Create a portal project

When you create a portal project, you must configure the project for its intended use. For example, a portal project created for a single user on one computer is configured differently from a portal project created for many users. Configuration includes choosing a collaboration type, specifying default project items, and setting sharing properties as needed.

You can create a portal project in the following ways:

• Use the portal project wizard.
• Use the New Portal Project dialog box.
• Save an existing local project as a new portal project.
• Save an existing portal project as a new portal project.

You cannot directly upload an existing project file (.aprx) from a local or network computer to a portal. In addition, some methods for creating local projects are not available for portal projects. If you start ArcGIS Pro without a template, you can't create a portal project by saving the untitled project. Nor can you create a portal project from a project template file (.aptx).

Note:

To create a portal project, you must be signed in to an active ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 or later version portal. You must also have a user type, role, or privilege that allows you to create content on the portal. Portal projects cannot be created or stored on ArcGIS Online.

Create a portal project using the wizard

When you create a portal project from the start page or from the New page in the ArcGIS Pro settings, the portal project wizard appears by default.

After you are familiar with the process, you may prefer to create portal projects from the New Portal Project dialog box. You can turn the wizard on or off in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

Tip:

Use the Previous and Next buttons to move through the wizard pages, for example, to change a setting on a previous page. The Next button is not enabled until the required settings on previous pages are made. Optionally, click Finish after specifying a toolbox path. You can click Cancel on any page to stop creating the portal project.

To create a portal project using the wizard, complete the following steps:

1. Access the default templates for new projects in either of the following ways:
   • Start ArcGIS Pro to display the start page.
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon. On the ArcGIS Pro settings page, in the list of side tabs, click New.
2. Under New Project, click a project template.

   

   The New Project dialog box appears with a default name and location. From the Location drop-down list, you can create either a local project or a portal project. The default setting is the type of project that you last created.

3. If necessary, click the Location drop-down arrow and click My Content.

   Note:

   You must be signed in to an ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 or later version portal to enable the Next button. If the active portal is an earlier ArcGIS Enterprise portal version or ArcGIS Online, the Location box indicates that the portal is not supported. If the portal is supported but you are not signed in, you can sign in from the Location box.

4. In the Name text box, replace the default name with a new name.

   

5. Click Next.

   The Introducing portal projects wizard page appears.

   Note:

   If another project with the same name exists at the root level of your My Content collection, an error message appears. Projects with duplicate names can exist in your organization or in different folders in My Content.

6. Click Get Started.
7. On the How will you collaborate page, click one of the collaboration types:
   • Just for me
   • Just for me on multiple devices
   • For someone else
   • For me and others

   

   In the image above, For me and others is selected. The requirements for the selected collaboration type are listed. In this case, the home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox must all be in a shared location. The default geodatabase must be an enterprise geodatabase (.sde).

8. Click Next.

   

   On the Project details page, the project name and portal folder appear. By default, the project is saved to the root level of your portal content.

9. Optionally, in the Project name text box, provide a different name for the project.
10. Optionally, click the Portal folder drop-down arrow and choose a different folder in My Content.

    Alternatively, click Browse and browse to a folder in My Content, or create a folder from the New Item drop-down list on the New Project Location browse dialog box.

11. Click Next. On the Share with page, choose how to share the project.

    A portal project can only be updated by multiple users if it is shared with a shared update group. If the project is shared to the organization, members of the organization can open it and save changes locally. However, only members of the shared update group can save changes to the portal.

    

    In this example, PortalShare is a shared update group.

    Sharing properties can be set or changed in the portal application after the project is created. For example, if a shared update group does not currently exist, it can be created later.

    Note:

    The Share with page appears only when the collaboration type is For someone else or For me and others.

12. Click Next. On the Choose or create a default home folder page, specify a home folder in one of the following ways:
    • In the input box, type a UNC path to an existing folder on a network drive accessible to all users who will work with the project.
    • Click Browse and browse to an existing folder on a network drive accessible to all users. Click a folder to select it, and click OK.
    • Click Browse and browse to a network drive accessible to all users. On the browse dialog box, click the New Item drop-down list and click Folder. Rename the new folder, confirm that it is selected, and click OK.

