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Ensure that ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro don't get installed to OneDrive

Bud

When installing ArcMap 10.7.1 (reason: limited troubleshooting scenario), I noticed ArcMap's default installation folder is on OneDrive. At least in my case it is.

(I've disabled OneDrive syncing. But I don't think everyone does this.)

Defaulting to OneDrive seems risky to me, since cloud storage causes lots of problems for ArcGIS desktop products. ArcGIS Pro and Cloud Storage Services

I know ArcMap is on its way out, and ArcMap 10.8.x might be the last version, so this won't be an issue for long. But I suspect installing ArcMap on OneDrive would be enough of a headache that it might be worth ensuring it doesn't happen in future minor releases, if possible.

And I don't remember if ArcGIS Pro does the same thing or not. But if it does, that should be prevented too.

Could ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro be enhanced so that they don't default to OneDrive or don't allow installation to OneDrive? Or at least strongly warn users if the install path is pointed to OneDrive?

Edit: I see now that the screenshot above is for extracting files, not necessarily the destination folder for installed files. But even still, I wouldn't want to extract the files to OneDrive.

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Status: Open

Comments

s.schuette_ct

I've disabled OneDrive syncing. But I don't think everyone does this.
This sounds familiar.

I think this would be a good enhancement to at least put an info box in the installer unpack dialog (for all ArcGIS products):

Additionally, I noticed that the default home directory for Projects and the default GDB points to the OneDrive Path as well (this can be changed in the settings):

I think the use of the OneDrive is preset by Windows if a program uses the %documents% variable (or something like it), to make sure no data is lost from the users document folder. (There is a local user folder on Windows if you have OneDrive installed, but many folders are mapped by Windows to OneDrive by default). This is useful in most cases, but with ArcGIS, this can cause issues - especially when working with large datasets (e.g. GB of raster data) and everything is synced in the background.
I also had issues from time to time with data sync while ArcGIS Pro was open. So probably not the best default choice. Saving big projects and data in this default directory could causes unnecessary internet traffic, potentially slowing down other internet resources such as basemaps.

KoryKramer

>>I know ArcMap is on its way out, and ArcMap 10.8.x might be the last version, so this won't be an issue for long. But I suspect installing ArcMap on OneDrive would be enough of a headache that it might be worth ensuring it doesn't happen in future minor releases, if possible.

This is correct. See the ArcMap product life cycle:https://support.esri.com/en-us/products/arcmap/life-cycle indicating that ArcMap enters mature support in less than a year, at which point there will be no more bug fixes, hot fixes, etc. We have not been making enhancements/implementing ideas in ArcMap for about 6 years now as development efforts have been focused on ArcGIS Pro.

As Simon points out, the default location where projects are created is an option that can be set by the user - it is also a setting available for administrator control https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/administrator-settings-list.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_D09C9C76B229486E9BB05E79C17CAD0A So in this scenario where an organization has set up OneDrive as the default location, an ArcGIS admin could implement an admin setting that specifies a different default location for ArcGIS Pro users.