topic Re: Default coordinate system when creating a new feature class in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Default coordinate system when creating a new feature class

Michele_Hosking — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 22:54:17 GMT

Is there anyway to set the default coordinate system for creating new feature classes. In NZ we only have one coordinate system for the whole country. Well there are heaps - but only one main one. As such I would like it to default to New Zealand Transverse Mercator when I create a new feature class.

I currently have NZTM set as default for my maps (see below) but this doesn't seem to flow through to the Create Feature Class process. Although I swear it used to. I feel like this has just changed with 3.3.1?

Anyway - if there is a way it would be great if some could point me to it. I can't seem to find anything on Google. I never can it seems these days..... 😞

Re: Default coordinate system when creating a new feature class

BarryNorthey — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 23:09:10 GMT

ArcGIS Pro 3.3 |

Tools that honor the Output Coordinate System environment will create output geodatasets with the specified coordinate system.

GP tool Create Feature Class (Data Management Tools) honors this.

Re: Default coordinate system when creating a new feature class

Michele_Hosking — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 01:26:24 GMT

Thanks that's great - but this has to be set each time for each project I think? I was wondering if there was a setting in options so it will stick. Maybe I'll put that in as an idea.

Re: Default coordinate system when creating a new feature class

BarryNorthey — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 03:13:53 GMT

Geoprocessing environment settings can be stored in a Project template.

Re: Default coordinate system when creating a new feature class

ChristopherCounsell — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:02:55 GMT

Some geoprocessing tools, including "Create Feature Class" will honour the geoprocessing environment settings for "Output Coordinate System".

You can apply this at a Project Level and use this as a new project template, so that new projects you create will inherit the setting:

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

Settings to adjust in the Project:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/analysis/geoprocessing/basics/geoprocessing-environment-settings.htm

If you want to do this for the application itself it may be possible by configuring the application settings as an administrator.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/application-setting-management.htm

However I can't see a configuration for Geoprocessing environments on new projects, just similar to what you see in the UI when going to Pro Options.

Taking it a step further you might be able to specifically set the geoprocessing setting tool parameters to overwrite the default value of the Create Feature Class tool itself. But this wouldn't apply to other tools and could be effortsome and confusing.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/administrator-settings-list.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_863E0C192C294FB18CE6F1050966B6F1

Personally I would go down the path of ArcGIS Pro Project templates and create an ArcGIS Idea. I think it's a great one and you could probably justify it in the context of general geoprocessing environment settings or specifically coordinate systems.

Re: Default coordinate system when creating a new feature class

Michele_Hosking — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 19:04:59 GMT

This sounds like a plan we can try. We do have a lot of people in the org using ArcPro who aren't GIS peeps and mainly these are the ones who are sending me data in WGS84 that I would like to change. I'm not sure I can get them to use a template so really looking for a settings option we can force to fix this. I'll put in an idea for this. Thanks for your help everyone!