topic How to set layer description for KML conversion in ArcGIS Pro Questions

How to set layer description for KML conversion

BenjaminBlackshear — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:01:43 GMT

The KML Conversion documentation (KML conversion—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation)

mentions that "The layer description will be used as the pop-up display content for the folder."

How do I set the layer description? The closest thing I could find to that was the description in the metadata but the description I put there does not carry through to the KMZ

Re: How to set layer description for KML conversion

BenjaminBlackshear — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 23:24:15 GMT

Update to this, ArcMap has a description section when you view a layers properties, but Pro does not for some reason. I was able to set descriptions for my layers in ArcMap, and then import the MXD into pro and the descriptions persist when exporting a KMZ from this. However there is no way to view of edit this description in Pro which is not ideal. ESRI, please provide access to the layer description in Pro that is available in ArcMap.

Re: How to set layer description for KML conversion

tbrink_DOIT — Tue, 06 May 2025 20:51:46 GMT

Still not an option.

Re: How to set layer description for KML conversion

tbrink_DOIT — Tue, 06 May 2025 22:22:37 GMT

In case anybody is wondering, it's in the layer properties, "Display Field". You can only choose one.

Re: How to set layer description for KML conversion

CPaulman — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:29:43 GMT

Hi tbrink_DOIT,

What you are describing is the Category for the individual records in the layer. (For example you can choose display to LAST_Name and you will see a bunch of last names when you expand the data.)

What is mentioned above, and something I need to figure out, is how do you change the layer description.

In my case, I copied an old project because I liked the look of the map. I set the data source for each layer to my new data. I use MAP to KMZ to create a kmz.

When I open my new .kmz file, it shows a hyperlink for each layer and references the name of the old project in the layer description. This is unacceptable because it is misleading. I need the layer description to be blank or reference the current data when I am using the GP tool.