topic Re: Repair broken link for raster function? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Repair broken link for raster function?

DavidField — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 07:33:42 GMT

Is it possible to repair a broken link for a raster created using the Raster Functions menu (e.g slope, multidirectional hillshade)?

For a normal raster it's simply a matter of clicking the exclamation point and directing it to the file it's looking for, however with a raster function, it's source is the same as the raster it was created from. But if you point it to that raster you won't get the slope or hillshade you created previously, you'll just get a uniform grey mask.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

LaineyLe_Blanc1 — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:18:48 GMT

Experiencing the same problem upon closing and re-opening projects. Tried relating back to the source DEM and only seeing a gray layer. I have several raster function layers and it's time consuming to rebuild all the raster function layers and/or to export each raster function layer. Hoping for a solution.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

AaronWorthley1 — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:58:43 GMT

Same problem here- saving and reopening a map loses raster function layers (red exclamation pt). There's no apparent way to reset without removing and recreating the layer with raster function tools.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

JonM32 — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 13:13:33 GMT

Same issue here...once you close an ArcGIS Pro project out and then reopen, all layers made through raster functions are broken. Only work around I've found is to write new layers instead of relying on raster function (AFR) layers.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

SarahMacDonald1 — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 22:58:03 GMT

I've experienced the same issue. While I haven't figured out the cause, I was able to recover some of the layers because I had inadvertently saved as a layout file a couple weeks prior & at the time opened that layout in another project and saved the project as a new file. I was able to use this second project to recover the raster function layers. It makes me wonder if the original files get timed out or deleted in a certain time period.

ESRI please fix or report on this issue as it can be difficult to retrace the raster function steps making recreating the work especially time consuming.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

ColinChupik_ — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 19:47:00 GMT

I am experiencing the same issue here and did not have the same issue when generating temporary rasters with the image processing window in ArcMap. I prefer using the temporary raster files for large UAV/lidar datasets to save space on my computer.

Is there any chance ESRI can provide a fix for this problem?

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

LaineyLe_Blanc1 — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 20:20:19 GMT

Following up on this, my co-worker submitted a bug report and did a support call with Esri staff. They had to completely rebuild the map and project documents. For a while the problem was fixed, but they are now experiencing the same problem where their raster function layers are broken and not visible.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

JohnARCastle — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 21:28:43 GMT

Same here. This problem has really taken the wind out of my sails with incorporating @JohnNelsonEsri 's hillshading techniques into my maps at work. I can't afford to take the extra time to repair these layers and it breaks my heart to forgo cartographic improvements for efficiency. Please help!

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

blueskytoph — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 16:07:31 GMT

Any new updates regarding this issue? I am having the same problem and it has really hendered my ability to get my work done. Would love to find some sort of solution but no luck yet.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

jwalte07 — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:44:29 GMT

I am also encountering the same problem and it has drastically reduced by ability to work with ArcGIS Pro - sometimes it is occurring in a matter of minutes. May as well stick to QGIS!

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

collbett_geomorph — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:14:30 GMT

Same problem and it is happening frequently in ArcPro 3.2.2. Please post something about a fix or I'll have to give up using raster functions in any project that I need something like a hillshade to persist between sessions.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

CarlVon_Stetten1 — Mon, 20 May 2024 15:58:38 GMT

I'm seeing a similar issue with raster layers that have no raster functions applied - just plain raster mosaic layers. Other non-raster layers on the map do not load properly until the repair is done on the raster layers. This happens whenever I open my Pro project.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

WJWalko — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 16:23:38 GMT

This works: Make a persistent copy of the "transient" .afr file which is used for the raster-function output layer.

The output layer from the raster function is stored as an ".afr" file in ArcGIS's temporary workspace, as defined by Windows <TEMP> variable. One can identify the specific file by right-clicking the raster-function output layer, select "Data"->"Add to Mosaic Dataset". The specific .afr file will then be displayed in the Geoprocessing pane (see attached graphic). One can then manually copy the "temporary" .afr file to a more "persistent" location, and give it a meaningful filename. Lastly, change set "Properties"->"Source" of the raster-function layer to use your new "persistent" .afr file, instead of the original .afr file which is stored in temporary workspace.

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

ChristopherMyers — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 15:49:58 GMT

Thanks! This worked for me

Re: Repair broken link for raster function?

DuncanHornby — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:29:12 GMT

I wish to add to this thread and say I too have experienced this problem in past versions of ArcPro and also the very latest (3.5). It's really frustrating and makes using raster functions a pointless endeavour when the next time you open your project the layer is broken.

@KoryKramer can you give the team behind raster functions a prod to ensure they are at least looking into the issue. A simple use case scenario is load a DEM, run the hill shade raster function, admire the beauty of it, save the project, close arcpro, open arcpro, hey presto hill shade layer is broken. No one should be implementing the work around that @WJWalko has suggested. Or if this is an issue that cannot be fixed because of how raster functions work, then a warning in help file with advice outlining @WJWalko approach would be helpful.