idea ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

RTPL_AU — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 05:50:50 GMT

In ArcGIS Desktop (Map & Catalog) you can right click on a geoprocessing tool and select "Batch"

This allows you to run the same tool with multiple custom inputs & outputs, parameters, etc. and even use FILL to autocomplete fields with similar parameters.

There is a Batch option in Pro but it does not replicate the existing functionality.

There are a few new options but most of old functionality is lost.

A good example is importing multiple Domains using multiple input tables as well as / or a table with multiple columns defining Domians into one or more FGDB.

Using a Batched version of the Desktop "Table to Domain" tool you can use DRAG & DROP or COPY & PASTE to add multiple Input Tables, add non-standard Code/Description Fields, expand rows with FILL, customize a few DOMAINS and then run the tool.

This does not appear to be possible to do in Pro.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

MattNash — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:04:50 GMT

Right, also being to specify separate outputs for each input in a batch tool, as in batch clip in ArcMap.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

GrantSmith — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 14:39:20 GMT

Definitely hoping Pro came integrate this process. I commonly use this practice in ArcCatalog/Map to batch the Feature Compare tool to compare "old" versions of data to "new" versions and detect changes between them (row counts, attribution changes, etc.).

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

DrewFlater — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 07:41:16 GMT

If you need to have multiple parameters be different in the batch operation, I suggest to simply use the normal version of the tool, and use the geoprocessing queuing system to accomplish running this sequence of operations. Since you are modifying multiple sets it does not seem like there is much to be gained by interacting with a grid of parameters vs the tool dialog.

Grant Smith‌ brought up a case of picking multiple pairs of base feature and compare feature. In the normal Feature Compare tool, select a base, select a comparison layer, name the output, click Run, and immediately repeat to add the next tool to run when the first one finishes. The parameters from the first one are maintained so if only one or a few things need to be changed that can be done efficiently (similarly to "filling" a batch column in the ArcMap batch grid).

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

RTPL_AU — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 22:59:05 GMT

Hi Drew,
The suggestion is akin to me suggesting Esri should license music from Otis or KONE to play while using Pro in order to distract users from the delays while trying to get work done. 🙂

There are many ways to accomplish tasks in Pro that result in the same outcome as with Desktop/Map/Catalog. The aspect of step execution time however, seems to not feature high in the KPIs of the developers & UI/UX designers.

The simple tabular view of the batch process allows you to easily and quickly set up a task with the ability to visually adapt individual rows after auto filling the entire stack. Accomplishing the same outcome in Pro requires a linear workflow without most of the concurrent setup optimisations possible in a Batch.
Yes, the execution is run linearly but you can move on to other things in ArcMap while it is executing in Catalog......

Again - Yes, I know you can have multiple instances of Pro open but it sill does not match having a few Catalogs and a handful of ArcMaps open without having to choose projects & favourites every time you run it..

This idea does not matter as much in a GIS "factory assembly line" where you can have to automate and code work segments but affects us that work in a task & data-random bureau service or consultancy where time counts.

However, if you then need to run the batch task multiple times the tabular batch view (to me) makes it easier to progress to Model Builder as I can see the various inputs & outputs in one view

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

OliviaDeSimone — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 19:44:44 GMT

I agree that the tabular functionality of batch tools in ArcMap was fantastic -- particularly the fill functionality.

In my case, I'm trying to add multiple fields to a feature class, normally a pretty simile task. In Pro, it looks like they added a new tool call Add Fields (plural) which is what you are supposed to use to add multiple fields to a feature class. It is a huge pain. Most the fields I am adding are the same length and use the same domain, but for each field, I have to manually enter the length and the domain whereas in the old batch functionality of ArcMap, I would have just been able to use fill.

I initially tried using batch on the Add Field tool before I noticed the new Add Fields tool. I was able to add fields of multiple names, but the batch tool only accepted one set of parameters, so I ended up with differently named fields that all had the same alias, field type, domain, etc. I don't even see why that's an option. It seems like batch Add Field did not support the same functionality it did in ArcMap, so they created Add Fields as an ulterior option, but it is still insufficient compared to the functionality offered in ArcMap.

It seems like Esri shifted the focus of batch tools towards doing the same thing or nearly the same thing on multiple input datasets -- but what about when you want to execute the same tool on the same dataset multiple times with different parameters? Furthermore, even with that functionality in place, as we have in the Add Fields tool, we don't have the same auto-fill functionality that made batch tools in ArcMap so easy.

Below is the picture of the issue.

