ArcGIS Pro: Option to Enable Dockable Toolbars and Menus

[DT]

Simply put, please provide an option to disable the contextual ribbon, and enable dockable toolbars and menus in their entirety, just like ArcMap.

I have been trialing Pro for a few weeks for the second time since it has come out.  I trialed 1.x, left it, and now 2.0.1.  I have gone through several iterations of Arc since the 3.x days.  I'm not against change, and 64 bit is the future.  However, this round seems too focused on "look and feel", versus efficiency of core workflows.

That said,  the contextual menu may have it's place, but not in my or many of my peers' workflows.  It is just as much of a pain in Office 2016, and I believe a majority will agree.  Ribbons have their place in single display devices with small screens, like laptops and tablets.  I believe ESRI developers have lost touch with how big their software actually is, and how much of the [efficient] core work behind all the "slick" maps gets done at a desktop workstation with multiple monitors.  Without the big work, you don't get "slick" maps for the pseudo "Arc Users" to play around with on their mobile devices.  There's more to "GIS" than turning map layers on an off on a buttery smooth base map service.  Don't forget about the power users behind the scenes.

Some running examples, not including the many missing tools:

1)  The ribbon actually removes more real estate from my map display than a typical dual-monitor docking arrangement of regularly used menus and toolbars.

2)  If I needed a different tool for a less common workflow, the ArcMap method of a single right-click that displayed all potential toolbars, with a check, or not, was magnificently simple and yet robust.  In fact, seeing all the tools was an excellent way to encourage self-teaching of new tools and workflows.  I can't count how many times I had some data or an idea,  and looked at the toolbar list for the best (possibly new) way to get the end result.  Now everything is split up and buried.

3)  With multiple monitors to dock menus and toolbars, ArcMap power users are able to keep regularly used tools "in their place", and instantly select a tool or operation with one click from muscle memory.  The contextual ribbon forced ESRI to split everything up, subdividing it under a limited number of "contexts".  As end users, we are now forced to interpret which "context" the developers felt a certain tool or operation fell under, navigate to that tab, and then frequently now guess which dropdown to use under that tab.  Once the correct tool or operation is found, we must then further navigate additional contexts within a pane or even panes.  Sometimes we even need to navigate multiple contexts for a simple layer property or labeling change.  All extremely inefficient, and oftentimes not intuitive.

That is all for now, but I have two unrelated observations to note:

1) This webpage is responding to mouse and keyboard at about 1 character or click per 3 seconds.  Everything else on my machine, including other websites is extremely fast.  Coincidence?

2)  There is no flag or category for ArcGIS Pro.  Very suspect, considering the popularity of the subject, its focus at the User Conference, and that this is where tech support refers all complaints.

[wayfaringrob]

IMO, the pop-up configuration panel should be the model for Pro's panes and perhaps the rest of its interface. It has very clearly labeled insert buttons at the top, an old-fashioned function & formatting toolbar underneath, and subsequent toolbars for each component when editing. That means the tools are on the screen, ready to be clicked, in the same spot -- not hiding on some ribbon tab a mile away. It is contextual (i.e., you only get these toolbars when you're in the pane), but I don't hate it. By nesting the commands inside the appropriate panel, it's contextual in a very smart way that the ribbon, by design, could never be.

This type of design could be ported over to places like symbology, element, and labeling (which are currently a labrynth of loosely connected, single-column lists of toggles) and mirrored by views -- with dockable or floatable toolbars. Maybe a new interpretation of the ribbon would be something like those clickable buttons at the top of the pane -- just one limited row of tools, with few or no tabs and few or no contextual items.

[wayfaringrob]

Another thought on this occurred to me today specifically regarding menus. With menus, it is much, much easier and quicker to scan for the item you need as they are all left-justified and in predictable locations. Even in extremely long menus, like in Adobe apps for example. You build a muscle memory, too, which helps even further.

With a ribbon, there are so many more variables. Tabs move around on their own, groups are each laid out differently, text is on multiple rows, some commands are in multiple places, some are bigger than others, some aren't even available depending on your screen size ... so on and so forth. Terribly inefficient and horrible for both new and veteran users. Ribbons were the stupidest idea in user interfaces and am glad to see that most developers have ditched them. I wish Esri would take note.

[RTPL_AU]

My Quick Access Toolbar is getting overcrowded. Please add ability to create custom toolbars that I can place where I need them i.e. one for editing, one for export, etc. 

This way I can set up the buttons I use most often within reach of where I am working and not have to move/click/move to pick something from the ever-changing ribbon.

[KoryKramer]

@RTPL_AU what if we just had multiple toolbars (not necessarily multiple QATs), like this request https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/arcgis-pro-option-to-enable-dockable-toolbars-and/idi... "one for editing, one for export..." sounds like that would meet your needs. Let me know and we can merge your idea into the existing one that we are tracking.

Thanks

[RTPL_AU]

Hi @KoryKramer That could work. So similar to ArcMap?
The Idea you mention is core to efficient work but I missed if it mentions custom toolbars.

As the Pro team doesn't have the best track record on useability, I think starting with the option to create moveable custom toolbars could suit 100% of your users whereas you will have to do a lot of design and UAT to come up with static toolbars to suit everyone. 

Just aim for feature parity with ArcMap and give us:

Esri has gone and designed the perfect adjustable wrench, that also includes a welder, metrology kit, battery charger, sonic screwdriver, whiteboard markers, planer, and mounted it on a FSD diesel tracked dolly with a sheep shearing station in the boot.  Allow us to take only the tools we need and place them where we need them while you work at incorporating a 3d printer into the cab.

[KoryKramer]

Hey @RTPL_AU just checking in with the team on our side to make sure we manage this idea appropriately. In the meantime, I wanted to point you to this add-in. Note that it is just a prototype, but we'd be interested in your feedback if you have some time to install it and test it out: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=839ef722795b46abae10e6acf4fba356 

[RTPL_AU]

@KoryKramer  I think you have to formalise the add-in and then market it! For many of us it will be good enough as it stands.

It looks to be pretty darn close.

Copy/Paste of just the Command ID into a txt file to make a toolbar is a fantastic idea. Buy Steve a beer/ale/soda/scotch!

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[KoryKramer]

I'm glad that this is going in the right direction at least for your needs @RTPL_AU 

Please do work with the custom palettes through your day-to-day work and provide us feedback either through this thread, or by emailing me.

Cheers

[vanesch]

I added custom Pane states to this add-in as well. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

[wayfaringrob]

@vanesch, sincere thanks for your work on this. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this goes. It's been a while since I've tried out the toolbars but am giving it a spin again. In addition to the feedback I had submitted previously (apologies if this was already included among it), I'm noticing that a lot of the things I add appear blank. They contain a blank tooltip and do not react on click (note the Layout toolbar in Notepad).

Otherwise, I really like the simplicity of the text based editor, though would appreciate an alternative GUI similar to ArcMap's.

Thanks again.