Project and application options allow you to customize default settings for ArcGIS Pro. The default settings for editing feature data are available in the project Options dialog box on the Editing side tab.
When you customize options for editing, consider the following:
- Project options apply only to the currently opened project. If there is no open project, they are not enabled.
- Application options apply to all new projects. They affect the active project and existing projects when you reopen them.
- To set preferences for field mapping, snapping, the reference grid, and constraint modes, click Editor Settings
on the Edit ribbon tab, in the Manage Edits group.
For quick access to options for editing, click the Editing Options dialog box launcher 
on the Edit ribbon tab, in the Manage Edits group.
Units
Project unit options define the units of measurement that are available to editing tools in a map or a scene. They allow you to edit or digitize data using units that are different than the source feature data. These settings are available on the Options dialog box on the Units tab.
Versioning
Application options for versioning allow you to set the versioning type and conflict resolution method for workflows that edit isolated versions of data and merge the changes back to a published version. These settings are available on the Options dialog box on the Versioning tab.
Selections
Application options for selections set the default behavior for interactive selection tools. These settings are available on the Options dialog box on the Versioning tab.
For a quick reference for setting selection options used most when editing feature data, see Set selection options for editing.
Administrator settings
Administrators can manage and deploy a select number of application settings for ArcGIS Pro on behalf of a team or organization. The settings for editing that are available to administrators are noted in the following sections. If they appear locked in the Options dialog box, consult your system administrator.
Edit sessions
Application options for edit sessions allow you to either keep editing tools enabled or manually enable them on the Edit ribbon tab and run a Multiple workspace edit session or a Single workspace edit session. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Enable or disable editing from the Edit tab | Requires editing tools to be manually enabled and disabled on the Edit ribbon tab and must be set to run multiple or single workspace edit sessions. Turn off this option to keep editing tools enabled and allow ArcGIS Pro to automatically manage workspace edit sessions. This is the default setting. |  |
Multiple workspace edit session | Sets the option for manually enabling editing tools to allow ArcGIS Pro to select a workspace and automatically start an edit session when data is created or modified. The edit session automatically stops when edits are saved or discarded. This setting is available when the Enable or disable editing from the Edit tab option is enabled. | |
Single workspace edit session | Sets the option for manually enabling editing tools to require workspaces to be manually selected with the Choose Workspace dialog box each time editing tools are enabled on the Edit ribbon tab. An edit session starts immediately when the workspace is selected and stops when the editing tools are disabled. This setting is available when the Enable or disable editing from the Edit tab option is enabled. | |
Layer editability
Application options for editing layers allow you to automatically enable or disable layer editability in the Contents pane when you add a layer to a map or a scene. This setting is listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Make newly added layers editable by default | Automatically enables the editing checkbox in the Contents pane for an editable layer when it is added to a map or a scene. | |
Saving edits
Application options for saving edits include warning prompts for saving and discarding edits, tool deactivation, and initial layer editability when you add a layer to a map or a scene. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Automatically save edits | Automatically saves edits at recurring intervals specified as minutes or number of operations. | |
Save edits when saving a project | Automatically saves edits when a project is saved. | |
Show dialog to confirm save edits | The Save Edits dialog box appears and requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when the Save Edits command is clicked. | |
Show dialog to confirm discard edits | The Discard Edits dialog box appears and requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when the Discard Edits command is clicked. | |
Deactivate an active editing tool when saving or discarding | Automatically deactivates the active editing tool and runs the Explore tool |
when edits are saved
or discarded.Attributes
Application options for editing attributes include settings to enforce attribute validation and set warning prompts for editing attributes and subtypes in the Attributes pane. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Enforce Attribute validation | Restricts edits to values that satisfy the validation criteria defined for a field. | |
Auto Apply attribute edits | Sets the default position of the Auto Apply toggle button | |
Warn on subtype change | The Change Subtype dialog box requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when a subtype value is changed. | |
Uncommitted attribute edits | The Attributes dialog box requires edits to be applied or cancelled if Auto Apply is turned off and the selection is changed while a field contains uncommitted edits. It can be configured to always appear, or never appear and silently apply or discard uncommitted edits. | |
in the Geometry
Application options for editing geometry include default settings for the stretch button on the editing toolbar and warning prompts when editing geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Merge z-aware polygons and allow non-planar geometry | Allows nonplanar geometry to be created when overlapping z-aware polygons are merged with edges at different elevations. | |
Stretch geometry proportionately when moving vertex | Preserves the general shape of a feature by scaling the relative lengths of its segments when an edge or vertex is moved. | |
Stretch topology proportionately when moving a topology element | Preserves the general shape of connected topological elements by scaling the relative lengths of its edges when an edge or vertex is moved. | |
Uncommitted geometry edits | The active tool dialog box requires the results of an active sketch tool to be applied or discarded if another sketch tool is activated before a sketch is finished. It can be configured to always appear, or never appear and silently apply or discard the results of the active sketch tool. | |
Productivity
Application options for productivity set default behavior for a variety of tools including the move tool, double-clicking to finish geometry, prompting when deleting features, touch screen input, and the default editing tool. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Activate Move tool after all paste operations | Automatically runs the Move tool | |
Show feature symbology in the sketch | Draws actively sketched feature geometry using the current feature symbology. | |
Enable double-click as a shortcut for the Finish button | Runs the Finish command | |
Enable vertex editing while sketching | Allows the vertices of an unfinished line or polygon feature to be modified while the geometry is sketched. | |
Show dialog to confirm deleting data | The Delete dialog box appears and requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when the Delete command is clicked. | |
Touch screen input for new features | If a device is touch-enabled, allows features to be created by touching the screen in addition to using the mouse and keyboard. | |
Show the editing toolbar on the map | The editing toolbar appears when its associated editing tool is active. You can configure its size and location. | |
Default tool when deactivating editing tools | Sets the default tool to either the Explore tool |
after pasting features and enables the active move tool option.