    

    The green check mark is enabled only when the required conditions are met. For this collaboration type, you cannot continue until you specify a folder that is in a shared location.

    Tip:

    Specifying all paths in UNC format (\\server\share\directory) is recommended. If paths are specified with a drive letter, such as X:\GroupPortalProject, the same drive letter must be used on all computers that access the portal project. The path will be broken for users who map the drive with a different letter.

    Note:

    For all default project items, the Reset button resets the path to the path specified in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

13. Click Next. On the Choose or create a default geodatabase page, specify a geodatabase in one of the following ways:
    • In the input box, type a UNC path to an existing geodatabase on a network drive accessible to all users who will work with the project.
    • Click Browse and browse to an existing geodatabase on a network drive accessible to all users. Click a geodatabase to select it, and click OK.
    • Click Browse and browse to a network drive accessible to all users. On the browse dialog box, click the New Item drop-down list and click an item type. Rename the new item, confirm that it is selected, and click OK.

    

    The green check mark is enabled only when the required conditions are met.

    Note:

    The For me and others collaboration type requires that the default geodatabase be an enterprise geodatabase. Other collaboration types can use file or mobile geodatabases.

14. Optionally, click Check to check the database authentication type.

    Depending on the authentication type, different messages appear.

    

    If the database connection uses database authentication, you may be required to validate your credentials frequently when you work with a portal project. For this reason, other authentication types are recommended if available.

15. Click Next. On the Choose or create a default toolbox (.atbx) page, specify a toolbox in one of the following ways:
    • In the input box, type a UNC path to an existing toolbox on a network drive accessible to all users who will work with the project.
    • Click Browse and browse to an existing toolbox on a network drive accessible to all users. Click a toolbox to select it, and click OK.
    • Click Browse and browse to a network drive accessible to all computers. On the browse dialog box, click the New Item drop-down list and click Toolbox (.atbx). Rename the new item, confirm that it is selected, and click OK.

    

    The green check mark is enabled only when the required conditions are met. Every collaboration type requires that the default toolbox be an ArcGIS toolbox with the .atbx file extension.

    Once the default project items are specified, you can click Finish to create the project. Optionally, you can add metadata and view a summary of your settings.

16. Click Next. On the Metadata page, add a summary and tags.

    

17. Click Next. On the Summary page, review your settings.

    To change a setting, click the Previous button as needed to return to the page with the setting.

18. Optionally, check the Save my preferences check box.

    If you check this box and create the project, the default item settings are written to the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal. These settings are applied automatically the next time you create a portal project.

19. Optionally, check the Don't show me this wizard again check box.

    If you check this box and create the project, the next time you create a portal project, the New Portal Project dialog box appears instead of the wizard. You can turn the wizard on or off in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

20. Click Finish.

    If you are prompted to save changes to a currently open project, click Yes or No according to your preference.

    The project is created on the portal and immediately downloaded and opened on your computer.

Create a portal project using the New Portal Project dialog box

The alternative to using the wizard is to create a portal project from the New Portal Project dialog box. This workflow may be more convenient when you are familiar with configuration settings.

1. Open the general options. Click Create projects > On an ArcGIS Enterprise portal, and uncheck the Use the wizard to create a portal project check box if necessary. Click OK.

   This ensures that the New Portal Project dialog box appears when you create a portal project.

2. Access the default templates for a new project in either of the following ways:
   • Start ArcGIS Pro to display the start page.
   • From an open project, click the Project tab on the ribbon. On the ArcGIS Pro settings page, in the list of side tabs, click New.
3. Under New Project, click a project template.

   

   The New Project dialog box appears with a default name and location. From the Location drop-down list, you can create either a local project or a portal project. The default setting is the type of project that you last created.

4. If necessary, click the Location drop-down arrow and click My Content.

   Note:

   You must be signed in to an ArcGIS Enterprise 11.4 or later version portal to enable the Next button. If the active portal is an earlier ArcGIS Enterprise portal version or ArcGIS Online, the Location box indicates that the portal is not supported. If the portal is supported but you are not signed in, you can sign in from the Location box.

