idea Multiple Pages in a Single Layout in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Double-sided (Duplexed) layout view

JudithCauldwell — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:51:25 GMT

Be able to print a full sized map with the legend and other information on the reverse of the map to save paper (A4 or A3)

In Layout View you'd get two layout 'pages' - obverse and reverse.
You can choose to enable the reverse.
Once enabled you can add any normal item to that page (legend, note box etc - possibly even adding 'Insert - Report' to the menu and inserting a report like you would a legend - saving time)

Re: Double-sided (Duplexed) layout view

JustinOdell — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:43:56 GMT

Brilliant idea, you beat me to it.

Second Page in Layout

HubertusKolster — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 09:58:31 GMT

It would be very nice to have more then on page for one Layout.

For example:

First Page: map

Second Page: Legend

Third Page: Text (desription/Metadata/Datatable)

This should be aviable for ArcGIS Server too.

Re: Second Page in Layout

KoryKramer — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 17:22:40 GMT

Thank you for submitting your idea, kolster‌

Could you provide more context about the use case for this functionality?

Re: Second Page in Layout

HubertusKolster — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 07:56:50 GMT

Hello,

in ArcMap it is only possible to have one Page per layout (I didn't "mean data driven" Layout).

It would be very nice to have more than one Pange per Layout. So you can split the content. First page the map, second page the legend, third page some tables or text etc.

This should work for ArcGIS server to. We have often large legends, and there is no place for the map and the legend on a DIN A4 sheet.

In the properties from the layout you have the possibilitie to configure the number of pages.

I know here is the idea for more than one Layout in ArcMap, but I mean more than one pager per Layout.

Re: Second Page in Layout

KoryKramer — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 13:57:50 GMT

Thank you for submitting your idea. It has been reviewed and is open to voting. In the meantime, you might try moving some of your work to an ArcGIS Pro project where you can have multiple layouts in the same project.

Maps—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop

While it isn't exactly what you're requesting, it might make your work easier by being able to create the three pages each as a layout and quickly export them. I understand that it would still be a workaround, but it might be a lot easier than having to manage entirely different map documents.

Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

jcarlson — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 18:47:06 GMT

Before I came to work at an ESRI workplace, I was an avid QGIS user. Still am, really, but as ArcGIS Pro has developed, I find myself needing to use Q less and less to hack together an as-yet-unimplemented feature in Pro.

(Major props on the eyedropper!)

There is, alas, still one feature that I desperately want: multiple-page layouts.

In the course of my work, there are a number of times when it is helpful to have spatial and non-spatial components on separate pages, and the sheer amount of information in my layout cannot realistically be squeezed into a single page. Or at least, not that the average person could print out. I'm all for digital maps, but I know we have other folks in our county who want it on paper, and I'd like to conveniently oblige them.

The biggest of these items are our Change Records we generate when changes are made to the cadastre.

Here's one for reference.

Combining multi-page layouts with a Map Series would absolutely make my day.

What are my alternatives?

Make each page a separate layout
Use some sort of mail merge procedure to generate the non-spatial pages
Make my layouts potentially tabloid-sized
Use Python
Use QGIS

Options 1 and 2 create separate files, which then have to be merged together, adding more steps and intermediate file storage to what is currently a batch process.

Option 3 we tried, but the increased loading time and unprintable nature of the page was not desirable for our users.

Option 4 is a maybe, but there's no way the spatial component will look half as nice as Pro, especially when it comes to labelling.

Option 5 is what I'm currently doing, but it comes with a host of its own limitations, and means that I have to work in two programs during my "weekly update" process, which is sub-optimal.

Final note: I've tried making a reeeeeeally tall layout in Pro and hoping that in the "Print to PDF" process it would cut them, but no. It just generates a really tall PDF.

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout - Status changed to: Open

JeffBarrette — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 19:09:54 GMT

Hello JCarlson,

Thank you for your feedback and idea. I'm with Esri and work on both the Layout and Python Map Automation (arcpy.mp) teams. I'd like some more information about how the non-spatial page is being generated. Can you successfully create the page(s) in ArcGIS Pro on a layout?

Also, your comment about Python in option #4 - "no way the spatial component will look half as nice as Pro". Python can be used to automate the creation of multi-page output but the content is authored in Pro. So that means you can get the output quality the Pro but arcpy.mp can be used to automate the creation of multiple pages stitched together into one resulting PDF.

ArcGIS Pro also supports Reports. I'm not sure if you tried using Reports for your non-spatial pages. If you were able to get the formatting you want, then you could use layouts for your spatial part and reports for your non-spatial pages AND python to combine everything into one product.

There is much more I can add but I don't want to complicate anything until I better understand how you generate the non-spatial page. Feel free to respond here or contact me via jbarrette@esri.com.

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

ThomasHamill — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 19:36:45 GMT

I realize this is an ArcMap solution and not an ArcGIS Pro one, but you could do the really tall data frame layout with the various data-driven spatial and non-spatial map elements and have it tile the three 8.5x11-inch pages, stacked landscape:

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

JeffBarrette — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 21:03:14 GMT

Thomas,

Concerning ArcMap equivalency, did you know you could also tile to PDF in Pro? Did you try the following?

I'm still interested in your non-spatial data. Again, feel free to email me.

