topic 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout in ArcGIS Pro Questions

20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 13:48:48 GMT

I am trying to transition to Pro and I did an import of an mxd. It didn't import my border (neatline) and so I was trying to figure out how to add it back in. I stumbled across this bug or whatever it is called. It has a workaround but not a very good one. I am just wondering why neatlines are not supported in Pro. I feel a nice border around a map makes it look more professional.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

KoryKramer — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:28:17 GMT

What version of ArcGIS Pro are you using?

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 16:48:59 GMT

2.0.1

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

KoryKramer — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 21:22:06 GMT

Hi Josh, like you mentioned, there is a workaround noted here: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop which is to draw the neatline as a hollow rectangle.

I'm not sure about that second listed workaround of converting the neatline to graphics in ArcMap. I don't see that as an option (when I have the neatline selected in the layout, Convert To Graphics is grayed out.

Do you see the same thing?

Anyway, we'll take this as feedback for layouts in Pro, but for trackability and to socialize this, I'd encourage you to submit the request on https://community.esri.com/community/arcgis-ideas?sr=search&searchId=d67bcd9b-cd8f-4ab6-8aeb-7c529dcf510c&searchIndex=0‌

Thank you!

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 14:32:46 GMT

Kory,

I see the same thing. I will post this to Ideas.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

ScottWhite — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:22:40 GMT

Kory.

For what it's worth, when I was at the User Conference in July, I asked one of the Esri employees in the ArcGIS Pro section of the exhibit hall about the inability to insert a layout frame or "neatline". He gave me a quizzical look and said something like "You actually do that when you make maps?". I said "Of course. It makes the map look finished." Still with the quizzical look, he said that capability was not in the current release of Pro and recommended that I draw a rectangle. I left somewhat disappointed and worried about the supposed cartographic improvements in ArcGIS Pro.

- Scott

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:57:04 GMT

That was an odd response. I have always used the neatline, I wonder why the employee didn't think that was a normal function of map making. I wonder if Esri seems to think we don't actually create maps anymore that are printed out. Trust me, I still have to print out maps A LOT! Webmaps have plenty of good uses but when you are dealing with the public, many times you just have to push print.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

D_AnneHammond — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 17:02:45 GMT

The map frame can serve as a neatline. Click on the map frame to select it, go to Format tab, choose Border from the drop-down at the far left on the Format pane. There you can select from numerous line patterns, colors, widths, etc.

Cheers,

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JohannaKraus2 — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 00:00:41 GMT

I will play with this a bit more, but it seems much more complicated than the neatline option in arcmap.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 13:19:28 GMT

I've honestly just made the transition away from Neatlines. I still don't understand why with all the other layout elements available , that this one isn't but I have managed to make the maps look fine without them. The map border is a great substitute. Also make sure you use guidelines since the margins still also don't show up in layout view.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

KoryKramer — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:15:23 GMT

...since the margins still also don't show up in layout view.

Just wanted to make sure that if you're referring to showing printer margins in a layout, that can be done as described here: Set up your layout—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:39:49 GMT

Thanks Kory. I must have missed that. When did this get added?

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

Robert_LeClair — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:57:43 GMT

Hi Josh - printer margins were added with the ArcGIS Pro 2.6 release July 2020.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

KoryKramer — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 16:44:15 GMT

SO much was added in 2.6! Check out https://community.esri.com/community/arcgis-ideas/blog/2020/07/28/ideas-in-arcgis-pro-26-a-large-gathering?sr=search&searchId=278fadab-3265-4629-abec-b4abfa563d01&searchIndex=1‌ which is just from ArcGIS Ideas. Much more was added in addition to ideas (plus quality improvements like in every release).

Note that if you are on 2.6 there is an available patch, and I believe Patch 2 will be available later this week. Always good to stay up to date on patches!

Cheers

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 16:52:23 GMT

I have it set to check for updates. Updating Pro is so much easier than updating ArcGIS Desktop.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

PegGronemeyer1 — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 16:53:32 GMT

I appreciate this tip - but it doesn't work if you have multiple map frames in a single layout. I still don't understand why ESRI removed the neatline - the option to draw around all objects in the layout with a certain amount of space between the neatline and "all objects" made the neatline a quick and painless addition. Why remove an option that works well in ArcMap? The rectangle is doable, yes, but again, the neatline was easy and quick, the rectangle is not.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

JoshWhite — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 13:18:54 GMT

I use a lot of layouts with multiple map frames too. One thing I found that was pretty cool was that you can have irregularly shaped map frames. In one instance I created the main map frame with a a rectangle chunk taken out of the frame and the other frame put in that place. Still doesn't work like neatline but is a cool feature. Its been so long since I was able to use the neatline though that if I had the feature back, I probably wouldn't use it now. My original post was from 5 years ago.

Re: 20041: Neatlines are not supported and were dropped from the layout

FelixMcCarthy01 — Thu, 04 May 2023 14:42:16 GMT

Always learning something new!! - Thanks