5. In the Name text box, replace the default name with a new name.

   

6. Click Next.

   The New Portal Project dialog box appears. The General tab is selected. At the top of the dialog box, an error message appears if the project is not properly configured for either of the following reasons:

   • Default project items are not yet specified on the Configuration tab.
   • Default project items are specified on the Configuration tab, but they are not appropriate for the selected collaboration type.

   Default project items are specified automatically if they are set in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

   Note:

   If another project with the same name exists at the root level of your My Content collection, an error message appears. Projects with duplicate names can exist in your organization or in different folders in My Content.

7. On the General tab, fill in the Summary and Tags text boxes.

   Optionally, you can leave these boxes blank and add the information later to the portal project item page.

8. Optionally, under Location, click the Portal folder drop-down arrow and choose a different folder in My Content.

   Alternatively, click Browse and browse to a folder in My Content, or create a folder from the New Item drop-down list on the New Project Location browse dialog box.

9. Under How will you collaborate, choose a collaboration type.

   The collaboration type affects the location of default project items, the type of default geodatabase that can be used, and the sharing properties of the project. In the image below, For me and others is selected.

   

10. At the top of the dialog box, click the Configuration tab.

    When you create a portal project, you must specify the paths to the home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox, and create these items if necessary.

11. In the Home folder text box, specify a home folder in one of the following ways:
    • In the text box, type a UNC path to an existing folder on a network drive accessible to all users who will work with the project.
    • Click Browse and browse to an existing folder on a network drive accessible to all users. Click a folder to select it, and click OK.
    • Click Browse and browse to a network drive accessible to all users. On the browse dialog box, click the New Item drop-down list and click Folder. Rename the new folder, confirm that it is selected, and click OK.

    An error message appears under the input box until a valid path is provided.

    Tip:

    Specifying all paths in UNC format (\\server\share\directory) is recommended. If paths are specified with a drive letter, such as X:\GroupPortalProject, the same drive letter must be used on all computers that access the portal project. The path will be broken for users who map the drive with a different letter.

    Note:

    The Reset button resets the path to the path specified in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

12. In the Default geodatabase input box, specify a default geodatabase in one of the following ways:
    • In the text box, type a UNC path to an existing geodatabase on a network drive accessible to all users who will work with the project.
    • Click Browse and browse to an existing geodatabase on a network drive accessible to all users. Click a geodatabase to select it, and click OK.
    • Click Browse and browse to a network drive accessible to all users. On the browse dialog box, click the New Item drop-down list and click an item type. Rename the new item, confirm that it is selected, and click OK.

    An error message appears under the input box until a valid path is provided.

    Note:

    The For me and others collaboration type requires that the default geodatabase be an enterprise geodatabase. Other collaboration types can use file or mobile geodatabases.

13. In the Default toolbox input box, specify a default toolbox in one of the following ways:
    • In the input box, type a UNC path to an existing toolbox on a network drive accessible to all users who will work with the project.
    • Click Browse and browse to an existing toolbox on a network drive accessible to all users. Click a toolbox to select it, and click OK.
    • Click Browse and browse to a network drive accessible to all users. On the browse dialog box, click the New Item drop-down list and click Toolbox (.atbx). Rename the new item, confirm that it is selected, and click OK.

    An error message appears under the input box until a valid path is provided.

14. In the Share With section, click the Groups drop-down arrow and check a shared update group check box.

    Optionally, check the ArcGIS Enterprise check box.

    

    A portal project can only be updated by multiple users if it is shared with a shared update group. If the project is shared to the organization, members of the organization can open it and save changes locally. However, only members of the shared update group can save changes to the portal.

    Sharing properties can be set or changed in the portal application after the project is created. For example, if a shared update group does not currently exist, it can be created later.

    Note:

    The Share With section appears only when the collaboration type is For someone else or For me and others.

15. Click Validate.

    Warning or error messages may appear. Warnings indicate settings that may affect performance or usability but do not prevent you from creating the project. Errors must be resolved before the project can be created. If the default geodatabase is an enterprise geodatabase and the connection uses database authentication, the following warning appears:

    

    The warning indicates that you may be required to validate your credentials frequently when you work with a portal project. For this reason, other authentication types are recommended if available.

