idea Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

DuncanHornby — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:05:42 GMT

Now I know that saving layer files as lyr format is "not in production" despite many of us scream for this functionality, but I have come across a chicken and egg situation. About 9.9 times out of 10 when someone sends me a shapefile with the associated lyr file they have not created it with a relative path so the lyr file is pointing to their local machine.

In ArcMap you can right click on a lyr file in the catalog panel (or ArcCatalog) go to properties and reset the data source path and this updates the lyr file. You are then able to add the layerfile to the map and display the data.

Would be very helpful if ArcPro can expose the properties of a lyr file so these sort of errors can be fixed.

I could do it in ArcMap, but I'm using pro and bringing in the broken lyr file into ArcPro, fixing the data source internally is no use as I can't save it back as a lyr file! No point creating a lyrx if everyone else is using ArcMap...

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

KoryKramer — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 14:01:48 GMT

Duncan, best practice would be to exchange layer packages rather than data with a layer file.

Saving layers and layer packages—Help | ArcGIS Desktop

You shouldn't need to reset the data source. Instead, use Apply Symbology From Layer—Data Management toolbox | ArcGIS Desktop

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

DuncanHornby — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 14:29:17 GMT

Just been devils advocate!

You try telling that to government agencies, international agencies,students, consultancies and NGO's....

These are the people I work with. I'm lucky if I even get any metadata, which is usually none at all most of the time.

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

KoryKramer — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 14:32:28 GMT

Yes, changing habits can be a long process. Help us educate all users in best practices for data sharing!!!

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

RichardHowe — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 13:43:40 GMT

I find it amazing that I can't do anything to edit a layer file within ArcGIS Pro though. It has basically become a read only file. If you want to tweak it. Add it to a map, make the changes then share it back out as a new layer file. That's cumbersome!

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

LeandraGordon — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:32:12 GMT

Problem is that Apply Symbology From Layer is pretty buggy, especially when used via python or even in model builder. Many properties such as number formatting of the feature class just don't get applied.

Update Layer file properties from Catalog

Brian_McLeer — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:02:42 GMT

At our organization, we keep layer files with read-only permissions for users on a network drive for standardized symbology. In ArcCatalog, you were able to right-click on a layer and choose properties to edit the layer file properties.

In the Catalog Pane and Catalog View in ArcGIS Pro, this functionality is lost.

Users should be able to modify layer file properties from the Catalog Pane or View as they were able to in ArcCatalog.

Currently, this is on Version 2.6.6 that I was documenting this idea for.

Re: Update Layer file properties from Catalog

ABishop — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:24:38 GMT

@Brian_McLeer

What version of ArcGIS Pro are you using?

Re: Update Layer file properties from Catalog

Brian_McLeer — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:27:23 GMT

@ABishop , I am using 2.6.6. I realized I did not include this in my original post and made an edit at the bottom of the main post.

Re: Update Layer file properties from Catalog

ABishop — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:32:51 GMT

@Brian_McLeer

OK.. I see it. I am using ArcGIS Pro 2.8.2 and I also cannot see the functionality of editing the properties of a layer file. Quite frustrating!

I did some searches online too and ESRI doesn't seem to have documentation on it either. Maybe submit this as an idea on their idea page?

Seems the only work around is to make the changes to the layer then save over the existing layer. Ugh.

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

AlfredBaldenweck — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:32:23 GMT

I'm in Pro 2.9.5 and we still don't have this functionality. It's another example of Pro's catalog not being up to snuff.

Please let us edit LYRs and LYRXs in catalog so we don't have to keep saving over them.

Access .lyrx properties in catalog view and catalog pane

EmikoCarrell — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 23:32:36 GMT

This should be very simple. I want to be able to view the layer (.lyrx) properties by right clicking on the layer in Catalog View or the Catalog Pane. Below is a screen shot of this context menu option in ArcCatalog 10.x. Beneath that is the screen shot of the context menu with this functionality absent in ArcGIS Pro 2.9.

ArcCatalog 10.x:

ArcGIS Pro 2.9:

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

mmoEditor — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 20:50:02 GMT

This is quite a significant equivalency issue in Pro. The time it takes and the workflows required to make simple changes to lyr/lyrx file is rather messy for simple changes. The ability to edit Symbology, labels and definition queries in a Catalog View solves a significant problem especially when make changes quite often to a lyr(x) to get it right.

Being able to fix this mess in a Catalog View is gold!

Re: Edit lyr files properties in ArcGIS Pro

Joey_Lecky — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 01:28:10 GMT

Definitely related to this issue: when creating layer files...

The 'Save to Layer File' gp tool has a checkbox for "store relative path." But if you right-click a layer and select Sharing > Save as Layer File, or use the ribbon (Share tab > Layer File) that option for relative paths is nowhere to be found. Though at least it appears the default behavior in the latter workflow is to use relative paths. Then of course there is no way to view properties of a layer file and confirm one way or the other.

And I agree that with ArcMap it was nice to be able to view and edit a layer file in catalog rather than having to add it to a map, make changes to the layer, and save out a new layer file.