idea Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

TrippCorbin — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 15:26:41 GMT

In ArcMap if I make a legend bigger or smaller the contents will scale proportionally. This makes it very simple to ensure the legend is legible and in proportion to the rest of the map. In ArcGIS Pro, when I make the legend larger the contents maintain the size they were when the legend was created. They do not automatically scale. I have not found a setting which enables this functionality. You instead must make adjustments to all the various elements within the legend to get them to change size. While this provides much greater control over those elements, it is much more difficult and time consuming. Maybe having a check box to provide the automatic scaling as an option or just make it work like it did in ArcMap. #ArcGIS Pro #Layouts legend management

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

FrankVeldhuis1 — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 18:12:10 GMT

I'm trying to use pro for a printed map with a legend. The current legend controls are a pain to use. I completely agree, scale the text when I scale the overall legend. I shouldn't have to step through each piece of text and resize it. The lack of legend scaling is slowing down the map creation process.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

KarenHoelscher — Mon, 14 May 2018 16:16:06 GMT

Is this ever going to be fixed???

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

MichaelVolz — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:07:17 GMT

Any update on whether this very helpful ArcMap functionality will be matched in a future release of Pro?

Seems like this basic functionality that makes work more efficient (important in the business world) should have been ported over to Pro long ago as Pro has been around for quite some time at this point.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

KoryKramer — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 19:49:35 GMT

Michael, there are plans to address this, but it isn't a near-term item. It is a mid-term item (meaning it could be 2 or 3 releases).

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

CathyWilson2 — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:54:42 GMT

According to this article, it should work.

https://community.esri.com/ideas/14329-scale-legend-contents-automatically-with-change-in-size?commentID=56559#comment-56559

But it doesn't. It is unacceptable that the only way to resize a legend from the default too-small-for-a-poster-sized-map, to a size that is readable from maybe 4 feet away, is to either make all of the text bigger, which makes them all the same size; or convert to graphics and manually resize each element.

If I change any of the Fitting Strategy items (Format Legend pane, Legend tab, Legend Arrangement Options icon, Arrangement, Fitting Strategy dropdown box) and then resize the frame, the frame gets bigger, but the legend itself doesn't change. The only Fitting Strategy that does anything different is "Adjust frame" and all it does is make the frame match the legend. Surely this isn't the way this setting is meant to work.

Please fix this. Thank you!

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

JedJackson — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 23:33:01 GMT

This is definitely a down grade from functionality in ArcMap, where one can easily stretch a legend to fit how the map is displayed (especially for poster or wall maps).

I have a Project with 15 different layers that I turn on and off to create a series of maps at the same scale and layout then export to a series PDF. Having to make a graphic image for each Legend so that I can resize and everyone of those maps and layers in order that I can dynamically stretch to fit the presentation is time consuming and dangerous if I do not check every single map and legend to ensure all the layers are on or off (not to mention symbology changes). I can have a layout for each version of the map but that still does not correct the problem of the scale of legend.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

marcusperry1 — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 22:13:16 GMT

Any plans to fix this yet?

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

CathyWilson2 — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:05:25 GMT

I have a map series that I had created in ArcMap. I just imported it into an ArcGIS Pro, then Shared the Layout as a PDF Map Series. I have the Legend set to "Only show features visible in the map extent." Then I opened up my PDF and I was actually pleasantly surprised that it worked fine the first try! The legend resizes as needed as I switch to different pages that have different features showing.

I realize this isn't quite what you are doing. You are manually turning on and off layers, so

I also did an experiment with a layout, turning on and off layers and the legend adjusted appropriately. The issues I posted about in May of last year regarding the Fitting Strategy seem to have been resolved.

In Layout view, in the Contents pane, double-click your legend which will open the Format Legend pane.
In the Format Legend pane, under Legend Items, click "Show properties..."
Under Feature Display Options, check "Only show features visible in the map extent"

Click the back arrow at the top of the pane
Select the next icon, which is the Legend Arrangement Options.
Under Arrangement, Fitting Strategy, select "Adjust columns and font size"

I hope this helps!

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

SeanHlousek — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 15:56:20 GMT

Kory,

Where is this in the pipeline?

Is it still mid-term or has it graduated to near-term?

The Legend controls, (and frankly all Layout graphics-elements), should behave similar to Microsoft Power Point where we can resize quickly by dragging on a corner. This is quick, easy, and most importantly to ESRI, it's intuitive for users getting familiar with ArcGIS PRO.

This functionality should work with legends, and any text-box elements or map surrounds in Layout. (If it already works with some or all layout elements then is should ABSOLUTELY work with Legends if for no other reason than for resizing controls to remain consistent).

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

TimLangner — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:37:14 GMT

Not sure how many releases there has been since January 2019 but I'm on the latest one and I've just hit the issue.

I guess I could have gone back to ArcMap in order to accommodate the scaling of legend but ArcMap doesn't support having 12 maps and 12 layouts in the one document.

ArcView 3.1 did but no idea if that supported scaling of legends and even if it did, it's long been out of support.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

Ed_Conrad — Thu, 14 May 2020 17:51:21 GMT

The solution below does not perfectly address resizing a legend and have it scale proportionately while maintaining aspect ratio, but it allowed me to resize my legend and keep it dynamic rather than convert it to graphics. Resizing this approach does proportionately change the font sizes for the various legend items (e.g. Layer Names, Heading, Labels, Description), but it does not keep the aspect ratio the same.

Change Fitting strategy to "Adjust font size". When I was initially trying to resize the legend, it was set to "Adjust Frame" and I couldn't resize the legend. #arcpro 2.5

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

KeithAddison1 — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 18:49:20 GMT

Grargh.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

MichaelWilliamsUSDA — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 17:30:16 GMT

Wow!

An issue opened by @TrippCorbin in 2017 and four years later, still no fix from esri? This is just sad.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

JakeKrall — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 20:29:32 GMT

I just started using Pro to make maps regularly. Terribly cumbersome when working with the legend. In Arcmap I can add it grab a handle and drag it to resize all elements at once in a matter of seconds. Now, it takes 30 minutes to adjust everything as needed. What use are the handles and purpose if they don't resize the element(s)?

@Esri, can we please get this fix.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

Anonymous User — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 14:23:51 GMT

I agree that working with legends in Pro is absolutely awful. I have so many issues with them I dread every time I have to do a layout. I find Pro generally very clunky to use compared to ArcMap.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

PaulHoefflerGISS — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:45:42 GMT

Nearly five years on from when this was "mid-term" is there a timeline on when ArcGIS Pro will achieve parity with ArcMap? Is this finally resolved in ArcGIS Pro 3.0?

This is a vexing problem for all who make maps with ArcGIS Pro.

@KoryKramer we can run this through Technical Support and our account managers if that's the route we need to take it...

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

DanAllen — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 14:07:32 GMT

@PaulHoefflerGISS I am running the latest version of ArcPro 3.x and the legend tool is still unusable in regards to resizing. If there were improvements to its functionality, I certainly do not see them. I think I might have to start making a legend in ArcMap and copying it as a screenshot graphic over to ArcPro. Its probably faster.

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

PaulHoefflerGISS — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 14:20:34 GMT

Thanks for confirming, @DanAllen.

We'll run this through Esri Technical Support and report back with whatever that may yield, as stepping stone to possible resolution in the future...

Re: Scale Legend Contents Automatically with change in size

rlsantore — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:45:24 GMT

I mean 5 years later and the Map Legend (KEY TO THE MAP) is not a priority? Hmmm Pfffft.