16. Click OK.

    Additional prompts may appear. The New Portal Project prompt appears if there are unresolved configuration warnings on the dialog box. The Portal project settings prompt appears if no default project item paths are set in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

    1. If the New Portal Project warning appears, click Yes to create the project without resolving warnings. Click No to return to the Configuration tab on the dialog box to resolve the warnings.
    2. If the Portal project settings prompt appears, click Yes to save the current project settings to the general options. Click No if you do not want to save the settings.

       If you click Yes, the settings will be applied automatically to the next portal project you create.

    3. If you are prompted to save changes to a currently open project, click Yes or No according to your preference.

    The portal project is created on the portal and immediately downloaded and opened on your computer.

Save a local project as a portal project

You can create a portal project from an existing local project using the Save Project As option. The portal project is configured using the wizard or the New Portal Project dialog box according to the wizard check box setting in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

The home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox in the local project automatically become the default project items in the portal project. If these items are not valid for the portal project collaboration type, you must change them. If you change the default project items, the local project default items are added to the portal project as nondefault items. For example, the local project home folder becomes an ordinary folder connection in the portal project.

In addition to default project items, all other project items and connections in the local project are included in the portal project. Again, depending on the portal project collaboration type, catalog connections may be broken for other users. Map layers that reference local data sources will be inaccessible.

After the portal project is created, you may need to remove connections, map layers, and other items that are not accessible to the intended users.

Saving a local project as a portal project does not upload local datasets to the portal or enable them for the web. For example, locally stored feature classes are not shared as web feature layers.

Note:

The default project items in the local project take precedence over general options settings for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal. Use the Reset button to apply the general options settings.

The following workflow describes creating a portal project from a local project using the New Portal Project dialog box and the Just for me collaboration type. In this example, the portal project will be used by the same user on the same computer as the local project. This means that the default project items in the local project are valid for the portal project.

1. Open the local project you want to save as a portal project.
2. Confirm that your ArcGIS Enterprise portal is the active portal and that you are signed in.
3. On the ribbon, click the Project tab. In the list of side tabs, click Save Project As.
4. In the Save Project As browse dialog box, in the navigation pane, click My Content .

   Optionally, expand My Content and click a folder.

5. In the Name text box, provide a name for the portal project and click Next.

   The New Portal Project dialog box appears with the General tab selected.

6. Provide a summary and tags.
7. Optionally, under Location, click the drop-down arrow, and choose a different folder, or create a folder in My Content.
8. Under How will you collaborate, accept the default Just for me collaboration type.

   Note:

   If you choose a different collaboration type, the default project items may not be accessible to other users.

9. Click the Configuration tab at the top of the dialog box.

   The home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox paths are populated from the local project.

   If error messages appear, the default project item settings must be changed as needed. In this example, the default settings are valid.

   

   Tip:

   The Reset button at the bottom of the dialog box replaces the current settings with the settings in the general application options.

10. Click Validate.

    Warning or error messages may appear. Warnings indicate settings that may affect performance or usability but do not prevent you from creating the project. Errors must be resolved before the project can be created. If the default geodatabase is an enterprise geodatabase and the connection uses database authentication, the following warning appears:

    

    The warning indicates that you may be required to validate your credentials frequently when you work with a portal project. For this reason, other authentication types are recommended if available.

11. Click OK.

    Additional prompts may appear. The New Portal Project prompt appears if there are unresolved configuration warnings on the dialog box. The Portal project settings prompt appears if no default project item paths are set in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

    1. If the New Portal Project warning appears, click Yes to create the project without resolving warnings. Click No to return to the Configuration tab on the dialog box to resolve the warnings.
    2. If the Portal project settings prompt appears, click Yes to save the current project settings to the general options. Click No if you do not want to save the settings.

       If you click Yes, the settings will be applied automatically to the next portal project you create.

