idea Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer

AndySauls — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 15:37:09 GMT

When exporting data in ArcMap, the prompt below is displayed.

In ArcPro, this prompt is not displayed. Instead, you can change the settings for exporting data in Project > Options > Geoprocessing (see below). By checking or unchecking the box, any exported data for the project is either always added or never added to the map.

However, in my work, I sometimes want an export to be added to the map, while another export I do not want added to the map. It just depends on the task in the project.

I recommend that a prompt be added to ArcPro, like that in ArcMap, however, this prompt could be optional, by checking or unchecking a box in settings. It could read: “Display prompt asking to add exported data to the map as a layer”. If this box is unchecked, than the user would have to check or uncheck the box that is currently in Pro: “Add output datasets to an open map”.

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer - Status changed to: Under Consideration

DrewFlater — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 23:53:17 GMT

We will be watching this request to see if it's a common situation. Give the asynchronous/background execution of tools it is unlikely this would be implemented as a prompt dialog asking if you want to add the data to a map when the tool completes. More likely if this were implemented it would be a checkbox or toggle somewhere on the export dialog that you check before running, and when the tool completes in the background the data is either added or not based on your choice.

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer

MattHowe — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 09:16:12 GMT

We often export data to distribute across our organisation and so don't really want to add it to the map every time. Having the option would be really helpful!

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer

bfulker — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:00:52 GMT

Leaving to user either to add the export or not is very helpful.

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer

JamesKirk1 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 04:50:23 GMT

Yes I agree. A simple toggle button on the export pane/window would be very useful.

Export Feature Class as Shapefile

Ed_ — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 20:14:56 GMT

It would be nice to have the option to check or uncheck whether you want to add the output vector data, shapefile in this example to the map. This would be useful as a lot of the time you don't want to add the output to the map since it's already in the content pane and you are exporting it to have a copy for some other use case such as sharing with others.

Add it as a checkbox option in the Export Features tool.

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer - Status changed to: In Product Plan

ValeriaChavez — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:40:04 GMT

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer

Ed_ — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 23:56:39 GMT

🎉

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer - Status changed to: Implemented

MargaretCrawford — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:35:19 GMT

Hello, this idea has been implemented in ArcGIS Pro 3.6

Use the new geoprocessing option: Show toggle to add output datasets to open map

This will add a toggle button to geoprocessing tools, which you can turn off/on to decide whether you want the output added to the map per each tool you run.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/whats-new-in-arcgis-pro.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_463DCA76A448429C8EE22ED94F1E70B0

Re: Provide 'optional' prompt to add exported data to the map as a layer

Ed_ — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:30:50 GMT

@MargaretCrawford thank you for quickly picking up on the idea submitted in June and implementing it in the latest release of ArcGIS Pro version 3.6