topic Re: In a Layout Legend, adding subdivison names to a list of symbols in ArcGIS Pro Questions

In a Layout Legend, adding subdivison names to a list of symbols

DavidGray1 — Fri, 16 May 2025 01:56:50 GMT

Hi Community; I am sure this question has come up before. I have a legend in layout view and am wanting to edit the column organization to have subgroups. The attached image may help illustrate the matter. The legend is of a geologic column of map units through time. Each rock type as a colored box corresponding to the irregular map extent on a land surface. I was hoping to split the listing up by the geologic era with a title name i.e. Quaternary, Tertiary, Cretaceous, Cambrian, Pre-Cambrian etc. Is there a way to add these groupings in a legend? Thanks again! Dave

Re: In a Layout Legend, adding subdivison names to a list of symbols

RyanUthoff — Fri, 16 May 2025 02:13:51 GMT

I can think of a couple different methods you could use.

Convert the legends to graphics (right click the legend and click convert to graphics). You will have a lot more individual control over the legend, and you can move the individual pieces of the legend (like the symbol, text, etc.) to wherever you like. You can even add text (like your era names) to it. The downside to this method is that your legend will no longer be dynamic/associated to your layer's symbology. So any symbology changes you make will not be reflected in the legend.
Create copies of the layer in the map, with each layer representing your geologic era. You can set up a definition query to only display the records for each era. Then, you can create a legend and it'll break it down by each layer (or era). You probably won't have as much flexibility with this method as opposed to the first method I suggested, but it might work.

Besides that, I'm not sure of a way to "natively" do what you're wanting, but I think the methods I listed above might work.

Re: In a Layout Legend, adding subdivison names to a list of symbols

BrendanNewell — Fri, 16 May 2025 02:17:47 GMT

hi @DavidGray1 you should be able to follow the workflow in the below link to split your data by geologic era via the symbology pane. These changes will then flow on to your legend.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/mapping/layer-properties/unique-value.htm#:~:text=Create%20headings,back%2C%20if%20necessary.

Re: In a Layout Legend, adding subdivison names to a list of symbols

DavidGray1 — Mon, 19 May 2025 03:46:23 GMT

Thanks Brenden; This method worked very well. It amazes me to no end how many options there are buried in all of the menus available! I consider it a solution. Thanks; Dave