    3. If you are prompted to save changes to a currently open project, click Yes or No according to your preference.

    The portal project is created on the portal and immediately downloaded and opened on your computer. On the application title bar, a cloud icon next to the project name indicates that the project is a portal project

    

12. Optionally, delete the local project that you used to create the portal project.

Save a portal project as a new portal project

You can create a portal project from an existing portal project using the Save Project As option. The portal project is configured using the wizard or the New Portal Project dialog box according to the wizard check box setting in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

The home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox in the existing portal project automatically become the default project items in the new portal project. If these items are not valid for the new project collaboration type, you must change them. If you change the default project items, the existing portal project default items are added to the new portal project as nondefault items. For example, the home folder in the existing portal project becomes an ordinary folder connection in the new portal project.

In addition to default project items, all other project items and connections in the existing portal project are included in the new portal project. Again, depending on the collaboration type, catalog connections may be broken for other users. Map layers will be inaccessible if they reference local data sources or data sources on network drives that are specified with drive letters rather than UNC paths.

After the portal project is created, you may need to remove connections, map layers, and other items that are not accessible to the intended users.

Note:

The default project items in the existing portal project take precedence over general options settings for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal. Use the Reset button to apply the general options settings.

The following workflow describes creating a portal project from an existing portal project using the New Portal Project dialog box. In this example, the existing portal project was created with the Just for me on multiple devices collaboration type. The new portal project uses the For me and others collaboration type. This means that the default project items in the existing portal project are located on a network drive and are valid for the new portal project. However, if the default geodatabase is a file or mobile geodatabase, you must use an enterprise geodatabase instead.

1. Open the existing portal project you want to save as a new portal project.
2. On the ribbon, click the Project tab. In the list of side tabs, click Save Project As.
3. In the Save Project As browse dialog box, in the navigation pane, click My Content.

   Optionally, expand My Content and click a folder.

4. In the Name text box, provide a name for the portal project, and click Next.

   The New Portal Project dialog box appears with the General tab selected.

5. Provide a summary and tags.
6. Optionally, under Location, click the drop-down arrow, and choose a different folder, or create a folder in My Content.
7. Under How will you collaborate, click the For me and others collaboration type.
8. Click the Configuration tab at the top of the dialog box.

   The home folder, default geodatabase, and default toolbox paths are populated from the local project. In the image below, the default geodatabase setting is not valid because the existing portal project (PortalProject1) uses a file geodatabase, and the new portal project (PortalProject2) requires an enterprise geodatabase.

   

   Tip:

   The Reset button at the bottom of the dialog box replaces the current settings with the settings in the general application options if they exist.

9. Change the default project item settings as needed to resolve errors.

   

   Note:

   Default settings may be valid without being desirable. In the image above, the new portal project (PortalProject2) has the same home folder and default toolbox as the existing portal project (PortalProject1). If both projects are in use, there may be confusion about which project certain items are associated with.

10. In the Share With section, click the Groups drop-down arrow and check a shared update group check box.

    Optionally, check the ArcGIS Enterprise check box.

    A portal project can only be updated by multiple users if it is shared with a shared update group. If the project is shared to the organization, members of the organization can open it and save changes locally. However, only members of the shared update group can save changes to the portal.

    Sharing properties can be set or changed in the portal application after the project is created. For example, if a shared update group does not currently exist, it can be created later.

    Note:

    The Share With section appears only when the collaboration type is For someone else or For me and others.

11. Click Validate.

    If warning messages appear, you can resolve them or continue. If error messages appear, you must resolve them before continuing.

12. Click OK.

    Additional prompts may appear. The New Portal Project prompt appears if there are unresolved configuration warnings on the dialog box. The Portal project settings prompt appears if no default project item paths are set in the general options for creating projects on an ArcGIS Enterprise portal.

    1. If the New Portal Project warning appears, click Yes to create the project without resolving warnings. Click No to return to the Configuration tab on the dialog box to resolve the warnings.
    2. If the Portal project settings prompt appears, click Yes to save the current project settings to the general options. Click No if you do not want to save the settings.

       If you click Yes, the settings will be applied automatically to the next portal project you create.

    3. If you are prompted to save changes to a currently open project, click Yes or No according to your preference.

    The portal project is created on the portal and immediately downloaded and opened on your computer.

13. Optionally, delete the original portal project that you used to create the new portal project.