Change current settings for a project

On the Options dialog box, on the Current Settings tab, you can change the home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox for an open project.

Note:

Software administrators can provide default values for the project location, home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox, and may prevent you from changing those values. Learn more about application settings and administrator settings for projects.

Access the current settings for a project

Complete the following steps to access the project's current settings:

1. In an open project, on the ribbon, click the Project tab to open the ArcGIS Pro settings.
2. In the list of side tabs, click Options.
3. On the Options dialog box, under Project, click Current Settings.

View the project name and location

The name and location of the current project can be viewed but not changed.

Caution:

Projects can't be renamed or moved using ArcGIS Pro commands. Using file system commands for these operations isn't supported and risks corrupting the project. To rename or move a project, share it as a project package or save the project with a new name.

Change the home folder

Every project has a home folder . This is the folder in which the project file (.aprx) of a new project is created. Typically, the project's default geodatabase and default toolbox are also located in the home folder. By default, the home folder is a new folder created with the project, but it can also be an existing folder.

The home folder contains other items managed by ArcGIS Pro, such as the project index, backup copies of the project, and geoprocessing messages. It is also the default location for some items that you create in an ArcGIS Pro session, such as database and server connection files, certain analysis results, map and layout files, and other exported files.

Once a project has been created, you can designate a different folder to be the home folder if you have write access to it. Changing the home folder does not move or copy the project file or any other items from the previous home folder to the new one. The home folder can't be removed from the project or deleted.

Follow the steps below to change the home folder of the current project:

1. On the Current Settings tab of the Options dialog box, next to the Home folder text box, click Browse .
2. In the browse dialog box, browse to a folder and select it. Click OK.

   The path to the folder appears in the Home folder text box. You can also enter a path to a folder directly in the text box.

3. Click OK on the Options dialog box.

   A folder connection is added automatically to the project if one does not exist. In the Catalog pane, on the Project tab, under Folders , the new home folder is marked with the home folder icon .

Tip:

Alternatively, you can add a folder connection in the Catalog pane to the folder you want to designate as the home folder. Right-click the folder connection and click Make Default .

Change the default geodatabase

Every project has a default geodatabase . By default, this is a file geodatabase (.gdb) that is created in the home folder of each new project and has the same name as the project. It can also be a specific geodatabase used as the default geodatabase for all new projects.

Most spatial datasets and stand-alone tables created by geoprocessing tools are stored in the default geodatabase. So are geodatabase items associated with layer templates or schema-only layer packages that are added to a map.

Once a project has been created, you can designate a different geodatabase to be the default if you have write access to it. Changing the default geodatabase does not move or copy any items from the previous default geodatabase to the new one.

The default geodatabase can be a file geodatabase (.gdb), mobile geodatabase (.geodatabase), or enterprise geodatabase (.sde). Other database types are not supported as default geodatabases. The default geodatabase can't be removed from the project or deleted.

Follow the steps below to change the default geodatabase of the current project:

1. On the Current Settings tab of the Options dialog box, next to the Default geodatabase text box, click Browse .
2. In the browse dialog box, browse to a geodatabase and select it. Click OK.

   The path to the geodatabase appears in the Default geodatabase text box. You can also enter a path to a geodatabase directly in the text box.

3. Click OK on the Options dialog box.

   A database connection is added automatically to the project if one does not exist. In the Catalog pane, on the Project tab, under Databases , the new geodatabase is marked with the default geodatabase icon .

Tip:

Alternatively, you can add a database connection in the Catalog pane to the geodatabase you want to designate as the default geodatabase. Under Databases , right-click the geodatabase and click Make Default .

Change the default toolbox

Every project has a default toolbox . By default, this is a toolbox (.atbx) that is created in the home folder of a new project and has the same name as the project. It can also be a specific toolbox used as the default toolbox for all new projects. New ModelBuilder models are stored in this toolbox by default.

Once a project has been created, you can designate a different toolbox to be the default if you have write access to it. Changing the default toolbox does not move or copy any items from the previous default toolbox to the new one.

The default toolbox can be a standard toolbox (.atbx), Python toolbox (.pyt), or legacy toolbox (.tbx). A toolbox stored in a geodatabase can't be the default toolbox. The default toolbox can't be removed from the project or deleted.

Follow the steps below to change the default toolbox of the current project:

1. On the Current Settings tab of the Options dialog box, next to the Default toolbox text box, click Browse .
2. In the browse dialog box, browse to a toolbox and select it. Click OK.

   The path to the toolbox appears in the Default toolbox text box. You can also enter a path to a toolbox directly in the text box.

3. Click OK on the Options dialog box.

   A toolbox connection is added automatically to the project if one does not exist. In the Catalog pane, on the Project tab, under Toolboxes , the new toolbox is marked with the default toolbox icon .

Tip:

Alternatively, you can add a toolbox connection in the Catalog pane to the toolbox you want to designate as the default toolbox. Under Toolboxes , right-click the toolbox and click Make Default .