topic Re: Exported PDFs have no layers in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Exported PDFs have no layers

JWos — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:28:20 GMT

Hello all. In ArcMap when exporting a layout the resulting PDF had layers of all the feature classes, text, and imagery.

While using ArcGIS Pro 2.0.2 and creating PDFs of layouts, regardless if I use the Print Layout (to the virtual Adobe PDF "printer") or Export Layout button, the PDFs have no layers.

Was wondering if that is just something ArcGIS Pro cannot do or if there is an option someplace that I am missing.

Thank you.

Re: Exported PDFs have no layers

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 18:48:21 GMT

You can definitely export a map or layout to pdf

http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/help/sharing/overview/export-a-map-or-layout.htm

You might want to provide more information on settings etc

Re: Exported PDFs have no layers

JWos — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:00:06 GMT

Yes. Sorry if it wasn't clear.

I can export layouts/maps in ArcGIS Pro to PDF without an issue. My problem is that that with ArcMap, an exported PDF would have layers of all the features and text of the map that a person could toggle on/off. The PDFs that are exported with ArcGIS Pro do no have these layers.

PDF Exported with ArcMap gives all these:

PDF Exported with ArcGIS Pro gives nothing

Re: Exported PDFs have no layers

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 19:32:50 GMT

http://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/help/sharing/overview/export-a-map-or-layout.htm

# 10 you might have stopped scrolling too soon

Layers and attributes controls whether your PDF will contain layers like your map. Additionally, you can choose to include the attribute data from the features in the PDF. Be aware that including attributes for a large number of layers can affect the performance of the PDF.

Re: Exported PDFs have no layers

JWos — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:26:32 GMT

Yup. I guess all those options in section 10 didn't stand out to me. Thank you!

Re: Exported PDFs have no layers

MariaDeLaVegaDiaz — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:16:04 GMT

Hi JWos

You can manipulate layers of an exported file from Pro by using bluebeam instead of acrobat. The general menu contains a layers section where the visibility can turn on and off.

Hope, it solved the issue.

Re: Exported PDFs have no layers

scottblevins — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:31:02 GMT

but why? why in the world would i not want to print what i see on my layout when i choose to share? if i don't want to see layers......... i turn them off. why is EVERYTHING so complicated with this program? I've spent hours upon hours trying to figure out things that should not even have to be considered. Like, for example, trying to print what is on my screen. A lot of thought has gone into making this program as complicated as possible. So frustrating.

Re: Exported PDFs have no layers

JR_CHN — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:28:57 GMT

you are not alone in your grief. I'd hoped moving from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro would improve the UX and underlying functionality, but after a couple years of using it, I don't feel much improvement has been made.

For example, I can drag a georeferenced layered PDF into QGIS and it lets me select what layers I want to bring in as vector data, and they show up in the right place without needing to be georeferenced. Try that in ArcGIS Pro and the only improvement i see over ArcMap is that at least I don't have to convert it to a TIFF first, but vector layers are ignored and require something like FME to extract to bring in.

Currently my ability to export from ArcGIS Pro as a layered PDF is greyed out, and despite unchecking the accessibility tags option, I am still unable to get a PDF with layers to export. Searching help docs at Esri has been a goose chase leading nowhere productive.