Jeff

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

jcarlson — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 21:26:57 GMT

@JeffBarretteIt's been a while since I tried the Print dialog. Was that added in the past few point releases? The last time I tried to do the multi-page PDF in Pro was using the Export dialog, so I probably missed the tiling option.

The non-spatial data consists of a couple of attribute tables with an ID field that match the feature the Map Series is based on. With respect to tiling, even if I opted to go that route, one of the key features in Q that I like is the option to have a layout page simply not generate if there are no matching features in the given table. In this way, my map series can accommodate one file exporting with half a dozen non-spatial pages, and others with only one.

Reports, unfortunately, don't fit the bill, as I need a separate output file per feature as opposed to a report for a full layer. Or I should say, they haven't fit the bill, but I was dealing with the GUI.

I very much like your suggestion of bringing layouts and reports together in python, and I'll definitely be digging into arcpy.mp to see what I can do. I've admittedly not spent much time in the mapping module of arcpy.

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

JeffBarrette — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 21:39:41 GMT

@jcarlson please keep me in the loop. We have future plans to create a Map Book tool (vs map series). map books could include the contents of a map series PLUS all the other components that go into making a final map book project, like title pages, TOCs, index pages, etc. Currently arcpy.mp is the only solution for what I'm calling a map book. Some advanced solutions are possible. Working with your scenario can help us drive requirements.

Jeff

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

jcarlson — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 21:52:39 GMT

@JeffBarretteWill do! The Map Book sounds really great, too. If I can generate a satisfactory result, I'll email you the nitty gritty.

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

AlyciaRajendran_esri — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 22:44:05 GMT

Hi @jcarlson!

I am a member of the Reports team for Pro. We can definitely produce those non-spatial reports right now. It just depends on how automated you want it to be.

The first step is creating a report using the feature layer. You can use the UI to modify the report to look how you want.

1. No automation: When exporting this report, there are a few things to consider. A report honors selection sets and definition queries for the layer, or you can use an expression to query a subset of data to use in the report.

In the example above, before exporting your report, you could select the parcel in the map or table, set a definition query for that parcel on the layer, or set an expression in the report--all of which would result in a one feature report.

2. Some automation: Use the Export Report to PDF geoprocessing tool within a model or in the Pro Python window. The tool also honors selection sets and existing definition queries on the layer. You have the option of setting an expression before exporting as well.

3. All automation: You can create, modify properties, add elements, and export reports using the .NET SDK. Similar to using Python to create multi-page-layouts, the content of these reports would be authored in Pro.

Some helpful links:
Overview documentation: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/reports/reports-in-arcgis-pro.htm

How to set the expression when you create the report: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/reports/specify-report-data.htm#GUID-07BB1458-EB03-421F-9735-E6960AAF2CAD

Export Report to PDF gp tool: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/data-management/export-report-to-pdf.htm

.NET SDK: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/sdk/api-reference/#topic18660.html

I hope this helps. You can contact me via email arajendran@esri.com

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

jcarlson — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 23:39:44 GMT

@AlyciaRajendran_esriThanks for the extra information! I'd thought about going the query layer route and using a query parameter, but often by the end of a busy week, there might be as many as a few dozen reports to generate.

I believe I will attempt the full-automation route, and use reports for the non-spatial elements.

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

DougBrowning — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:45:40 GMT

My use case here is to have page 1 be summary info, page 2 is a table element and maybe page 3 is the map. So I have a 3 page PDF per feature.

I am not seeing a way to do it.

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

JeffBarrette — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 22:17:48 GMT

@DougBrowning I believe it can be done with arcpy.mp. Is Page 1 an ArcGIS Pro layout or is it a standalone PDF? Page 2 could be a separate layout in the same project with the tabular info and Page 3 could be a third Layout.

You can use arcpy.mp to export each layout into a PDF and then use Python to add them all into a single page PDF.

This code example appends 3 PDFs into one PDF (with 3 pages): https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/arcpy/mapping/pdfdocument-class.htm

Jeff

ArcGIS Pro- Multiple Layouts in One Export / Double-Sided Printing Layouts

Amanda__Huber — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 21:49:14 GMT

Hello ArcGIS Pro Team,

We would like the ability to export two separate layouts (unable to use map series for this) into one PDF file for the purpose of condensed electronic pdfs and double-sided printing. We're aware of third-party software for post processing, but I believe other orgs may also find benefit in this functionality.

Please consider this enhancement.

Thank you,

Amanda Huber

Re: ArcGIS Pro- Multiple Layouts in One Export / Double-Sided Printing Layouts

jcarlson — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 17:46:26 GMT

Great idea! So great, in fact, that it's actually been requested before, multiple times, I think. I actually posted something similar to this in the past, but even back in 2019, someone was already asking for this.

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/print-multiple-layouts-in-arcgis-pro/idi-p/941011

Re: Multiple Pages in a Single Layout

JenMar_ — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 23:10:58 GMT

Hello,

I am attempting to create a template that allows me to export a two page map (back and front printed). I am using dynamic tables with a Map Series Pages data frame, where the front page would be a map and the back would include the tables.

I am not an avid programmer, and my staff are not GISers, so I'm wondering if there has been new developments in this area that would allow for multi-page map prints?

Help would be appreciated.