How to store and preserve simple symbology for individual shapefiles?

[JohnBobbitt]

Hello all.

I have a map project consisting of multiple (~25) Group Layers, with each group layer containing multiple Feature Layers (a total of ~220 shapefiles). The feature layers are shapefiles stored in 4 different locations (directories) on my local drive. The shapefiles include multiple files and produce polygons.

I've edited the symbology of the individual Feature Layers simply by changing the RGB values and transparency of the fill color. I've also changed the Name in the General tab

I need to consolidate the 4 shapefile source directories into one directory, relocate that directory to a new local drive, and use the resulting directory as data sources for multiple map projects. However, when I copy and move the respective shapefiles into a single new directory and call them into a new project, the simple previous color and name edits to the Feature Layers are not preserved. Moreover, the edits are preserved if I open multiple copies of ArcGIS Pro and copy and paste the Group Layers between projects. 

How can I:

1. Make a "master" shapefile directory that I can access from multiple map projects (aprx) and preserve the symbology in the Feature Layers of the current project?

Thanks a haep,

-jbb

[ZachBodenner]

From the table of contents, you can right click on a layer and go to the Sharing menu, then export as a .lyrx file.

Store those all in the same place. Then when you add layers to a map from a database or folder, you can use the Import Symbology geoprocessing tool (or click on it from the symbology menu) and target the .lyrx files you created. 

You can also just add the .lyrx files to the map as well, though there are more limited capabilities on what you can do to the layer that way.

[DanPatterson]

perhaps you need to package the project first

Package Project (Data Management)—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Share a project package—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation