Connecting to old folders - set data source issue

Question

So I was working off of my onedrive that is linked to my desktop. For obvious reasons that wasn't a good move and so I have copied all of my maps and shapefiles onto my desktop. However, when I open a map from my desktop all of my layers are still linked to the files in my onedrive! I have tried to use the Set Data Source(s) tool to source from my desktop folder but it hasn't worked. Is there a way to reset my data source so that all of my layers are coming from my desktop?

danretired · Accepted Answer

It sounds like your project wasn't set up so that "relative paths" was being used.  That is, the data are in a location relative to the apr (subfolders within the project path).   If set up properly, then when you move the apr and the data to your local machine, the paths to the data with be relative to the project.

If setting the project to "relative paths" doesn't fix it, you will have to cut/move the data from one drive to your local drive and repair the paths, ensuring the project uses relative paths.

JayantaPoddar · Accepted Answer

Try these steps.

1. Close all ArcGIS Applications.

2. Disconnect internet. This will disconnect the link with your one-drive.

3. Open the ArcMap Document. Now you should be seeing the exclamation marks next to the layers (broken links). Repair broken link for one layer. All the layers having the data in the same parent data-source will get repaired. You may repeat the step if any other broken link remains.

4. Once all the layers get repaired, save the map. You can then connect to internet.