idea Open dialog on same screen as ArcGIS Pro in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Open dialog on same screen as ArcGIS Pro

Bud — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 02:18:58 GMT

ArcGIS Pro 3.1

I'm creating a .LYRX layer file by right-clicking the Contents layer >> Sharing >> Save as Layer File:

When using a computer with two screens, the Save Layer File dialog pops up on a different screen than ArcGIS Pro.

When using big screens, I don't always notice that the window has popped up on a different screen.

Screen1: ArcGIS Pro
Screen2: Save Layer File dialog

Idea:
Is there anything Esri can do to make dialogs pop up in the same screen as ArcGIS Pro?

Re: Open the "Save Layer File" dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

KoryKramer — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:07:50 GMT

Hi @Bud this is a result of the implementation of https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/remember-last-positioned-window-locations-and-size/idi-p/1042464 (an idea that you voted for 🙂 )

So the window will open up in its last location and at the size it was. If you move the main Pro application to a different monitor and open the dialog again, it will be where it was. You can move it back to the monitor where you moved Pro and it will continue to open up there.

Re: Open the "Save Layer File" dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

Bud — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 18:58:17 GMT

@KoryKramer Haha. Ok. Never mind then.

Re: Open the "Save Layer File" dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

KoryKramer — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:26:27 GMT

Hi @Bud I don't think it is a nevermind. I can see and understand what you're pointing out. We'll just need to look into possibilities to further refine the logic and do more user testing. This can be one of those situations where a user always wants a dialog to open in the same location, except when they don't. We'll continue to listen to feedback about the change that was implemented in Pro 3.1 and further refine it as needed.

Thank you.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

Bud — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:09:38 GMT

@KoryKramer, the Delete (feature) dialog might be an even better example:

That example throws me off. If I'm intensely working on my right-hand screen, I don't always notice that small dialog popping up on my left-hand screen. The main ArcGIS Pro window is essentially locked while the dialog is open. So sometimes I mistakenly think that Pro has frozen -- which comes off as really frustrating, even though in reality I've just misread what's happening.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

ZachMoore — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:09:10 GMT

@KoryKramer There should be a user toggle in settings to either anchor dialog boxes to open within the confines of the ArcGIS Pro window or to open them in the last location they were.

Personally, I find the current setup as of v3.1.3 to be extremely disruptive to my work. I work hybrid, so my kit at home and my kit in my office are not exactly the same. When I work in Pro at one location or the other, Pro tries to open dialog windows off screen half the time, and as @Bud mentions, when dialog windows are open, Pro is basically locked. I can't see or move the dialog window, so half the time I have to kill Pro, undock my machine from my monitors, open Pro, do whatever I need to do with dialog boxes, and then plug my monitors back in. Not a smooth process.

I get the idea behind making dockable windows like tables, catalog, geoprocessing tools, etc. open in the last configuration/location. Workspace customization is awesome. But properties, settings, add data, etc. should default to opening on top of the main ArcGIS Pro window, since you cannot interact with the project until those dialogs are resolved anyway. This behavior is actually really frustrating if you are using multiple workstations. The other day I was trying to present a tool I'd been working on in Pro, but since I was using the board room monitors, dialogs opened off-screen and locked up Pro. It really wasted a bunch of time getting things to work correctly.

The idea behind windows opening like this isn't a bad one, but it should be optional, and it should only apply to dialog boxes that can be moved and docked without locking up the workspace.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

BryanLynn1 — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:56:07 GMT

I agree!! The other day while waiting or Pro to open I checked my email and waited, and waited, and waited for Pro to open. Finally I realized the "Sign In" dialog was on a second screen underneath my Outlook window. I will move the Pro window back and forth between screens depending on what I am working on (I tend to keep my primary task on the right screen...) and the dialogs always popping up on a different screens is annoying. And I agree with @ZachMoore, it isn't a bad idea, but it should be customizable.

ArcGIS Pro on multiple screens

ZeminDhanani — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 14:21:48 GMT

As users, we should be able to dictate where pop up screens and dialog boxes open, a toggle in the back end settings would be great. I work on three screens and various dialog boxes open on screen that is different from the main screen that has the Pro project.

Pop ups and dialog boxes that open away from the main pro screen: Select by location/attributes, save/delete edits dialog box, saving project dialog box, Pro project options, etc.

Sometimes, it feels like everything opens away from the main screen and its a little frustrating to deviate attention from the main Pro project screen.

Re: ArcGIS Pro on multiple screens

JonathanNeal — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:11:56 GMT

FYI @ZeminDhanani Very doable. We currently do it for all the dialogs I know of; Pro 3.1+.

Can you add some details where you are seeing it not working? Is it only when you first start Pro? Maybe an older version of Pro?

