Yes!
This is because Pro uses relative paths to store layer data sources. That is, it doesn’t remember the address of a file, but how to get to it from the project’s location.
https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/tools/supplement/pathnames-explained-absolute-relative-u....
A way to describe it is like, I don’t know my local library’s address, but I know it’s two blocks north and one block west from my house.
When you use Windows file explorer, rather than aprx.saveAs(), to move your aprx or copy it, the computer hasn’t caught on to what happened. It’s like you picked up the house and moved it overnight, and the computer wakes up the next morning and still tries to go the library the way it did yesterday: two blocks up, one west. This is now taking it to the vacant lot. What it really needs is to be told “hey actually, it’s three blocks north and seven blocks to the east now”
So, how do we fix this issue?
1) Try using arcpy to copy the aprx (or the Save As button on the Project tab).This makes Pro reevaluate the directions to get your data.
2) Try an actual pro project template file. One of the issues with this is that it’s actually just a project package, which means your data gets duplicated unless it’s in an enterprise gdb. (Maybe also a service? Idk.) There’s an idea out there to change this behavior.
https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/project-templates-aptx-have-option-to-store-only/idi-...
3) Try using files like LYRX, MAPX, and PAGX instead of a full APRX file. PAGX is pretty sweet since it pulls in your layout canvas and any maps that were in the layout.
https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/layouts/layout-files.htm
4) There’s an idea out for giving us the option of absolute paths, like we had in ArcMap. Add a kudo to it.
https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/need-absolute-path-names-in-pro/idi-p/938348
I hope this helps!
