Geoprocessing options

The Geoprocessing tab on the Options dialog box provides options related to the geoprocessing tools, models, and scripts that you run in ArcGIS Pro. There are two ways to access these options:

  • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon. In the list on the left, click Options.
  • From the ArcGIS Pro start page, click Settings in the lower left corner. In the list on the left, click Options.

On the Options dialog box, click Geoprocessing to set geoprocessing options.

Alternatively, on the Analysis ribbon tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click the Options dialog box launcher Launcher.

Allow geoprocessing tools to overwrite existing datasets

This option controls whether a geoprocessing tool can overwrite an existing output dataset specified in the tool's parameters. This can include various types of datasets including tables, feature classes, rasters, layers, and files.

  • Checked—A warning appears in the Geoprocessing pane next to any output parameter that references an existing dataset, but the tool can still be run and overwrite the output dataset. This is the default.
  • Unchecked—An error icon appears in the Geoprocessing pane next to any output parameter that references an existing dataset, and the tool cannot be run.

Tools that edit or modify datasets, such as the Calculate Field tool, do not use this option.

Remove layers that reference data overwritten by geoprocessing tools

This option controls whether layers in a map are removed if their source datasets are deleted by a geoprocessing tool that overwrites output.

  • Checked—Layers with a data source that is overwritten are removed and a new layer that references the new dataset is added to the map. This is the default.
  • Unchecked—Layers remain as is in the map, unless the data type or shape type (point, line, or polygon) of the data changes.

Note:

Your software administrator may provide a default value for this option; the administrator may also lock this value.

Learn more about administrator management of application settings

Add output datasets to an open map

This option controls whether output datasets created by geoprocessing tools should be automatically added to an open map.

  • Checked—Output datasets are added to an open map. This is the default.
  • Unchecked—Output datasets are not added to an open map.

Note:

Your software administrator may provide a default value for this option; the administrator may also lock this value.

Learn more about administrator management of application settings

Display disabled parameters

This option controls whether geoprocessing tool parameters that are disabled are displayed or hidden.

  • Checked—Disabled parameters are displayed in a grayed-out read-only state until the parameter is enabled, which typically happens through the tool's internal validation routine.
  • Unchecked—Tool parameters that are disabled are hidden. This is the default.

Enable Undo toggled on by default

This option controls whether the Enable Undo toggle button on geoprocessing tools that modify the input dataset is on by default.

  • Checked—Enable Undo is automatically turned on.
  • Unchecked—You must use the toggle button on the geoprocessing tool dialog box to enable undo of the operation. This is the default.
Learn more about undoing geoprocessing tools

Note:

Your software administrator may provide a default value for this option; the administrator may also lock this value.

Learn more about administrator management of application settings

Display data paths as shortened names

This option controls whether geoprocessing tool parameters that contain a dataset path are displayed as a shortened name.

  • Checked—Dataset paths are displayed as a shortened name, and you can click the shortened name to see the full dataset path. This is the default.
  • Unchecked—Full dataset paths are always displayed.
Note:

This option has no effect when a layer name or value that is not a dataset path is specified for a parameter.

Analyze script and model tools for ArcGIS Pro compatibility

This option controls whether script and model tools are run through a compatibility-checking routine. If the model or script tool contains reference to a data format, tool, or Python syntax that is no longer supported, an error message is returned.

  • Checked—Model and script tools are checked for compatibility with ArcGIS Pro to ensure the tool can run successfully.
  • Unchecked—No compatibility check is run before the tool is run. This is the default.

You can use the Analyze Tools For Pro tool to manually perform the same compatibility check.

Learn more about geoprocessing tools that are not supported in ArcGIS Pro

Open messages window automatically after running a tool

This option controls whether the messages window will automatically open after running a tool in the Geoprocessing pane.

  • Checked—The messages window will open automatically.
  • Unchecked—The messages window will not open automatically. This is the default.
Note:

You can click View Details in the banner at the bottom of the Geoprocessing pane to open the messages window.

Script Editor

This option determines which application or Python integrated development environment (IDE) is used to edit Python script tools and Python toolboxes. When you right-click a script tool or Python toolbox and select Edit, this application opens.

Note:

The Script Editor option is not used for debugging script tools, only for editing the script tool source file.

Learn more about debugging script tools

Additional information messages

The following options control whether tool messages include additional categories of informative messages. All categories of additional informative messages are excluded by default.

Transformations

This option controls whether tool messages will include geographic transformation-related messages. These messages are applicable when a tool requires transforming input datasets to a different coordinate system.

Command syntax

This option controls whether tool messages will include a command syntax message. Command syntax is not Python code, rather a space-delimited string of the tool name and the parameter values used to run the tool.

Diagnostics

This option controls whether tool messages will include diagnostic messages. The messages include details about geoprocessing pre- and post-processing, geoprocessing thread disconnect and reconnecting, and more. Diagnostic messages are the same as the geoprocessing event messages logged in the ArcGIS Pro Diagnostic Monitor. Esri staff uses diagnostic messages to troubleshoot geoprocessing tool issues.

Logging

The following options control how geoprocessing operations are logged.

Write geoprocessing operations to Geoprocessing History

This option controls whether the tools you run are added to the current project's geoprocessing history.

  • Checked—Every tool run is logged in the project's geoprocessing history. This is the default.
  • Unchecked—Tools are not logged to geoprocessing history.

Note:

Your software administrator may provide a default value for this option; the administrator may also lock this value.

Learn more about administrator management of application settings

Write geoprocessing operations to XML log file

This option controls whether information about all the geoprocessing tools you run is written to an external log file.

  • Checked—XML log files are created in the directory %AppData%\Esri\ArcGISPro\ArcToolbox\History.
  • Unchecked—XML log files are not created. This is the default.

Write geoprocessing operations to dataset metadata

This option controls whether geoprocessing tool input and output datasets' metadata is updated to include the tool name, parameters, when the tool was run, and other information.

Learn more about geoprocessing history and metadata

  • Checked—The dataset metadata contains a Geoprocessing history section with logging of the tools used with that dataset. This is the default.
  • Unchecked—Dataset metadata is not updated.
Note:

You can view the Geoprocessing history section of dataset metadata in the FGDC metadata style.

Note:

Your software administrator may provide a default value for this option; the administrator may also lock this value.

Learn more about administrator management of application settings

ModelBuilder options

The following options apply when using ModelBuilder.

Do not show warning when overwriting a model from previous version

When you edit a model in ArcGIS Pro that was created in a different ArcGIS Desktop application, the model is automatically upgraded to an ArcGIS Pro version when you save the model. In this scenario, a warning message appears, allowing you to continue overwriting the model or cancel the operation. This option allows you to disable the warning message.

  • Checked—The warning message about upgrading the model does not appear.
  • Unchecked—The warning message about upgrading the model appears. This is the default.

Learn more about ModelBuilder compatibility and saving in ArcGIS Pro

R-ArcGIS support

These options allow you to install the R-ArcGIS bridge, check or update your current installation, or switch R home directories. Click the information button Information to go to the R-ArcGIS community, where you can learn more.

Detected R home directories

After you have installed R, you can select the installation or home directory of R to use to run your R script tools. You can select from a list of automatically detected home directories, or browse to select a location on disk.

arcgisbinding package

If you've selected a valid R home directory, this option looks for the presence of the R-ArcGIS integration package, arcgisbinding, in the home directory.

  • If arcgisbinding is found, you can look for updates, download the latest version, and update from a file.
  • If arcgisbinding is not found, you are presented with a warning and options to download and install the package.