Connect to a toolbox

Several methods can be used to access custom toolboxes in a project. Choose the method that is most appropriate for each toolbox.

Custom toolboxes can be stored on the file system or in geodatabases and can be accessed from folder connections and databases in the project as appropriate. However, you can also connect a project directly to a toolbox. Once connected, these toolboxes are available in the Toolboxes category. When a project is connected to a toolbox, you can quickly access its contents without having to know where it's stored and browse to that location. Toolboxes connected to the project are included in project packages.

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

Note:

Only custom toolboxes can be connected to and viewed in the Catalog pane. System toolboxes can only be viewed and used on the Toolboxes tab of the Geoprocessing pane.

• Learn more about accessing system toolboxes

Access a toolbox in a folder

You can see and work with a toolbox from a folder connection and access additional items stored in the same location, from the same connection. This may be important if the tools leverage data stored in the same location.

1. Connect to a folder containing the toolbox you want to use.
2. In the Catalog pane or the catalog view, browse to the folder that contains the toolbox.
3. Browse the contents of the toolbox and start using its tools.

Tip:

When you're browsing to a folder in the Catalog pane or the catalog view, you can add a toolbox directly to the project by clicking it and clicking Add To Project on the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Organize group. In the Catalog pane, right-click a toolbox and click Add To Project .

Add a toolbox directly to the project

If you only want to see and work with a toolbox and not other items stored in the same location, add it directly to the project.

1. Add an existing toolbox to the project in either of the following ways:
   • Open a catalog view and click Project or Toolboxes in the Contents pane. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the Add drop-down arrow and click Add Toolbox .
   • On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the Toolbox drop-down arrow and click Add Toolbox .
2. Browse to and click one or more toolboxes on the local or network computer or in a file geodatabase.
3. Click OK.

   The toolbox appears in the Catalog pane and catalog view in the Toolboxes category .

4. Browse the contents of the toolbox to start using its tools.

Tip:

You can drag a toolbox from Windows Explorer to the Catalog pane or the catalog view to add it to a project. You can also drag these items from folder connections in the project to the Toolboxes category to add them directly to the project. Drag the items within the Catalog pane, between the Catalog pane and catalog view, or between two catalog views.

Create a toolbox

You can create a toolbox or Python toolbox that can be used in the project.

Create a toolbox in your current location

To create a toolbox in your current location, complete the following steps:

1. Open a catalog view.
2. Browse to a folder on a local or network computer.
3. On the Catalog tab on the ribbon, in the Create group, click the New drop-down arrow and click New Toolbox or New Python Toolbox .

   A new toolbox or Python toolbox is created in the current location with the name New Toolbox or New Python Toolbox, as appropriate. The new toolbox is not automatically added to the project. The toolbox name is immediately editable.

4. Type a name for the toolbox.
5. Press Enter.

   The toolbox is updated with the new name.

Create a toolbox in another location

To create a toolbox in another location, complete the following steps:

1. Open the New Toolbox or New Python Toolbox dialog box.
   • On the Insert tab, in the Project group, click the Toolbox drop-down arrow and click New Toolbox or New Python Toolbox .
   • Right-click the Toolboxes category in the Catalog pane or catalog view and click New Toolbox or New Python Toolbox .
2. Browse to a folder on the local or network computer where the new toolbox will be stored.
3. Type a name for the new toolbox in the Name text box.
4. Click Save.

A toolbox or Python toolbox is created in the specified location with the provided name. It appears in the Toolboxes category .

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 .