topic Re: ArcGIS Pro Script tool defaults to Notepad in Python Questions

ArcGIS Pro Script tool defaults to Notepad

RyanKelley2023 — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 19:31:00 GMT

There is an issue I just found with Pro 3.5.2 (and 3.5.5). Opening a script tool in Pro, will open the script in Notepad, if using a script within an .atbx. If you are using a Python Toolbox script tool, IDLE opens, as expected:

It may be a 3.5 bug as IDLE is clearly installed?

Re: ArcGIS Pro Script tool defaults to Notepad

DanPatterson — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:20:25 GMT

What are your project settings in

Edit script tool code—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

first section may apply to your case

Re: ArcGIS Pro Script tool defaults to Notepad

RyanKelley2023 — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:41:12 GMT

Hi Dan - so the challenge is this needs to be globally set as I am admin for about 2000 users. I can probably change my Script Editor py IDE resource, but I don't believe I should have to bake that into the registry, if there is even a registry entry for this. With Pro 3.3.6, by default of the install this all works as expected.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Script tool defaults to Notepad

DanPatterson — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 20:50:46 GMT

Ryan, it may be baked in at the machine level if python is installed elsewhere and not associated with Pro. That I can't test and you would have to try a few installations. We used to do one Pro image and deploy it to all machines at my university but we did that since we wanted to use a specific python IDE and not use idle or notepad or notepad++. You may want to tech support this issue since I don't see anything on the public facing support site

Good luck,

ADDENDUM

found this BUG-000178804 for ArcGIS Pro

Re: ArcGIS Pro Script tool defaults to Notepad

RyanKelley2023 — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:05:26 GMT

Thanks Dan. Appreciate that Addendum! I do similarly in that I install on two diff masters and deploy out to end user desktops via Citrix. PyCharm always throws a wrench in to installs with ArcGIS, so wondering if that hijacked something when installed.

Re: ArcGIS Pro Script tool defaults to Notepad

DanPatterson — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:06:47 GMT

I used Spyder (now and in my working days) without issues. Narrowing down a specific IDE system issue could be problematic, but worth a look.