Pro 3.5
This has happened to me a few different times over the years and each time it has been very embarrassing.
Why is it that packaging (layer package, project package) doesn't consistently (or at all) actually package the data?
I packaged an mpkx the other day and was able to unload it successfully, but when I turned that same project into a ppkx, the recipient didn't get any data with it.
I've had similar results with layer packages.
What's going on?
Package Project (Data Management Tools) | ArcGIS Pro documentation
what wasn't in the ppkx that was supposed to be given the guidelines in the help topic.
I don't see anything specific in the public facing support site.
Literally none of the data is present. The aprx when you unpack points to my folder on my computer, where the data was when I packaged the aprx in the first place. If you unzip the ppkx, you get three folders:
There should be a geodatabase in there, and the aprxs should be pointing to wherever the project unpacks.
I've had a similar thing with layer packages. It should include a geodatabase and it doesn't.
Compare the mpkx, which correctly exported and includes a commondata folder that contains a file geodatabase. (Also 3 folders containing the same mapx. What's going on there?)
Is it something where if all the source data is in the same place, it doesn't package it?
it is the " Share outside of organization" under Usage that seems to dictate what is copied data-wise and packaged.
It isn't clear whether you are packaging within or external to your organization.
I have had issues with packages in past but each ArcGIS Pro version has been better than the previous. Now with 3.7 all packages have worked as expected. So try same thing with 3.7 instead of 3.5 if possible. To me it is clear that there has been significant development in packaging in latest versions and in my cases it has solved all issues in 3.7.