when you double-click a map while drawing a feature with the pointer.
when an editing tool is deactivated.Follow feature annotation
Application options for follow feature annotation include default settings for placement, orientation, and curved annotation that follows the contours of a feature. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Automatically follow linked line features | Sets feature-linked annotation to automatically follow its associated line features. | |
Automatically follow linked polygon features | Sets feature-linked annotation to automatically follow its associated polygon features. | |
Use placement properties defined in the annotation class | Places feature-linked annotation using the placement properties defined in the source annotation feature class. | |
Make annotation parallel | Aligns straight annotation parallel to a feature by default. When annotation is created, this can be overridden on the toolbar and changed to perpendicular. | |
Make annotation perpendicular | Aligns straight annotation perpendicular to a feature by default. | |
Make annotation curved | Aligns curved annotation to follow the contours of a feature. This setting disables Parallel/Perpendicular | |
Constrain Placement Side cursor is on | Dynamically constrains annotation to follow the pointer as you hover to either side of a segment. This setting disables Left/Right | |
Constrain placement Left | Constrains annotation to the left side of the feature based on the direction of the segment. | |
Constrain placement Right | Constrains annotation to the right side of the feature based on the direction of the segment. | |
Constrain placement On Line | Constrains annotation centered on the feature segment. This setting disables Left/Right |
that appears on the toolbar.
that appears on the toolbar.
Vertex symbology
Application options for vertex symbology define the symbols used to display unfinished feature vertices as you draw feature geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Vertex unselected Form | Marker symbol | |
Vertex unselected Color | Marker symbol fill color | |
Vertex unselected Outline color | Marker symbol outline color | |
Vertex unselected Outline width | Marker symbol outline width | |
Vertex unselected Size | Marker symbol size | |
Vertex unselected Angle | Marker symbol angle | |
Vertex selected Form | Marker symbol | |
Vertex selected Color | Marker symbol fill color | |
Vertex selected Outline color | Marker symbol outline color | |
Vertex selected Outline width | Marker symbol outline width | |
Vertex selected Size | Marker symbol size | |
Vertex selected Angle | Marker symbol angle | |
Current vertex unselected Form | Marker symbol | |
Current vertex unselected Color | Marker symbol fill color | |
Current vertex unselected Outline color | Marker symbol outline color | |
Current vertex unselected Outline width | Marker symbol outline width | |
Current vertex unselected Size | Marker symbol size | |
Current vertex unselected Angle | Marker symbol angle | |
Current vertex selected Form | Marker symbol | |
Current vertex selected Color | Marker symbol fill color | |
Current vertex selected Outline color | Marker symbol outline color | |
Current vertex selected Outline width | Marker symbol outline width | |
Current vertex selected Size | Marker symbol size | |
Current vertex selected Angle | Marker symbol angle |
Control point symbology
Application options for point symbology define the symbols used to display unfinished feature control points as you draw feature geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Control point unselected Form | Marker symbol | |
Control point unselected Color | Marker symbol fill color | |
Control point unselected Outline color | Marker symbol outline color | |
Control point unselected Outline width | Marker symbol outline width | |
Control point unselected Size | Marker symbol size | |
Control point unselected Angle | Marker symbol angle | |
Control point selected Form | Marker symbol | |
Control point selected Color | Marker symbol fill color | |
Control point selected Outline color | Marker symbol outline color | |
Control point selected Outline width | Marker symbol outline width | |
Control point selected Size | Marker symbol size | |
Control point selected Angle | Marker symbol angle |
Segments symbology
Application options for segment symbology define the symbols used to display unfinished feature line segments as you draw feature geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:
| Setting | Description | Administrator setting |
|---|---|---|
Segments primary color | Fill color | |
Segments secondary color | Marker symbol fill color | |
Segments width | Marker symbol outline color |