idea Split ArcGIS Pro into "Mapping" Vs "Analysis" in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Split ArcGIS Pro into "Mapping" Vs "Analysis"

SarahMorrison — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:20:34 GMT

I saw someone else (Jeremy H.) suggest this on LinkedIn, and came here to upvote it, but I don't see it, so I'm reposting it! This is not my idea, but I cannot agree with his point more.

His post read:

"please split ArcGIS Pro into two apps—one for analysis and one for mapping. Right now it’s trying to be everything at once, and it ends up feeling heavy. Analysts want a fast, stripped-down space for crunching data. Mappers want a clean, stable place to design without all the extra clutter. Two focused tools would be lighter, easier to learn, and way less frustrating than one overloaded platform.

Creating a side app stripped down for faster mapping would make production go faster, create less frustration, and prevent software updates from inadvertently interfering with the day to day."

This is such a good idea. Often, when I want to make maps, Pro tries to hard to optimize geoprocessing tools, and when I'm trying to use geoprocessing tools, Pro wants to optimize visualizations and spends a lot of time spinning the wheel to update all my windows.

If there was a version of Pro for geoprocessing that was more dumbed down like Desktop, and a more visualization geared version - this would save a lot of headache for a lot of users!

Many analysts want a less visually aesthetic software for just doing analysis that ran faster! I know several people who use QGIS or Desktop to avoid the spinning wheel of death in Pro.

@JeremyHuey (I hope this is the correct Jeremy Huey?)

Re: Split ArcGIS Pro into "Mapping" Vs "Analysis"

JeremyHuey — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:35:57 GMT

This is me, and boy did my LinkedIn post go a bit more viral than I intended. I think when new bugs are fixed and updates are pushed, brand new issues arise. I just want to be able to spit out maps fast and effectively and think an a la carte platform that is wholly streamlined for this purpose would be nice. Don't get me wrong, I use ESRI products and love them, teach with them, use them everyday... however, most of the work on a daily basis, for most GIS users, is still the creation of maps/graphics/simple calculations. I just want my bread and butter to go smoother, and right now a lot of the simple copy paste, and basic mapping features seem to get bogged down at every corner.

Bests and thanks for the support,

Re: Split ArcGIS Pro into "Mapping" Vs "Analysis"

TylerT — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 19:20:41 GMT

@SarahMorrison, @JeremyHuey,

Interesting thought. What are some specific examples of where Pro optimizes mapping/geoprocessing over another. Are you referring only to speed issues or is there more to it?

With Arcpy and ArcGIS for Python APIs, heavy lifting in geoprocessing or mapping can be done without even opening ArcGIS Pro GUI. This might be closer to a pattern you desire currently out-of-the-box.

Tyler

Re: Split ArcGIS Pro into "Mapping" Vs "Analysis"

RTPL_AU — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 01:34:26 GMT

Upvoted @SarahMorrison, but I also asked @JeremyHuey in LinkedIn if he meant three separate apps as so many of us have been asking for standalone Catalog app for a decade. 👴
I wonder if the Analysis component could be in Catalog. I used to use Catalog to run models and things outside of a map session for the reasons mentioned by Sarah.

Re: Split ArcGIS Pro into "Mapping" Vs "Analysis"

JeremyHuey — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:16:46 GMT

Folks,

I have been doing environmental consulting for 20 years. Everyday I create anywhere from 5-20 graphics for multiple clients across different reports. Some of them are more heavy lift operations with raster analysis, interpolations, drone imagery, etc. MOST, of the stuff I do is show data collected in the field on a map layout. This should be quick! Unfortunately, every few updates something happens where there is a hang up. Currently in 3.5.2 when you copy ANYTHING... a layer, a text from one layout to another, and try to paste, the program hangs. This is not my computer, I have checked with other analysts and they have the same issue. I also teach at two junior colleges and run into this there. It won't always happen, it happens intermittently, and it is a time killer. (Usually not on a fresh document, and usually not right at startup, almost always once you get a few maps/layouts deep).

This is beside the point. The point isn't if this one glitch can get fixed, it comes down to production level mapping needing a more streamlined environment, stripped down and away from all the clutter. Even if this one is fixed, another thing will pop up (it has before and will again). I just want to be able to slam out maps and think having a simple layout app away from all the other updates will fix this. When you are pushing 8 pages of updates to one app, something is bound interfere with simple map production. For now, I started doing layouts in QGIS, it runs much faster. No, I'm not anti ESRI, my office is filled with years of UC swag. I have been at this a long time and am a bit tired of all the bells and whistles when it prevents me from being a fast graphic producer; as I have been able to be in the past.

One streamlined, side app, dedicated to layouts, away from all the variable updates. Stripped down for efficiency, please.

Re: Split ArcGIS Pro into "Mapping" Vs "Analysis"

SarahMorrison — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:35:29 GMT

@RTPL_AU A standalone catalog application like Desktop had would be helpful. I often open a dummy pro project with no layouts and no maps and complete catalog tasks. Having the catalog window in Pro is extremely helpful, especially for things like re-pathing broken links. I certainly wouldn't want it removed from a layout version for this reason. I work in a cloud based server environment, and while it's sometimes possible to pull things down and work locally, I cant avoid working on the server most of the time.