Set layer visibility in a map frame - Allow behaviour toggle for new layers

[AnthonyJonesRSK]

Hi, with the recent 3.7 update to Pro the ability to control layer visibility in the layout map frame was a very welcome addition. This will now allow us to create multiple report figures from a single map (I'm aware this was possible in a different way using map series) saving a lot of time configuring layers as they can all come from a single source of truth. 

My only frustration with this is the line from the documentation here that says "Any new layers added to the map, regardless of visibility, are automatically visible in the map frame. You can then turn them off within the map frame.". It would be great if we could set the behaviour for new layers as having a new layer added to the map appear in all our layouts could lead to errors. e.g. if you only need that new layer in a single layout then you need to manually turn it off in all other layouts, which is a bit annoying. And if you forget to remove it from the other layouts then they are now incorrect which could lead to issues when they are next exported.

My suggestion is when adding a new layer to the map to have a window appear asking if you want the layer to display in all layouts or not. This would allow for control at the point at which the layer is added. Alternatively you could have this as a setting for each layout so you can set whether that layout will automatically turn on the new layer or not. My last suggestion is to maybe have a window in the aprx that allow you to see all layouts in a project and then toggle the layers you want on for each.

Thanks

Anthony

[EMani]

Hi  @AnthonyJonesRSK 

I haven't used this new feature yet, but I can understand how it might work as you have described.

I do know even before this, when you added a temporary layer to a map, such as an export, then this would automatically be added to the layout and needed to be turned off if you did not want it in the layout when exporting to a file.

The best place to make your suggestion is in  ArcGIS Ideas

Let me know if you do and I'll give you a kudos to get it going.

[Robert_LeClair · Accepted solution]

Not exactly what you're looking for but something to be aware of.  If you go to Project->Options->Map and Scene tab, under the Add Layers and Tables item, there is a check box you can disable that says - "Make newly added layers visible by default" - like I said, not 100% what you're looking for but a start.  Your workflow is worthy of an ArcGIS Idea as mentioned above.

[AnthonyJonesRSK]

Hi @EMani @Robert_LeClair,

Thank you both for your responses on this it's much appreciated. I actually messed up as I thought I  was posting this as an idea and hadn't spotted I was in the Pro questions rather than ideas section. Your suggestion Robert is actually really useful, I hadn't realised that was an option. I will likely set that to off by default as then it removes the risk of layers ending up in the wrong maps so thanks for that. I will still raise the idea though as having a bit more control over layers in layouts at the point of adding them and maybe via some sort of chart/matrix would be very useful. Thanks

[AnthonyJonesRSK]

I've added an idea for this here. Thanks again.