idea ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

EricBushee — Wed, 19 May 2021 20:51:11 GMT

It would be great to have a place in ArcGIS Pro to record notes and documentation about a project. It could be as simple as a notepad-like space in a separate window, accessed in the View ribbon. Notes could be typed in and double as a running history of the project. We often have multiple users accessing the same .aprx, and it would be helpful for them to record what they did, and why they did it, for the next user. It would also be helpful when you open a project two years later and try to remember what exactly happened. Separate Word or notepad files can always be made and put into the project folder, but once you start adding additional programs someone has to open, they are less likely to actually do it. With the current ArcGIS Pro architecture, it seems like it could be easily implemented as an additional window.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

DanPatterson — Wed, 19 May 2021 23:45:10 GMT

How about a notebook in Pro

Notebooks in ArcGIS Pro—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

You can use Markdown for documentation and export to a variety of formats.

Your notebooks are available with the project and for others

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

EricBushee — Fri, 21 May 2021 00:06:42 GMT

Yes, thanks, that is a possible solution. Ideally it would have more of a text box structure to it (like what I'm typing into here for this), but a markdown would work as a place to jot down notes.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

NaicongLi — Fri, 21 May 2021 23:45:49 GMT

Hello Eric,

Thank you very much for your suggestion. Have you tried to use the Description field in the project’s metadata to record such notes? You can do this in the Catalog view: with the Project node selected in the Contents pane, click the Edit button on the ribbon, Catalog tab:

This will open a metadata view, where you can enter various types of information about this project – title, summary, keywords, description… The Description field offers some simple formatting functionalities, where you can keep your working notes, or any notes about the project (as well as the more formal description for this project). Click Save and close the metadata view when you are finished editing for the time being (if you just close the metadata view, you will be prompted for any unsaved changes):

Once saved, your notes in the Description (as well as in other metadata fields) will appear in the Catalog view whenever Project is selected in the Contents pane:

Of course this means that, if later you want to share this project externally, you may need to clean up the metadata Description field to delete any notes that you do not want to share externally.

For more information on how to view and edit metadata in ArcGIS Pro, please see https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/metadata/view-and-edit-metadata.htm .

We would appreciate more feedback from you regarding this topic, about whether using the Description field of the project metadata would satisfy your needs. Thank you again for your suggestion.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

EricBushee — Mon, 24 May 2021 01:05:07 GMT

Thanks, I have considered that. We typically try to keep the metadata a little more concise, and my thought was to have a place for a running history of the project, which might tend to get a little long in the metadata. Thanks for replying, though, I appreciate it.

Plain Notebook Incorporated in APRX

Anonymous User — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 21:59:33 GMT

This idea involves a plain notebook, similar to MS OneNote, incorporated into an APRX. An extension to the existing notebook pickmenu, such as selecting the Type (Jupyter or Notes) would allow folding into the existing setup, and stored in the same folder.

Background: A few times I have created (or wished for) a word doc alongside my open APRX to document a process, especially if its experimental. Having the notebook integral to the APRX would keep from having to keep track of a separate document.

I envision it able to include workflow diagrams such as used in the toolbox, as well as snips (or full) code to be used in the Jupyter. An incorporated notebook would help with multiple people accessing the APRX, such as README's for process or documentation. There are any number of possibilities for its use.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

Anonymous User — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 15:58:34 GMT

This thread is what I was looking for prior to posting my suggestion. After reading all of the comments, the Esri response isn't what I'm looking for.

After exploring the Project's Metadata feature, the fact it can not stay open alongside a workspace limits its usability for me.

As a workaround I'm considering a Layout with text boxes and just titling it Project Notes, README, or whatever I need for it to do.

Even a ModelBuilder workspace could be used for this purpose and would allow visual workflows even if the tools are not incorporated.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

wayfaringrob — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 16:23:11 GMT

As a workaround I'm considering a Layout with text boxes and just titling it Project Notes, README, or whatever I need for it to do.

I sometimes put my notes directly in a layout text box and call it README, making sure I save the project with it visible. Otherwise, I am putting my notes in a .txt or .docx in the project folder. It would be nice to have a way to open notes right in the project though, maybe in a pane that corresponds to the active view; a comment thread of sorts like in Google docs. Having it hidden in the catalog metadata is a little clunky. I want the notes to hit my future users (even if it's me) in the face.

Idea: Creation of Notes Pane in ArcGIS Pro

leahmaps — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 13:50:46 GMT

Idea: Have a notes pane available for use that would save project notes directly in Pro.

I had this idea today when I had multiple layers that I needed to note whether labels needed to be turned on, as well as what labels still needed to be formatted. The addition of a notes pane would be a great usability feature within Pro.

There are two "workarounds" if you want to keep notes directly in your pro project.

- Adding a model builder and utilizing the labels to keep notes

- creating a feature class and only having a field for notes.

However, neither of these are very user-friendly. The model builder option does not allow for easily adding line breaks, and you can not dock this on the side panes similar to contents or attributes.

Using the attribute options allows for docking on the side, but unless you are actively editing a note, you can not see your full text (also the eventual character limits).

A notes pane could look similar to the sketch up below:

This can allow for multiple dates of notes and organization. however, this could be limited.

