)
- Locators (.loc)
- Map file (.mapx)
- Packed card (.mpkx)
- Styles (.stylx)
- Tasks (.esriTasks)
- Toolboxes (geodatabase, .pyt, .tbx)
- Connections to Workflow Manager databases (.jtc)
Except for connections, for other types of items, you add a copy of the original to the project. If you change something, it will not be reflected on the original.
Items that you can add but that are previously imported to the new ArcGis Pro format are:
- ArcGlobe documents (.3dd)
- ArcScene documents (.sxd)
The import is loaded into a SCENE View
- ArcMap documents (.mxd)
- Map Packages (.mpk)
The import is loaded into a CARD View.
- ArcGis layer package (.lpk)
- ArcGis layer files (.lyr)
- ArcGis Styles (.style)
These files are converted to the new corresponding ArcGis Pro format and loaded into the project.
ArcGis OnLine and Portal
Virtually all elements of ArcGis Online and Portal can be viewed in ArcGis Pro, except for those that are packaged. With regard to authoring and editing capabilities, for the moment being, it is limited to ArcGis Online Feature Layer and ArcGis Server Feature Services.
