Copy/paste layer properties — Choose individual properties

[Bud]

The Copy and paste properties between layers or tables docs say:

You cannot choose individual properties to copy.

It would be useful to have control over what properties from the source table get applied. I’m picturing a list of properties with checkboxes.

Original Idea: Contents — Apply all properties from one layer to a different layer

[wayfaringrob]

Effects in ArcGIS Pro are more or less symbology options. Though long separated, the addition of blending modes makes this feel even more the case. It's often a back and forth process between these toggles and your symbology colors to get your map looking good.

Therefore, I think it would make sense to offer the option of bringing these settings along for the ride when symbology is imported. I would suggest having them all checked by default, or remember the last setting.

[MErikReedAugusta]

Currently, if I pull up the Symbology pane and import symbology from another layer, it fires up the "Apply Symbology From Layer" GP Tool.

This tool copies over both symbology settings and label settings.  It might also be copying other things, but those are the two I've noticed, so far.

Sometimes, this is supremely helpful, because I wanted both, anyway.  But other times, I want to import the  settings from the symbology pane, but I don't want it overwriting my label settings.

Solution 1:

Add an input that allows me to specify which aspects of "Symbology Layer" are going to be copied over to "Input Layer"

Solution 2:

Split the existing tool into a separate tool for each aspect it can copy (Symbology definitions, label definitions, etc.)  I'd recommend this is divided by which pane you'd go to to set that aspect manually.

Personally, my preference would be Option 1, but I could live with either.

[JakeJacobsAVA]

Totally agree. I can't find any documentation about what actually gets applied as part of this gp tool. There's no indication that labelling will be updated, but it is. It would be nice to pick exactly what you want to be applied. And at a bare minimum to have documentation on what is copied.

[JonathanNeal]

FYI @ZihanSong can you see if this is already in the design for Apply Layer Properties?  Maybe this idea can be linked?

[RTPL_AU]

CorelDraw uses the Right Mouse Drag method. When you grab an object and click/drag it over another object with the right mouse button a menu pops up asking which properties you want to copy. 

Thinking out loud:

Allowing this could speed up Pro by keeping existing functionality as-is (copy > paste everything) and only if a right-drag is done will a menu pop up. As many menus in Pro are a bit laggy, making the default right click & paste + select more cumbersome complicated may not be the best thing to do.

This could also be approached from a Universal Settings point of view - set what you use most often (symbology for me) and then if you find a project that needs more/less/other then change it. 

Use hotkeys + 'Paste Properties' to filter what is applied eg PP only = Apply All, SHIFT+PP = Apply Symbology, ALT+PP = Apply Labels, etc.

[Bud]

@KoryKramer 

Related: Reset feature layer properties

[EdiePunt]

Thank you for your feedback. In ArcGIS Pro 3.4, you can copy a subset of layer properties. Please see Copy and paste properties between layers or tables > Copy a subset of properties for more information.