Details:
The %localappdata%\ESRI\ArcGISSettings.xml file holds modal dialog locations and sizes where it was last used at. That file is updated when you close Pro.

Thank you in advance.

Re: ArcGIS Pro on multiple screens

ZeminDhanani — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 18:47:13 GMT

Hey @JonathanNeal Thanks for responding. I agree that the dialog boxes open where they were last used. One may not always be using the same screen when working with ArcGIS Pro. If we start to use another screen then dragging all the dialog boxes to the main screen isn't fun and it needs to be done every time you switch the main screen.

Rather than manually dragging, a backend option to anchor it to the main screen will be great. This way it will always open all dialog boxes on the main screen of ArcGIS Pro Project.

The dialog boxes which we dont have control over are Opening Project and Saving Project. I believe those are not draggable between screens.

Also, I am using the latest version of Pro

Re: ArcGIS Pro on multiple screens

BradleyThompson1 — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:21:27 GMT

@ZeminDhanani Appreciate what you've shared so far. Hate to potentially ask you to repeat yourself but, when it comes to the specific windows you're concerned with, are you referring to only the highlighted red progressor window in your screenshot? Or are we concerned with multiple different types of windows including that one?

Re: ArcGIS Pro on multiple screens

ZeminDhanani — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 18:19:14 GMT

@BradleyThompson1 I am referring to all pop ups windows as mentioned in the original post.

I am simply requesting that rather than open these pop ups/windows/dialog boxes in the last used screen by default, allow an option in the back stage setting to anchor all Pro pop ups/dialog box/windows to the main screen where Pro is currently being used.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

KevininMN1 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 17:14:19 GMT

Referring to this comment:

Details:
The %localappdata%\ESRI\ArcGISSettings.xml file holds modal dialog locations and sizes where it was last used at. That file is updated when you close Pro. by @JonathanNeal

Is this xml file similar to the normal.mxt file in that it can be deleted forcing a rebuild and reset of the windows, among other settings? or would that not be advisable.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

LuisLaredo — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 23:53:40 GMT

Surely the relative size and location can be maintained and not create chaos by simply having the windows pop up on that x,y point in the active ArcGIS Pro screen only, not the overall desktop space. And also, it should made active and take focus. It's absolutely no good for it to pop up behind another window on another screen.
Have had a user who has a pop-up popping up outside the available desktop space and the only way to access it is by Alt+Space and Maximise. For a week they were thinking ArcGIS Pro had crashed and killing it via Task Manager.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

Bud — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 16:48:55 GMT

To elaborate on @LuisLaredo's Alt+Space workaround:

After googling "Alt+Space" "arcgis pro" I see now that there are more steps:

“…Press alt-space and then the 'm' key, which then allows you to use the arrow keys to move the dialog box back onto the screen.”

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-questions/arcpro-dialog-boxes-showing-up-halfway-off-screen/m-p/1104266/highlight/true#M46285

Or alternatively:

“Press <alt> <space> and then press <x>”

https://community.esri.com/t5/modelbuilder-questions/modelbuilder-window-opens-outside-screen-area/m-p/874654/highlight/true#M1206

I’ll try one of those workarounds next time I have that issue.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

Bud — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:39:16 GMT

Indicate if dialog with exclusive focus is open off-screen

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

HollyTorpey1 — Tue, 28 May 2024 18:39:15 GMT

This would be great. I'm a little embarrassed to admit how long it sometimes takes me to realize that my dialog is already open and waiting for me on a different monitor while I click away in frustration trying to figure out why it's not opening. I always want my dialogs to open on the same monitor that Pro is currently on, but instead they seem to open in the #1 screen by default.

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

Bud — Tue, 28 May 2024 18:56:52 GMT

@HollyTorpey1

I'm a little embarrassed to admit how long it sometimes takes me to realize that my dialog is already open and waiting for me on a different monitor while I click away in frustration trying to figure out why it's not opening.

Same here!

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

ZeminDhanani — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:28:10 GMT

@KoryKramer @JonathanNeal Looks like a lot of people would like this to be implemented. Is this something that is not easy to implement into the software? If it easy to implement do you need any additional information from us?

Re: Open dialog in same screen as ArcGIS Pro

JonathanNeal — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 18:37:23 GMT

@ZeminDhanani From the technical standpoint:
Previously open windows size and location, View or Pane locations, and other settings are at this file path: %localappdata%\ESRI\ArcGISSettings.xml

These settings are saved when Pro closes. You can delete it and it will re-generate to defaults (Windows open in the same screen as pro with no size changes).

It would be best for Framework team + @DavidKwong2 to evaluate this one since they would be doing the work.