Implement Option to Make Dataframe Unselectable!

[MikeMacRae]

Hello,

I've been frustrating with a function in ArcMap since I started using ESRI products many years ago. When I am working in a map and I want to select elements withi the map (i.e. text elements, graphic elements, etc) a lot of the time, the dataframe gets selected and tehn it gets locked in focus mode. I (and many other users I know) would love love love to have an option to make the dataframe unselectable when editing a map.

Thanks,
Mike

[CharlesMoor]

Mike, I wholeheartedly agree!  It gets to be so frustrating sometimes!

[Luke_Pinner]

If you're suggesting this for desktop/ArcMap, I wish you luck, there's not going to be any more ArcMap releases, 10.8.1 is it... https://support.esri.com/en/arcmap-esri-plan (presumably why there's no ArcMap ArcGIS Ideas page anymore).

For Pro, I agree that could be useful. Make layout elements selectable/unselectable just like you can for layers in a map.

A decent workaround and one that I now use exclusively (though it is a considerable change to workflow/muscle memory) is to make sure my elements are properly named and use the contents pane to select exactly which element/s I want to do something with instead of clicking around in the layout.

[KoryKramer]

Luke is correct that no new features or functionality are being added to ArcMap.  I realize that ArcGIS Pro was not around when this idea was submitted!  It looks like this is available using Production Mapping in ArcMap: https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/extensions/production-mapping/locking-and-unlocking-elem...

And the cool thing is that this is built-in to ArcGIS Pro for everyone to use.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/layouts/layout-contents-pane.htm 

Here I have the map frame locked so that it cannot be selected in the layout while the other elements can be.

Just like when working with layers of a map, you can select multiple layout elements in the Contents pane and hold Ctrl +click the lock to toggle these on/off.

Hope this helps present-day workflows!

[Luke_Pinner]

I so didn't check the date on this one, I was just searching for something else layout related and stumbled across this.  But thanks @KoryKramer, I've never even noticed those little lock icons before 🤣