Connect to a folder

You can connect to folders on a local or network computer that contain the items needed to complete and archive a project.

You may need to refresh your folder connection if the contents of the folder are changed outside your current ArcGIS Pro session. You may need to repair the connection if it becomes invalid.

Add a folder to the project

When a folder has been added to the project, you can create and access items in that location with fewer clicks.

1. Add an existing folder to the project in either of the following ways:
   • Open the catalog view and click Folders in the Contents pane. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the Add drop-down arrow and click Add Folder Connection .
   • On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click Add Folder .

   The Add Folder Connection dialog box appears.

2. Identify the folder or folders you want to add to the project.
   • Browse to and click one or more folders on disk.
   • Type or copy the full path to the folder into the Name text box.
3. Click OK or press Enter.

The folder connection appears in the Catalog pane and the catalog view in the Folders category .

Tip:

You can drag one or more folders from File Explorer to the Catalog pane or a catalog view to add them to a project.

The contents of folder connections are indexed by default. If a connection accesses the root node of a disk, such as C:\ or D:\, the following folders (if they exist) are not indexed:

• Program Files
• Program Files (x86)
• ProgramData
• Windows

If a connection accesses the root node for a network drive, content is indexed only if you enable indexing on network disks.

Create a folder in the project

You can create a folder that will be used in the project.

1. Create a folder.
   • In the catalog view, browse to the location where you want to create a folder. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the New drop-down arrow and click New Folder .
   • In the browse dialog box, click the New Item menu and click New Folder .

   A folder named New Folder is created in the current location. The folder is immediately renamed.

2. Type a name for the new folder.
3. Press Enter.

   The folder is updated with the new name.

Create a folder in My Content

You can create a folder in My Content in the active portal if you are signed in and have the privilege to create, update, and delete content. You cannot create folders inside other folders in My Content. You cannot add folders in My Content to a project.

1. Browse to My Content .
2. Create a folder in either of the following ways:
   • In the catalog view, browse to My Content. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the New drop-down arrow and click New Folder .
   • In the browse dialog box, click the New Item menu and click New Folder .

   A folder named New Folder is created. The folder name is immediately editable.

3. Type a name for the new folder.
4. Press Enter.

   The folder is updated with the new name.

Favorite a folder

If you add the same folder to many projects, favorite that folder to simplify the process. The project favorites collection is always available. Add a favorite folder to projects where you need it without having to remember its location. You can add a favorite network share to every new project you create. If your user profile supports roaming, favorite folders will be available on every computer you use.

Tip:

You can drag a folder from Windows Explorer to the favorites collection in the Catalog pane or the catalog view. You can also drag folders from the Project tab in the Catalog pane to the favorites collection in the catalog view or drag them between two catalog views.

Remove a connection

You can remove an item connection in the Catalog pane or catalog view if you no longer need to work with the item or if its contents become unavailable. When you remove an item connection, the item and its contents are no longer directly accessible from your project. However, they are not deleted from their computer, network, or cloud location.

You cannot remove item connections to items required by the project, such as the default toolbox and default geodatabase.

1. In the Catalog pane, browse to the item connection.

   Alternatively, with the catalog view active, browse to the item connection in the Contents pane or the catalog view.

2. Click the item connection to select it.
3. Right-click the item and click Remove .

   When the catalog view is active, you can also use the ribbon to remove an item connection. On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Organize group, click Remove .