Create a project

Most projects are created from a project template, which specifies the project's starting contents. For example, a template can specify that new projects contain a map that opens to a particular extent and uses a particular basemap. ArcGIS Pro provides some default project templates. You can create custom project templates to start projects with maps, layouts, data, and connections to resources such as local system folders, network drives, or enterprise geodatabases. In this way, project templates help you create projects that support specific themes, tasks, or applications.

By default, a new project creates the following items:

• A project file (<project name>.aprx)—The project file stores maps, scenes, charts, layouts, reports, and resource connections.
• A file geodatabase (<project name>.gdb)—This is the project's default geodatabase. Most outputs of geoprocessing operations are saved here unless otherwise directed.
• A toolbox (<project name>.atbx)—This is the project's default toolbox. Geoprocessing models are saved here unless otherwise directed.
• A system folder <project name>—This folder is the project's home folder. It contains the project file, default geodatabase, and default toolbox. Files created by some geoprocessing operations and by many other operations are stored here by default.

After a project has been created, you can change settings such as the home folder, default geodatabase, or default toolbox. (However, you can't change the project name or location.) You can also control the items that are created by a new project in the options for creating projects.

It is possible to start working in ArcGIS Pro without creating a project from a template. In this case, the project file and other default items are temporary files that are deleted when you end your session. Starting without a template is often convenient when you don't need to save items, such as maps and layouts, that are stored in the project file. Optionally, you can save your work as a project at any time during your ArcGIS Pro session.

Learn more about projects in ArcGIS Pro.

Caution:

Cloud storage services, such as Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive, are not supported unless stated otherwise in the documentation about specific tools and functionality. Learn more about ArcGIS Pro and cloud storage services.

Create a project from a default template

Default project templates are available on the ArcGIS Pro start page and the Settings page. The following templates are provided:

• Map—Creates a project with an open map that uses your ArcGIS organization's default basemap.
• Catalog—Creates a project with an open catalog view for managing data.
• Global Scene—Creates a project with an open global scene that uses your ArcGIS organization's default basemap and a default elevation surface.
• Local Scene—Creates a project with an open local scene that uses your ArcGIS organization's default basemap and a default elevation surface.

1. Access the default project templates.
   • Start ArcGIS Pro to display the start page.
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon to display the Settings page. In the list of side tabs, click New.
2. Under New Project, click the project template you want.

   

   The Create a New Project dialog box appears with a default project name and location.

3. Optionally, type a different name in the Name box.

   The name is applied to the project file, the default geodatabase, the default toolbox, and the home folder. It can't be changed after the project is created.

4. Optionally, type a different path in the Location text box or click Browse and browse to a location.
5. Optionally, uncheck the Create a new folder for this project check box.

   

   Default settings are shown on the Create a New Project dialog box.

6. Click OK.

   The project is created and opened.

Create a project from a recent template

Recent project templates are custom templates you have previously used to create a project. They are available on the ArcGIS Pro start page and the Settings page. The list of recent templates includes up to 50 templates. You can pin a template to the list to ensure that it remains available. If a template's name or path isn't completely visible in the list, you can hover over it to display a pop-up.

A project created from a custom template must be created in a new folder. (The option not to create a project folder is disabled.) This eliminates the possibility of losing data. If a new folder was not created, and many projects were created from the same template in the same location, data provided with the template would be overwritten each time and any previous edits made to that data would be lost.

1. Access recent project templates.
   • Start ArcGIS Pro to display the start page.
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon to display the Settings page. In the list of side tabs, click New.
2. Under Recent Templates, click the project template you want.

   The Create a New Project dialog box appears with a default project name and location.

3. Optionally, type a different name in the Name box.
4. Optionally, type a different path in the Location text box or click Browse and browse to a location.
5. Click OK.

   The project is created in a new folder and opened.

   Note:

   Project templates, which are files with the extension .aptx, can be moved or deleted with operating system commands. If you select a template in the Recent Templates list that is no longer available in its referenced location, ArcGIS Pro prompts you to remove it from the list. You can also remove a template from the list—whether or not it is available—by right-clicking it and clicking Remove Project Template From List.

