Saving Files as new copy issues

[ljanin10]

Howdy!

I keep running into this issue and trying to figure out the best process moving forward. I work on a farm and have a file that shows all of our  blocks and all of the blocks information, I use this as my base file for all other maps/projects that I work on. I typically open my base file and then save as  new file name, I then make my edits. But the problem that I have is that it ties to the base file. So, today, I needed to create some subsections of blocks. I saved my base file as a new project, made the edits, saved it all... then I go back to my base file and all of the new subsections that I created are reflected in the main base file. What are the best steps to avoid this issue in the future? Do I need to duplicate the ArcGIS file in my file explorer?

Let me know!

[Eugene_Adkins]

It sounds as if when you say “base file” you’re referring to some sort of geographic based feature (whether a shapefile, or a feature class, etc.), and if this is the case it’s important to distinguish between your “base file” (your actual data) and the aprx (the Pro project where you manipulate/work with your data). You can use the save as option for the aprx but in this new aprx you will still be editing the same data (no matter what other aprx’s contain the data) that is used and referenced in other projects.

If you intend to make edits to your geographical data and you do not want these edits to effect the data in other Pro projects, you need to create a new copy of the data that you will be editing.

Here is some ESRI based documentation, if needed:

• Making a copy of a feature class
• Creating a shapefile based off a feature class
• Information about the difference between shapefiles, feature classes and geodatabases

Hope this answers your question.