Another particularly annoying feature of the Add Fields tool is that you can't add multiple blank fields -- you can only do one at a time, so you have to scroll to the top time every time you need to add a new field to hit the plus button and then scroll back down to fill in the field information. Rinse and repeat. Ten times. You can click the plus button multiple times to add multiple fields, but then it just deletes the extras once you start entering the parameters of the first blank field. You were definitely able to add multiple rows to the batch tool table in ArcMap, and it was less difficult in the first place because all the information for your batch tool runs was laid out right in front of you in the batch tool table.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

AdamEversole1 — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:46:28 GMT

Hello All,

We had a issue come up in support similar to this conversations about using the "Iterate Multivalue" model builder tool. Essentially, For the input it's best practice to create a variable and apply the multiple values option. This allows a single input to be a variety of data types, like a Featureclass/Layer/Featurelayer ect. The other option when creating a variable is a Table of Values: unfortunately Its not suggested, but it looks very similar to the batch interface we use in ArcMap. Support logged this enhancement to allow this model builder:

ENH-000133415 : Allow variables created with a Table of values to be used in Iterate Multivalue model builder tool.

My hope is this helps in the discussion and if you like this idea please feel free to also Contact Support and we can get your account attached to this request.

Cheers,

Adam

Esri Support

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

Oliver_Burdekin — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 11:56:28 GMT

@AdamEversole1I've been trying the multivalue approach as well as the table of values. I cannot find any reference to "table of values" in the documentation and have not had any success with this.

Using the buffer tool as an example I've created a multivalue variable for input layers and created a batch tool on the distance parameter.
%Value% = layer name
%Name%=distance (e.g. '1000_meters')

With the following settings the batch tool runs but only for the first distance setting.

The outputs from this are

Test_Rivers_1000_meters

Test_Roads_1000_meters

I could not find the support ticket ENH-000133415 through searching support but have emailed to attach my account to this ticket.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

KariBuckvold — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:59:11 GMT

Yes, please bring back the grid! Another thing I can't believe got taken away from desktop to Pro.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

AlfredBaldenweck — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 13:40:52 GMT

It really doesn't make sense to only be able to batch only one parameter.

ArcMap's way is perhaps more visually intimidating, but it gets the job done handily. Having to mess around with queuing, as suggested in these comments, is a pain. When I want to batch something, I want to set it up and go, not spend 10 minutes adding things to the queue.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

DebbieH — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:47:40 GMT

Yes! We need the batch table back! For example, I batch clip multiple input features to multiple different clip features all the time. I have had to continue using ArcMap to do this, but now that it is going away, I have no easy way to do this. Please bring it back.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

RTPL_AU — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 04:40:55 GMT

I must be dreaming but it is now 2025 and we've not had a comment on this idea for over a year.
Time flies when you're having fun.

This is also the first year I do not have access to ArcMap extensions because stupid me didn't think to purchase permanent licenses to the extensions I use most when I could. It'll be fine. Everything's fine...

Back to the Idea.

I have a large number of rasters to contour - at various intervals. In ArcMap I could batch the contour GP tool, insert all the rasters, add destinations, fill all the common stuff, quickly type in the various intervals, then let it run while going to do something else that is productive.

Habit had me open ArcMap to do the same a few minutes ago (I bought a Std license 10 years ago) and said some colourful things when the tool failed to start with the 'you have no license' message.

Now I have to run through the list manually as if I'm a peasant - and I cannot in good conscience charge a client for it. Even with staging it is not as effective as in ArcMap.
I need three variable group batching - input, output, process parame.... Why am I explaining this? Just make it do what ArcMap did.

Brownie points if I can get access to ArcMap Extension licenses under a current Pro subscription with all the fruit.

/much whingeing deleted/

@AdamEversole1 @DrewFlater @KoryKramer

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

ErickFox — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:44:01 GMT

I didn't realize what I had with the ArcMap table-style batch parameter input until it was taken from me. As others have said, being able to match inputs, parameters, and outputs row-by-row is a huge time saver, not to mention the QC value vs manually rerunning a tool and adjusting the parameters each time. Bring back the batch table!!

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

Jeff-Reinhart — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:38:46 GMT

👏not👏fu👏lly👏feat👏ured

Please bring the grid back.

Re: ArcGIS Pro: Add Multi - field Batch Geoprocessing ability such as in ArcGIS Desktop

Alison_Mynsberge — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:07:14 GMT

That this is still not available in Pro 3.x makes me very disappointed. I'm trying to "queue up" a custom tool from the GP history, but when I attempt to rerun by just changing 2 parameters, 1 of the 2 occasionally defaults back to the value from the previous run, so I am continually having to check and rerun the tool. Recommending a process that is prone to error is not a valid replacement. This would NOT have happened with the tabular batch process tool.