topic Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

KelleyBarfoot1 — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:57:59 GMT

I imported a map into ArcPro that I created using ArcGIS Desktop several years ago. The layers showed up in the Contents Pane, but with red !. I tried to set the data source for the .lyr file, but when I go to where the file is located, it says "This container is empty" and the only option is (Poly Feature Class (All Types). How do I get these layer files to work in ArcPro.

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

MichaelVolz — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 00:08:06 GMT

Can you supply a screenshot for better context of this issue?

What type of datasource are you dealing with (enterprise SDE geodatabase, file gdb, shapefile, other)?

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

KelleyBarfoot1 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:29:35 GMT

These are my layers I need to re-connect or Set the Data Source for. These are layer files from ArcGIS 10.8. When I try to drag and drop these layer files into a new ArcPro map it gives me the same Red !. Here is a screenshot of the what I get when I try to set the data source. I pretty sure because they are .lyr files (older arc desktop version) and ArcPro layer files are .lyrx. I tried just changing the name and adding the x at the end, but that did not work.

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

MichaelVolz — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:36:25 GMT

Can you provide a screenshot of the Data Source properties of these layers from ArcMap as it would be helpful to know what the data source is supposed to be?

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

KelleyBarfoot1 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:39:58 GMT

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

MichaelVolz — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:45:28 GMT

That shows the lyr file, but not the data source (enterprise SDE geodatabase, file gdb, shapefile, other) for the lyr file, which is extremely important information.

In ArcCatalog can you right click on the lyr file to access its properties and then provide that screenshot with the Source pan active.

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

KelleyBarfoot1 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:51:13 GMT

I don't see properties?? Am I looking in the wrong location?

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

KelleyBarfoot1 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:52:36 GMT

Here are the properties from the map project.

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

MichaelVolz — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:55:24 GMT

Thank you. The source of the data is from a personal geodatabase it looks like which is not supported in Pro. Do you have access to ArcMap where you would be able to access that data and convert it to a file geodatabase which could be used in Pro?

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

KelleyBarfoot1 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 13:58:34 GMT

Unfortunately, no I do not. Typically when I need datasets from an older ArcMap project, I am able to just reset the data source. So you're saying that I can't do that with layer files, but other files like shapefiles etc. I should be able to do that, right?

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

MichaelVolz — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:03:29 GMT

I am saying that you cannot recover data from a personal geodatabase source in Pro. You would need to use ArcMap to convert the data to a file geodatabase in ArcMap, then create a lyr file with the file gdb as the source and then you would be able to use the updated lyr files in Pro as Pro does support file geodatabases.

Having access to both ArcMap and Pro while you still have legacy personal geodatabases at your org would be helpful for you to migrate the data from personal gdbs to file gdbs.

Re: Re-connecting data source of an ArcGIS Desktop .lyr file in ArcPro

KelleyBarfoot1 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:06:08 GMT

Got it. Thank you for your help!