Customizing ArcGIS Pro to Improve Workspace Efficiency
Customization of the ArcGIS Pro user interface and default settings is a great way to make ArcGIS Pro work for you and your specific workflows. There are many customization options found in the Project tab, under Options. This article will highlight some of the most popular and frequently asked about customization settings.
This article will start by setting up some default settings to get projects running quickly and smoothly, then dive into visualization and display customizations, and finish with a few options to improve efficiency with user interface customizations.
Setting up project defaults
Customizing default settings for setting up new ArcGIS Pro projects can help streamline the project creation process and ensure organizational standards are being met. The following customization options are found inside of the options dialog box.
Default project locations
When creating a new project in ArcGIS Pro, one of the first things to do is specify where the project is saved. By default, ArcGIS Pro projects are saved in your user profile.
Specify a custom location by navigating to the Project tab, open Options. Under the General tab, expand Create Projects. Toggle the radio button to “New projects are saved in a custom location”, then browse to select a default folder for project locations. This can help stay organized and get projects started quickly.
Default Basemaps
Also found in the Map and Scene tab of the Options dialog box, choose a default basemap. The default is to use the default of your organization, but if there is a basemap that you are consistently using (I, personally, am drawn to Light Gray Canvas), set that as your default basemap and let the mapping begin!
This will set the default basemap for every new map created in ArcGIS Pro.
Default Coordinate Systems
To ensure maps are using the correct coordinate system, customize the default coordinate system settings. In the Options dialog box, navigate to the Map and Scene tab, then expand Spatial Reference.
By default in ArcGIS Pro, maps will take the spatial reference of the first operational layer. Any additional data will be projected on-the-fly to match the coordinate system of the first operational layer. Instead, customize ArcGIS Pro to use a default spatial reference for maps. This is great if your organization has a standard spatial reference.
For example, say my organization uses NAD 1983 UTM Zone 11N for their standard coordinate system. I can set the default spatial reference. Then, when I add data to a new map, regardless of the coordinate system of the first operational layer, my map will be set to NAD 1983 UTM Zone 11N and data will be projected on-the-fly to match my organization’s standard.
When working with coordinate systems, it is important to know when a layer is drawn with an on-the-fly geographic transformation. In this same Spatial Reference drop down, check the box to get a warning in the upper right corner of ArcGIS Pro when a geographic transformation is required. This notification will help ensure that all incoming data is transformed into the correct geographic coordinate system.
Visualization and Experience
Zoom and Scale
Scaling the user interface can help with readability and ease of access. In the User Interface tab, there is an option to scale the user interface by percentage. By default, this is set to 100%, but can be changed to make the user interface either smaller or larger.
Changing the user interface scale is a great trick for presenting or demonstrating ArcGIS Pro in both virtual and in-person environments. Going larger in scale, such as scaling to 110%, helps audience members clearly see demonstrations of the software.
Light and Dark Mode
Many folks work in dark mode across a variety of programs and apps. In Options, in the General tab, change to dark mode under Application Theme. Dark mode can help reduce eye strain, especially when working in low light conditions.
Selection Colors
By default, selected features are indicated with a neon cyan outline color. This can sometimes be a difficult color to view, depending on how data is symbolized. In the Selection tab, set the selection color to any color.
Another option within this section is to check the box to apply either a hatched or solid fill color to selected features. This can be especially helpful when working with lots of overlapping polygons.
Improving Efficiency
Quick Access Toolbar
Up at the very top of ArcGIS Pro, there is the Quick Access Toolbar. Customize which tools are visible in this toolbar. If there are certain commands and tools in constant use, consider adding them to the Quick Access Toolbar to help improve efficiency.
In the Quick Access Toolbar tab in Options, choose from any ArcGIS Pro command to add to the toolbar. Click the dropdown to select from a different menu, such as All Commands, this will allow you to explore all of the commands in ArcGIS Pro.
Select tool to add to the toolbar, then click the Add button. To reorder the Quick Access toolbar, use the arrows on the right.
Personally, the Quick Access Toolbar is one of my favorite customization options I use every day. I added the Explore Tool and Reset Panes for Mapping, since these are some of my most used commands in ArcGIS Pro.
Pane Sets
We are venturing outside of the Options for this customization: Pane Sets. Pane Sets help quickly open necessary panes and close unnecessary panes for a given task. ArcGIS Pro has three default pane sets: Mapping, Geoprocessing, and Editing. For example, the geoprocessing pane set will open the Contents, Catalog, and Geoprocessing panes.
For any workflow, create custom pane set. Start by opening and closing the panes to want to include in the custom pane set. In the View Tab, click on Pane Sets, then New. Give the custom pane set a name. This custom pane set can be added to the Quick Access Toolbar or updated and edited as necessary.
Custom Tabs
Custom tabs are another great way to keep common tools handy. In Options, under the Customize the Ribbon tab, click New Tab. From there, customize the groups within that new tab and add commands to those groups.
In addition to creating an entirely new tab, there are options to customize the contents of existing tabs. Add and remove tools to best suit specific workflows.
Access these settings by right clicking on the ribbon, then customize the ribbon.
To share with others, export customizations as a .proExportedUI file. In Options, in Customize the Ribbon, click on the Import/Export button, then export to export customizations (this includes Pane Sets, Custom Tabs, Quick Access Toolbar, and Keyboard shortcuts) as a .proExportedUI file. Then someone else can import the customization file. This sharing of customization files is a great option to standardize workflows in an organization. This is a great way to get everyone on the same page and working faster.
Conclusion
This article provides good starting point for customizing ArcGIS Pro. There are so many more customization options to explore. I recommend taking some time, even just five to ten minutes, and click through all of the customization tabs in the Options dialog box. You may discover a setting that will make your ArcGIS Pro experience more efficient and enjoyable.
To learn more about working in ArcGIS Pro:
ArcGIS Pro: Essential Workflows (Instructor-Led Course)
Mapping and Visualizing Data in ArcGIS (Instructor-Led Course)
Use project and application options (ArcGIS Pro Documentation)
