Replace colors

Available with Defense Mapping license.

Available with Production Mapping license.

You can replace colors in a map, layout, or style in the catalog view with the Replace Colors tool. Use this tool to update color mapping, including specification-driven color changes, in which updates apply to all colors in a product.

Tip:

The Replace Colors button Replace Colors appears on the Manage tab for mapping, layout, and styles in the catalog view.

Replace colors for a selected item in a map

When applied to a map, colors of all symbol parts can be replaced.

Access all the colors in a map and update them completing the following steps:

  1. Click the View tab on the ribbon.
  2. In the Windows group, click Catalog View Catalog View.

    The catalog view appears.

  3. In the catalog view, double-click the Maps folder.

    The maps in the Maps folder are listed and the Manage tab appears on the ribbon.

  4. Click the map you want to update in the catalog view.
  5. Click the Manage tab and then click the Replace Colors button Replace Colors.

    The Replace Colors dialog box appears with the map item active in the Item drop-down list.

    Tip:

    You can choose a different map from the Item drop-down list.

  6. Click Load Colors.

    The map colors are loaded in the Replace colors section, with the active colors in the Current Color column and target colors in the Target Color column. The active color and the target color are the same unless you change them.

  7. Do any of the following to update or export the map colors:
    • Click a target color's drop-down arrow and choose a different color from the ArcGIS Colors palette.
    • Click the Add color button Add color in the Replace colors section to add a new row of colors to the list of map colors.
    • Choose a color in the Replace colors section and click the Remove colors button Remove colors to delete the color or colors.
    • Click the Load colors from color mapping file button Load colors from color mapping file in the Replace colors section to open a color mapping file (.ccrx).
    • Click the Save colors to color mapping file button Save colors to color mapping file to export the colors to a .ccrx file.
  8. Do either of the following to apply your color updates:
    • To apply updates to the existing map, click Update existing and click OK.
    • To apply updates to a new copy of the map, click Create new, type a name for the new map in the text box, and click OK.

    The map colors are updated. If it's a new map, it is added to the maps list in the Maps folder.

Replace colors for a selected item in a layout

When applied to a layout, colors of all symbol parts can be replaced.

Access all the colors in a layout and update them completing the following steps:

  1. Click the View tab on the ribbon.
  2. In the Windows group, click Catalog View Catalog View.

    The catalog view appears.

  3. In the catalog view, double-click the Layouts folder.

    The layouts in the Layouts folder appear. The Manage tab appears on the ribbon.

  4. Click the layout you want to update in the catalog view.
  5. Click the Manage tab.
  6. On the Manage tab, click the Replace Colors button Replace Colors.

    The Replace Colors dialog box appears with the layout item active in the Item drop-down list.

    Tip:

    Click the Item drop-down list to choose a different layout.

  7. Click Load Colors.

    The layout colors are loaded in the Replace colors section, with the active colors in the Current color column and target colors in the Target color column. The active color and the target color are the same unless you change them.

  8. Do any of the following to update or export the layout colors:
    • Click a target color's drop-down arrow and choose a different color from the ArcGIS colors palette or click the Color Properties button and choose a replacement color from the Color Editor.
    • Click the Add color button Add color in the Replace colors section to add a new color.
    • Choose a color in the Replace colors section and click the Remove colors button Remove colors to delete the color or colors.
    • Click the Load colors from color mapping file button Load colors from color mapping file in the Replace colors section to open a color mapping file (.ccrx).
    • Click the Save colors to color mapping file button Save colors to color mapping file to export the colors to a .ccrx file.
  9. Do either of the following to apply your color updates:
    • To apply updates to the existing layout, click Update existing and click OK.
    • To apply updates to a new copy of the layout, click Create new, type a name for the new layout in the text box, and click OK.

    The layout colors are updated. If it's a new layout, it is added to the layouts list in the Layouts folder.

Replace colors for a selected item in a style

When applied to a custom style, colors of all symbol parts can be replaced.

Access all the colors in a style and update them by completing the following steps:

  1. Click the View tab on the ribbon.
  2. In the Windows group, click Catalog View Catalog View.

    The catalog view appears.

  3. In the catalog view, double-click the Styles folder.

    The styles in the Styles folder appear. The Manage tab appears on the ribbon.

  4. Click the style you want to update in the catalog view.
  5. On the Manage tab, click the Replace Colors button Replace Colors.

    The Replace Colors dialog box appears with the style item active in the Item drop-down list.

    Tip:

    Click the Item drop-down list to choose a different style.

  6. Click Load Colors.

    The style colors are loaded in the Replace colors section, with the active colors in the Current color column and target colors in the Target color column. The active color and the target color are the same unless you change them.

  7. Do any of the following to update or export the layout colors:
    • Click a target color's drop-down arrow and choose a different color from the ArcGIS colors palette or click the Color Properties button and choose a replacement color from the Color Editor.
    • Click the Add color button Add color in the Replace colors section to add a new color.
    • Choose a color in the Replace colors section and click the Remove colors button Remove colors to delete the color or colors.
    • Click the Load colors from color mapping file button Load colors from color mapping file in the Replace colors section to open a color mapping file (.ccrx).
    • Click the Save colors to color mapping file button Save colors to color mapping file to export the colors to a .ccrx file.
  8. Do either of the following to apply your color updates:
    • To apply updates to the existing style, click OK while the Update existing option is chosen.
    • To apply updates to a new copy of the style, click the Create new option, type a name for the new style in the text box, and click OK.

    The style colors are updated. If it's a new style, it is added to the styles list in the Styles folder.