Notes in a Pro project can be beneficial for projects that are only used every few months/once a year to remind of what steps need to be taken, what fields need to be labeled, turned on, etc. Similarly, any team where multiple people work in a Pro project can benefit from this as notes do not need to be shared and hosted elsewhere.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

RandyCasey — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:26:21 GMT

What about an integration with applications like Microsoft To Do, OneNote, Google Notes, etc.? These applications already perform most of the tasks that is being asked for here, and they are all SaaS based, so if a panel could be created that could be directly connected to one of these applications (like displaying a webpage like an application, similar to how Edge or Chrome can do the same), the notes would exist wherever the user needed them. Just a thought.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

DanLee — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:47:20 GMT

This seems an interesting idea and discussion. Although I am an internal member I share the same needs. 🙂

Other than the above examples of using resources to write notes, I just want to mentione another place where I keep some quick notes with my project - the Bookmarks. Obviously bookmarks are not user-friendly enough if you need to write complicated nodes with graphics or other components, but I can write and organize some simple notes as bookmarks with descriptions and put them in bookmark folders. They are saved with my projects/maps. Again I am not suggesting this to satisfy your needs for writing rich notes but a small tip for taking advantage of the bookmarks. 🙂

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

leahmaps — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:18:19 GMT

@RandyCasey I had the idea because I no longer have access to Microsoft "sticky notes" on my computer. I took most notes there for my projects. I don't think a text editor/notes need to be as comprehensive as what you might find in Words/Onenote/Docs, but it would be nice to integrate in some way.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

ademshark — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 21:05:28 GMT

I have been curious about a feature exactly as the original poster wrote it for some time. Pro has so many features, and with many projects being accessed by multiple users, a heads up note space would be nice. Why not include this as another tab that could be kept open as with Map, Layout, Notebook, etc. Something that could be displayed upon loading regarding data sources or special instructions for project use.

Thanks!

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

wayfaringrob — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:45:26 GMT

Slack Canvases are almost exactly what we need here. They toggle on and off alongside the chat (I believe they open automatically when they are new or there is new content?); much more effective and useful than being buried in metadata and you can even add comments. Lots of functionality in there that would support a million different use cases. I just found out about them recently when a project I'm working on created one in our channel for communicating mapping needs - they use it to outline how to format a request & what to include.

for what it's worth, an ArcGIS Pro/slack integration would be killer (if it worked)

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

CS_VT — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:39:14 GMT

It's always so validating when I find myself wanting the same feature that others want/need.

I'm in the midst of a longer term data collection project that ebbs and flows depending on data from third parties. Being able to document, keep notes, etc inside the .aprx - in a user friendly way would be IDEAL. It would help with documentation, I bet it would even make metadata easier because there'd be built in notes for the process. I've even tried using the Map Notes feature, which I thought would be perfect solution - floating features IN the map that can be attached to another feature or a point in space, but it's right there in the map. But the character limit is laughably short. Shorter than tweets used to be! What's that about?

ESRI already has the Tasks feature that lives right under the Contents panel. Why not add a similar notes feature. It lives right where we're always looking for information about whats in the project anyway? Just a long text box with editing that can be switched on/off.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

wayfaringrob — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:47:56 GMT

This seems to be the same idea (merge?): Notes Bar (Like in Power Point) in ArcMap - Esri Community

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

HollyTorpey_LSA — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:05:26 GMT

I've so often thought about how helpful this would be. I think a Notes pane would be great, and even greater if it had a checkbox to "Display on project opening" or something. Often you don't even realize or remember that you should read the notes for a project, so it needs to be in your face as soon as you open the project. That's why solutions like metadata are not ideal. Notebooks, layout text boxes, ModelBuilder labels, etc., are a little better, but you have to remember to save the project with them open and visible or remember to go looking for them. At my workplace, we work in multiple projects every day and sometimes return to projects months or years later (and multiple people sometimes work in the same project at different times). A project log/notes pane that is always open and visible when projects open would be incredibly useful.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

CS_VT — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:25:59 GMT

I commented in this thread earlier with a similar concern but I have developed my own workaround to this problem.

Each time I want to keep track of what's going on in a map - track my process, note what I need to do next, etc. - I open a layout associated with the map (sized at printer friendly 8.5x11) and make ONE giant text box to fill the layout. I basically just keep narratives of my workflow here, but with all the layout tools at your disposal you can go wild. Maybe even add a little version of the map if you wanted to notate things on the map in a graphical/text-based way. Nothing would stop you from starting another layout if you need to create a different product based on the same map, but here you can connect the notes to the map and keep everything in an easy to access place!

This has proven to be a helpful way to get CLOSE to this kind of solution without having to dig too deep into settings or other funny notebooks. You can even save your project so that the Layout is the first thing you see when you open it!

Re: ArcGIS Pro Project Notes Window

Nina_Matheis — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:25:30 GMT

I would love this too.

Some kind of integration with Microsoft Office (as presumably this is what most people use when using ArcGIS Pro) would be amazing.

I'm thinking an integration for Word, or for even Planner (someone else mentioned Slack canvas boards, but Planner makes more sense as it is in the Microsoft environment).