Create a project from another template

Project templates do not appear in the Recent Templates list until they have been used. To use a custom template for the first time, you may be able to access it directly from a location that ArcGIS Pro recognizes by default (a well-known location). Otherwise, you can browse to the template's location on disk or in your active portal.

A project created from a custom template must be created in a new folder. (The option not to create a project folder is disabled.) This eliminates the possibility of losing data. If a new folder was not created, and many projects were created from the same template in the same location, data provided with the template would be overwritten each time and any previous edits made to that data would be lost.

Note:

Templates stored in a portal are downloaded to your computer before they are used to create a project. The download location is the Documents\ArcGIS\OnlineProjects folder in your user profile. When the template appears in the Recent Templates list, its path goes to the download location.

Select a template from a well-known location

ArcGIS Pro recognizes certain locations on disk and in your active portal as default locations for storing project templates. You can access templates in these locations directly from the Settings page. The well-known locations on your computer are the Documents\ArcGIS\ProjectTemplates folder and the Desktop folder in your user profile. The well-known locations in your active portal are My Content and any groups to which you belong.

1. Go to the Settings page.
   • Start ArcGIS Pro to display the start page. On the start page, click the Settings tab .
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon.
2. On the Settings page, in the list of side tabs, click New.
3. Access a well-known location on your computer or in your portal.
   • Click Computer and expand Documents or Desktop as appropriate.
   • Click Portal and expand My Content or an available group, as appropriate.

   

   Top: a project template (.aptx) stored in a well-known computer location. Bottom: a project template stored in a well-known portal location.

4. Click the project template you want.

   The Create a New Project dialog box appears.

   Note:

   If there are no templates in the well-known locations, you can click Start with another template and browse to a location that contains a template. These steps are provided in the next section.

5. Optionally, type a different name in the Name box.
6. Optionally, type a different path in the Location text box or click Browse and browse to a location.
7. Click OK.

   The project is created in a new folder and opened.

Select a template from another location

If a project template is not in your list of recent templates, and is not stored in a well-known location, you can browse to it.

1. Go to the start page or the Settings page.
   • Start ArcGIS Pro to display the start page.
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon to display the Settings page. In the list of side tabs, click New.
2. Click Start with another template .

   The Create New Project From Template dialog box appears.

3. Browse to or search for the project template you want.

   Note:

   Only portal collections can be searched. You can't search your computer or network drives for project templates.

4. Click the template you want. Click OK.

   The Create a New Project dialog box appears.

5. Optionally, type a different name in the Name box.
6. Optionally, type a different path in the Location text box or click Browse and browse to a location.
7. Click OK.

   The project is created in a new folder and opened.

Start without a project template

Your work may not require you to save a project. For example, you may need to copy, delete, or rename files; edit data or metadata; save geoprocessing outputs to existing file or enterprise geodatabases; manage the contents of a style; run scripts; or do data exploration or visualization that doesn't need to be saved in a map. In situations like these, you can start without a template. ArcGIS Pro opens and operates in the same way as when you create a project; however, the standard files created by a new project—the project file, file geodatabase, toolbox, and home folder—are temporary. When you end your session, these files are deleted, along with any content you have added to them.

Optionally, after starting without a template, you can create a project at any time during your session by saving your work. The Save Project As dialog box appears and you can type a name for the project and browse to a location to save it. The temporary files and their contents become permanent.

1. Go to the start page or the Settings page.
   • Start ArcGIS Pro to display the start page.
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon to display the Settings page. In the list of side tabs, click New.
2. Next to the default project templates, click Start without a template .

   The application window opens with the name Untitled and you can begin to work.

   Tip:

   You can configure ArcGIS Pro to start without a template by default.

   Caution:

   When you start without a template, you cannot recover your work in the event of an unexpected application shutdown.

Create a project from another project

You can save a project as a new project to make a copy of an open project. This creates a project file (.aprx) with a new name in a location you specify. The new project references the home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox of the project from which it was created. To save a project as a template for new projects, you can create a project template.