topic Re: Importing layout from MXD file in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Importing layout from MXD file

CharlesEiseman — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:40:31 GMT

I'm still pretty new to ArcGIS Pro and am trying to export my first map. I've been working with a project that I converted from an old MXD file, and now I'm not clear on how I go about making something presentable, with a legend etc. Is there a way to import the layout from the MXD file? And if not, what am I supposed to do with the blank page I get when I select Insert --> New Layout?

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

AlfredBaldenweck — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:58:32 GMT

In general:

You can use Insert-->Import Map or Insert-->Import Layout to pull in an MXD.

Tutorial: Import an ArcMap document—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

For your specific case:

When you pulled in your MXD, it opened on either a map view or a layout view depending on the last place you were looking when the MXD was saved.

You can open the Layout from your catalog pane by opening the Layouts folder and double-clicking the layout named after the MXD

Otherwise, to start from scratch, once you've inserted a new blank layout (sidenote: Pro can have multiple maps (data frames) and multiple layouts in the same project), you can insert a map frame to show the map on the insert tab

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

CharlesEiseman — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:45:03 GMT

Thanks! I was able to import an existing layout just now using the first option, although now the program is taking an extremely long time to update repaired data sources.

Meanwhile, there are some basic things about the way ArcGIS Pro is set up that I don't yet understand. Where is this catalog pane of which you speak? When I first open the program I see a "Catalog" button I can click on under the "New Project" heading, but this doesn't get me to a catalog of existing files. Otherwise, I don't see anything about a catalog anywhere, so I don't know how to get to that Layouts folder.

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

AlfredBaldenweck — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:52:37 GMT

The Catalog can be found by clicking on the View Tab and picking either catalog pane or view. It sometimes gets hidden by other things, like the symbology pane or the geoprocessing pane.

Unfortunately, repairing data sources is very inefficient. If it's an easy fix, like changing C:\Documents\FolderA to C:\Documents\FolderB\Folder1, I recommend right clicking on the map object in the maps folder of the catalog pane and then hitting "Update DataSources", then using the find-and-replace function.

Unfortunately, the Exclamation point method is slooooow and doesn't work reliably for each workspace type Repairing Data sources with Exclamation point: Rep... - Esri Community

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

CharlesEiseman — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:47:05 GMT

Another basic question: I want to duplicate an existing layout. I think I understand that the way to do this is to create a new layout, then import the existing layout. I can see the existing layouts in the Catalog view, but in order to import them I need to know where on my computer they are actually stored. I have no idea where ArcGIS Pro is putting them--how to I find out?

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

CharlesEiseman — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:55:12 GMT

And also: What is the best way to copy a feature (i.e., a shapefile with all the symbology and other settings intact) from a map to a layout, or from one layout to another? I successfully did this a few minutes ago using copy and paste, but just now I tried the same thing and instead of adding the feature to the table of contents I just got a text block appearing on the layout itself. As far as I know I didn't do anything differently this time.

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

AlfredBaldenweck — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 19:59:01 GMT

You can duplicate just about anything by right-clicking on it, hitting copy, and then right-clicking on where you want it to go and hitting "paste". This even works between Pro projects, if you have two open at once.

For the Layouts, assuming you just want to duplicate the canvas, you don't need to import again. Just right-click on the layout object, copy, and rightclick on the layouts folder in catalog to paste it. Depending on which version of pro you have, there may just be a "Duplicate" option.

For copying the layer, make sure that you right-click on the map object in the layout's contents pane to paste correctly.

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

CharlesEiseman — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:35:04 GMT

Okay, I think I know what I did wrong the second time with the copy and paste. And I successfully duplicated a layout in the Catalog, but that didn't make it appear as a tab in my project. So I'm trying to import it, but the Import window isn't showing anything in my project except "Folders," which is separate from "Maps" and "Layouts" according to the Catalog view.

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

AlfredBaldenweck — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:48:59 GMT

Again, you do not need to re-import it.

Double-click it in the Layout folder in Catalog, or right-click on it to open it.

Re: Importing layout from MXD file

CharlesEiseman — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 21:27:27 GMT

Ah, okay, thanks! It is really disorienting to not know how to perform basic operations like this after using ArcMap for 20 years. I appreciate all your help.