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Please make ArcGIS Pro keep the same location of any object copy/pasted between Layouts

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06-09-2025 06:58 PM
Status: Open
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RTPL_AU
Deactivated User

Please make ArcGIS Pro keep the same location of any object copy/pasted between Layouts.

Referring to this Idea which is more specific to text:

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/when-copy-pasting-text-objects-between-two-layouts/id...

Using Pro 3.5.1 (but this is an old issue) when you copy a single object between layouts, it will be pasted to an offset location.

 

Please change the behaviour so that anything copied from one layout, will be pasted in exactly the same location in the second.

There have been comments on variations in page size or units - Those seem irrelevant as it is already able to determine a location, and then offsets a distance from it.  If the location is completely unfeasible in the destination layout, fall back to the original behaviour. 

I understand the legacy reason to offset something in ArcMap due to not having an item list to make it easy to see/find overlapping objects, but that reason is void in Pro.

I often want to copy an inset map, specific text, logo, etc from one map to another and every time I do that I have to go and find/copy all the dimensions to make sure objects are re-placed in the original location to ensure consistency between maps. This is not time efficient.

Plan B is to make it a setting in Options so that we can set the behaviour we need to get our workflows done as efficient as possible.

15 Comments
RTPL_AU

Parity with ArcMap request.

Currently in Pro, when you copy text from one layout and paste it into another, it is moved to an arbitrary offset to the bottom right of the original.

In ArcMap when copy/pasting between two layouts the pasted text is placed in the original location. 

Update the behaviour in Pro to replicate ArcMap.

Edit:
I've just noticed that if you copy/paste between layouts that have the ruler set to different units, then the pasted object is placed in the numerical position value and not the correct location on the page. Non-text objects are scaled by the unit factor as well.
Expected behaviour is to place objects in same position on page at the same size. (this is what other apps I use do....)

 

 

AubriOtis
Status changed to: Already Offered

Hi,

This is how ArcGIS Pro does copy paste for text between layouts. When you copy/paste text between layouts it appears at the same XY page coordinates. So if your layouts are the same size/orientation it looks exactly the same. Otherwise it is in the same location, but may look different on a different page size.

I'm sorry it's not working for you. I tested in 3.3 and was getting the expected behavior described in this idea. I think you may have found a bug, since you aren't seeing the same. I recommend reaching out to tech support where they can do further troubleshooting and log a bug if needed. 

Cheers,

Aubri Kinghorn

KoryKramer

Just noting that I tested in Pro as well when I saw this idea and elements copied/pasted from one layout to another are pasted in the same location.

RTPL_AU

Copy from Layout 1:

RTPL_AU_0-1717975892386.png

 

RTPL_AU_1-1717975905408.png

 

Paste Layout in copy of project (over other text in correct location to show arbitrary offset):

 

RTPL_AU_3-1717975981363.png

RTPL_AU_4-1717975992484.png

 

Offset seems to be linked to zoom level. 

Project 2 is a copy saved of project 1 with a different are of focus in the map.

@KoryKramer  now you know - most senior person in Pro product line to be considered notified 🙂

@AubriOtis Don't know what to say.  There must be something in Pro that allows for unexpected behaviour  when run down under on 240V and room temperature in C and measured in mm.

Based on past similar cases, lodging this with local support is a waste of time as they will reply once a week with a question (sometimes related) and I will have to analyze every possible combination & iteration across multiple computers. I am busy and my clients do not pay me to troubleshoot your software. 

 

 

 

KoryKramer

Hi @RTPL_AU ,

Aubri tried again. I tried again. ArcGIS Pro 3.3.

Copying and pasting text from one layout to another (I've tried in the same project and in different projects) maintains the size and position.

KoryKramer_0-1718380670150.png

I know that you've added some other details about what you have in one layout vs. another layout and saying that "offset seems to be linked to zoon level"

We're apparently missing some important details to be able to see what you're seeing. At this point, this isn't actionable as an idea and we will need some specifics. If you want to share a project package and steps to reproduce we can take a look, though this is not as simple as the title makes it sound "When copy / pasting text objects between two layouts keep location the same"

 

RTPL_AU

Open new Pro-ject without a template.

Insert A4 Layout.

Create Straight text object

Open new Pro instance without template

Insert A4 Layout

Copy text from 1 to 2 (Select with mouse, Ctrl-C, click in Instance 2, Ctrl-V)

Text is in different location.

 

1:

RTPL_AU_0-1718577419207.png

 

2:

RTPL_AU_1-1718577454983.png

 

In this case zoom level didn't make a difference so disregard for now (tested at only 5 zoom levels).

 

It has been like this for a long time - hence this idea.

Tested this morning across 3 computers running Pro 3.3 & 3.0.1,  as direct sessions and using RDP.

 

 

RTPL_AU

Copy/pasting text was fixed in latest version (~3.3).

Please do the same for copying ANY item between two layouts.

RTPL_AU

When copy/pasting between layouts that have the rulers set to different units eg cm & mm, the size and position of a pasted item is completely wrong. 
Make sure to fix this as well.

RTPL_AU

@AubriOtis , @KoryKramer  this does not work reliably so maybe review the "Already Offered"?

It should basically be that anything you copy from one layout, into another layout in the same project or in another Pro instance, should paste in the same location on  the page in the other layout, with no caveats.

 

AubriOtis

I'm sorry this  isn't working for you. Unfortunately Kory and I have never been able to reproduce. The designed behavior of ArcGIS Pro is to copy/paste to the same location, so this idea is already offered. It seems you are running into a bug of some sort. We want to address that as well, but that requires us to reproduce the issue. I recommend reaching out to Tech Support to log a bug. They are great at figuring out the reproducible cases and passing them on to the development team. You can also add a Pro question to see if anyone else has run into this problem.