idea Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template. in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

HayleyHume-Merry — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:56:10 GMT

I would like ArcGIS Pro to allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

Currently, the "Create a new folder for this project" box is checked and greyed out when creating a new project from a custom template.

This is a problem for us as our organisational standards have this unticked by default, meaning that if we implement project templates, any projects using these will end up with a different folder structure.

Screenshot from training video showing the box greyed out and therefore it is unable to be unchecked.

Having this box unchecked is the default setting for our organisation

This idea was originally raised as a comment on this training video.

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

jmaxwell_braun — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 17:08:33 GMT

This used to be possible until the upgrade to 3.1. Me and others in my department unchecked the box for every new project over the last 2 years, but it stopped working recently.

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

BieckNagelhout — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 09:42:51 GMT

This has always been possible, now it's been broken for no good reason and we get to vote to please get this basic functionality back? Interesting...

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

BrendanSoulé — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 21:57:27 GMT

Interesting update on this.

We are running Pro 3.0.2 on one server and can uncheck that box.

However, Pro 3.1.2 on our other server does NOT allow "create a new folder for this project" to be unchecked.

Both servers are starting with the same template APTX file, both versions have "create a folder for the project" disabled in the APRX Options:

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

AzinSharaf — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 22:02:35 GMT

@BrendanSoulé Have you used a custom aptx or esri template?

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

BrendanSoulé — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 22:10:44 GMT

@AzinSharaf It's a custom APTX we've been using for about 3 years now. Only recently saw this issue appear.

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

AzinSharaf — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 22:13:19 GMT

yes 3.0 doesn't have this issue but 3.1.2 has.

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

PLadd — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:03:51 GMT

I was using 3.1.3 and it is also a flop. Upgraded to 3.2.0 and the problem persists:

Somebody at ESRI must think forcing users to create a folder is a good idea. I always saw it as creating more clutter.

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template.

BrendanSoulé — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 16:55:53 GMT

Talked with Esri support recently and they let me know this is intentional:

"Starting from version 3.1, it is now a requirement to create projects from custom templates in a new folder. Therefore the option to not create a new folder was disabled. This measure has been implemented to prevent data loss and ensure the integrity of your project data. In the past, if a new folder was not created when multiple projects were created from the same template in the same location, there was a risk of overwriting the data provided with the template. This meant that any previous edits made to that data would be lost. "

Re: Allow the "Create new folder for this project" box to be unchecked when creating a new project from a custom project template. - Status changed to: Closed

NaicongLi — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:36:10 GMT

We are closing this idea because the ArcGIS Pro is behaving as intended - when a project is created from a custom project template or from an untitled project, it is required to create a folder that can be used to store all files associated with the project. This prevents losing data, losing important project information, and effectively damaging either the new project or other existing projects.

Beginning with ArcGIS Pro 3.1 it has not been possible to uncheck the "Create a new folder for this project" check box when creating a project from a custom template. This was a deliberate change intended to communicate that the new project saved in this circumstance must be created in a new folder. Also, when saving changes made to an untitled project, a new folder is automatically created in which to store all of the untitled project's files.

This behavior is documented. In the help topic "Create a project", in the section "Create a project from a custom template", it says: "A project created from a custom template must be created in a new folder.": https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/projects/create-a-new-project.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_B53899E9E65C4CA7BAE0BF4B47A89C17.

In the help topic "Save a project" it says: "If you started working without a template, the Save Project As dialog box appears when you try to save your changes. Instead of browsing to a location where you will store a new project file, you will browse to a location in which a folder will be created. A folder is always created for projects created without a template, even if your settings specify not to create a folder for projects created with a template.": https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/projects/save-a-project.htm".

Thank you all for your feedback.