Save Project As, Creating more than just the APRX

[ErikBreedon]

There should be a way to save the whole project as a new project, creating more than just the aprx file, but also duplicating all other supplemental files.

[AlfredBaldenweck]

Have you looked at Set unpacking options?

---

This is great! Why isn't just choosing the output location just the default?

[AlfredBaldenweck]

Oops, should have done my homework. 

I think this idea is a duplicate (Ha-ha!) of this one. ArcGIS Pro: Save Project Copy - Page 2 - Esri Community

[AlfredBaldenweck]

So, at the Dev Summit this last week, I asked about this.

The very nice Esri staff I was talking to was like "What are you talking about? Save As works fine"

So I say "No, it only duplicates the APRX but nothing else". So we test.

Turns out, in 3.2, the Save As functionality through the GUI has been changed to duplicate the entire folder. No clue as to whether it also duplicates the contents of your default GDB, but still, good to know. 

I just tested it again in 3.1 and Save As only duplicates the APRX in this version.

Anyway, so it looks like there may be a viable solution out there. If someone using 3.2 could test and 1) confirm it actually works as it appeared to, as well as whether or not the contents of the Default GDB get duplicated, I'd appreciate it. (also what are the implications here for aprx.SaveACopy()?)

The other thing is: Why wasn't this change in behavior documented, either in the release notes or on one of the two relevant ideas (this one or this older one?) Very excited to hear there's light at the end of this particular tunnel, but I would never have found out if I hadn't asked directly.

[brianmoran_usfs]

Any update on this simple functionality that seems like a total no-brainer?  

[AlfredBaldenweck]

@brianmoran_usfs 

So, this is anecdotal since I'm still on 3.1, but in March I asked about this at the Dev Summit and got a "What are you talking about, Save As duplicates everything" and I was like "No it doesn't" and then they demoed it and it seems on 3.2 it works?

Can someone test this and let us know?

[AlfredBaldenweck]

As it turns out, now that I'm in 3.3, Save As still only duplicates the APRX, so I'm not really sure what happened there.

We're trying to get the users to use PAGX and MAPX files, but it's an uphill battle.

[MDB_GIS]

When you use the "Save As" option currently, it creates a new .aprx file in the directory that you chose, but that .aprx file is still connected to everything in the old project. It does not have a folder connection to the new folder, it does not have a new file geodatabase (it is still connected to the previous project), and it does not get a tool box. In my opinion, this defeats the purpose of "Save As". When I use that option, I am looking to use my existing map to branch off into a new version, but retain my layouts, project data, etc.. 

It would make way more sense to me if "Save As" copied your project geodatabase and toolbox, as well as created a new folder connection to the new location rather than being completely tethered to the old project. Re-configuring all that takes so much time, I might as well have just started a new project from scratch.