topic Re: Change default symbology in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Change default symbology

IanPryor1 — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 16:21:28 GMT

How do you change default symbology for feature classes?

Re: Change default symbology

Robert_LeClair — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 16:27:45 GMT

If the question is setting default symbology when you add a new feature class to a map view, then that functionality is not present in ArcGIS Pro 2.7.x but coming in a future release. Is that what you mean? There is an enhancement request to add this functionality - ENH-000137090. The workaround for the time being is the "Import Symbology from Layer" GP tool.

Re: Change default symbology

IanPryor1 — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 16:28:01 GMT

Yes that is what I would like to do. Good to know its coming in future release but disappointing to add another very basic feature to the "missing" bin.

Thanks for quick response.

Re: Change default symbology

NicholasBarger — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 20:08:19 GMT

I see this question was answered... but at this time I have the same problem...so I'll ask the same question again. We're using ArcGIS Pro 2.9 and today we realized that the default symbology for our parcels layer in SDE is set to my configuration. This also includes my popup configuration as well.

I see some advantages to this. It keeps everyone looking at the same layer the same way. It also helps the casual GIS user pull in the popup configuration without having to do much work. However, it has some serious problems. The field that we used to symbolize out parcel file is called PARCEL_TYPE. The field name is 11 characters long. So, when I export this layer as a shapefile it brings along the symbology and popup configuration only to have the PARCEL_TYPE field truncated to PARCEL_TYP in the shapefile. This causes the symbology to be broken as well as the popup information for that field to be broken.

So, my questions is the same as the original. How do I change the default symbology of a layer in SDE with ArcGIS Pro 2.9?

Re: Change default symbology

RhettZufelt — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 19:57:15 GMT

Did this ever make it into any of the future releases?

Re: Change default symbology

wayfaringrob — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 19:08:32 GMT

@RhettZufelt @Robert_LeClair I'm unable to find any further info.

Re: Change default symbology

Robert_LeClair — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 20:06:24 GMT

I'm showing ENH-000137090 as still under review by the ArcGIS Pro Dev Team. I don't have any other information other than that sadly.

Re: Change default symbology

EmiliaWalton1 — Wed, 18 May 2022 22:14:18 GMT

I have the same issue! Suddenly one of our SDE layers is loading up with the same symbology for everyone, that I happened to have displaying a few months ago. The default was clearly changed or set at some point, so it seems strange there is not way to change it to something else.

Re: Change default symbology

AmyKuhel1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:08:05 GMT

In a new twist, I now have an SDE layer displaying with the symbology set for an entirely different layer that isn't even in the SDE file location. It then won't display any of the features because the symbology is tied to a field that doesn't exist.

How did this happen?? I'm using Pro 3.0. I haven't been able to load the patches yet.

Re: Change default symbology

Robert_LeClair — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:46:56 GMT

Amy - one thing I see in the internals about this error message has to do with joins. Resolution is to remove all joins, symbolize the feature class, add joins and error message goes away. Do you have joins on the feature class by chance?

Re: Change default symbology

AmyKuhel1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:38:25 GMT

The error message in the screen capture isn't really the problem, if that is what you are getting at. The problem is that the symbology that is being displayed is from separate layer not even in the SDE.

ie: I am trying to open NLD.rehab which should be a single symbol feature and lives in Oracle using an SDE. It is opening with the symbology of a different layer (levee rehab density) that is on a map directory, not in SDE.

The error message was just to demonstrate that it is built for a field that isn't in this layer.

Re: Change default symbology

Robert_LeClair — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:19:52 GMT

Yes, sorry, I was responding to the error message aspect of your reply. When you add the layer are you dragging/dropping from the Catalog Pane/View or using the Add Data button on the Map tab->Layer group?

Re: Change default symbology

AmyKuhel1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:37:20 GMT

Generally speaking, I am either dragging and dropping or right clicking on the layer in the Catalog and choosing to add to the current map. This happened to a coworker of mine, and he also pulled it from the Catalog.

Re: Change default symbology

Robert_LeClair — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:45:01 GMT

I see. Let's try a few tests:

1. In the existing *.aprx, add a new map view and add the layer. What is the result?
2. In the existing *.aprx in the map view that this occurs, remove the layer (if it's there) that the new layer is inheriting the layer symbology from and add the layer. What is the result?
3. In a new *.aprx, insert a new map view and add the layer. What is the result?
4. In the existing *.aprx, symbolize the new layer as desired, create a *.lyrx file, add the *.lyrx file to a new map view (or the existing map view). What is the result?

I'll try to think of some other scenarios!

Re: Change default symbology

AmyKuhel1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:55:24 GMT

Thank you for responding. I'm about to head out for the weekend but I will test these Monday morning and report back.

Re: Change default symbology

AmyKuhel1 — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:55:38 GMT

In every scenario, when I add NLD.rehab, it displays with the graduated colors. In a brand new .aprx with nothing else added. With the layer added and symbology corrected and a new .lyrx created, when I add a new copy of the layer in, still graduated.

Somehow, the layer in SDE has inherited the symbology.

Re: Change default symbology

JonathanPollack — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 18:28:49 GMT

Any update on when this will be available? It is a big pain. Esri seemed to pick default symbology that is usually nearly invisible on the map and EVERY time I add a new layer to the map I have to modify symbology to make lines thinker, colors darker, point symbols larger, etc. If we can't allow user to set default symbology then at least Esri can change the existing to defaults to symbols that are clearly visible.

Re: Change default symbology

ColorfulCorvid — Tue, 02 May 2023 18:11:21 GMT

This isn't a direct solution, but I was able to get similar functionality by creating a new project template with my preferred symbology already loaded. It won't work for every use case, but it does save me a lot of time.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/projects/create-your-own-project-template.htm

Re: Change default symbology

JoeChaconas — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 23:09:37 GMT

I know this was a while ago, but did you ever find an answer for this? I'm having the same thing happen to a layer of mine. It's actually kind of nice, but I'd like be able to configure it.

Re: Change default symbology

JoeChaconas — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 23:20:15 GMT

Any possible updates on this? I also have a layer in sde that appears to have a default symbology set, but I cannot find anything regarding configuration options. Thanks.