ArcGIS Pro

Add maps and scenes to a project

You can create new maps in ArcGIS Pro or import them from other ArcGIS for Desktop applications. You can also import ArcGIS Pro map and layout files that were created in another project and map packages. Maps can use data from local, enterprise, or online sources.

Create a new map or scene

There are several types of maps in ArcGIS Pro. These include maps for displaying two-dimensional data, scenes for displaying three-dimensional data, and maps for building custom basemaps.

  1. On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the New Map drop-down menu.
  2. Click New Map New Map, New Scene New Scene View, or New Basemap New Basemap.
    3. The new map is opened and added to the project.

Import a map or a map package

You can import existing documents created in ArcMap (.mxd), ArcGlobe (.3dd), or ArcScene (.sxd), to your project. Map packages and ArcGIS Pro map and layout files (.mapx and .pagx) can be imported as well. Packages from the active portal are downloaded first. The document, package, or map file is opened, and a copy of each map and layout are added to the project. Map packages are unpacked in the <User Documents>\ArcGIS\Packages folder.

When you import an ArcMap map document, at least one map and one layout are added to the project. The format of the original data frames and layout is changed to the ArcGIS Pro map and layout formats before the items are added to the project. The data frame or layout that was active in the original document is opened in a view.

ArcGlobe and ArcScene documents are imported into ArcGIS Pro as scenes. By default, ArcGlobe documents open in global view mode, and ArcScene documents open in local view mode. You can switch between global and local modes on the View tab on the ribbon.

  1. On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click Import Map Import Map.
  2. Browse to or search for the maps you want to import, in your project or online.
  3. Click one or more maps to add them to the project.
  4. Click Select.

    When importing completes, a message is added to the Notifications tab in the Project pane for each imported map. The message provides a link to a report that lists all errors and warnings encountered, and messages with information about the import process.

    All messages in the Notifications tab disappear when a project closes. However, these reports are saved in an ImportLogs folder in the project's home folder as XML files. Double-click these files to view the reports as an HTML page in a browser.

If the original map has a description or full metadata, it is imported to the project with the map. Each imported item has a copy of the original metadata as a starting point.

Some of the data formats available in other ArcGIS for Desktop applications are not supported in ArcGIS Pro; layers that reference these formats in the original map may not draw successfully after being imported. Convert these datasets to a supported format using the data conversion geoprocessing tools. Afterwards, the imported map layers can be connected to the converted datasets.

There are drawing differences between ArcGIS for Desktop applications and ArcGIS Pro due to improvements to the drawing engine.

Imported maps are not connected to the files they were imported from. Future changes to the original map do not appear automatically in the project.

Add a web map or web scene from a portal

Maps and scenes authored in your project can be shared with others in your organization by publishing them to your portal as web maps or web scenes. Once shared, you can add a web map or web scene to your project from the active portal.

The map in your project links to the original web map. If changes are made to the original web map on the portal, you can update the version of the map in your project to match. If you want to continue working with the version of the map you already have and don't want to synchronize, you can unlink your map from the original web map. Web scenes can be added and synchronized in the same manner.

Add a web map or web scene to the project

You can add a web map or web scene to your project from the active portal. The map or scene in your project links to the original web map or web scene.

  1. On the Project pane, click the Portal tab or in the Project view, click Portal in the Contents pane.
  2. Browse or search for the web map or web scene you want to use in the My Content, Groups, or All Portal collections.
  3. Right-click the item and click Add And Open.

    The original web map or web scene converts to the ArcGIS Pro map format and is added to the project. The map or scene opens in a view. In the Project pane, its icon shows it is linked to the web map or web scene on the portal.

Synchronize a map or scene

Synchronize the map or scene in your project with the web map or web scene on the portal to see updates in your project. Any changes you made to the version of the item stored in your project is lost.

  1. On the Project pane or Project view, click the Project tab.
  2. Browse or search for the linked map or scene you want to update.
  3. Right-click the linked map or scene and click Sync.

    The current version of the item stored in your project is removed. The original web map or web scene converts to the ArcGIS Pro map format and is added to the project.

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