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Chapter 2

Unpacking the GUI

Background

Users will find many similarities between the ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro GUIs but also some important differences. The ArcGIS Pro GUI is built on the same type of “ribbon” interface common to more recent versions of office software. It is more intuitive but harder to grasp for people accustomed to the ArcMap interface, because the behavior and locations of menus have changed considerably.

The ribbon and tabs

As discussed earlier, the ArcGIS Pro interface contains three types of objects: tabs on the ribbon that contain commands and settings, panes that contain information and settings, and views that contain objects being worked on.

The ArcGIS Pro GUI is highly context sensitive, meaning that it changes on the basis of what the user is currently doing. This arrangement makes the relevant tools more accessible, but it can be confusing because commands and tools do not stay put. Many tabs and commands are hidden until the appropriate context is established. For example, a layer must be selected in the Contents pane (by clicking on it) before the Labeling tab and Symbology pane can be accessed.

The layout and terminology of the ribbon are shown in figure 2.1. Core tabs such as Map and Insert are always visible, whereas contextual tabs appear only when a suitable object is selected. In figure 2.1, a layer has been selected in the Contents pane, causing the Feature Layer contextual tab set and its contextual tabs—Appearance, Labeling, and Data—to appear. Tab functions are organized into groups with titles underneath (Clipboard, Navigate, Layer, and so on). Tools, such as the Explore tool on the Map tab, in the Navigate group, cause the mouse to perform specific functions such as zooming or identifying a feature. Clicking a button takes an action such as zooming in, opening a pane, or opening a tool. Drop-down buttons, when the small inverted triangle is clicked, expand to show additional buttons from which to select (e.g., the Add Data drop-down button in figure 2.1). Finally, the small gray box, or dialog box launcher, on the lower right of some groups (as in the Navigate group in figure 2.1), opens options or settings associated with that group.

Figure 2.1. Ribbon layout and terminology.

Panes

Panes contain a wide variety of tools, settings, and functions. Many different panes are available. Some, such as the Contents pane and Catalog pane, are needed almost constantly and are nearly always open. Other panes are used occasionally and can be closed when not in use.

Each pane can itself be organized into many sections, packing myriad functions and settings into a small space. Figure 2.2 shows the different sections available in the Symbology pane. The main pane (figure 2.2a) lets the user choose the map style for a layer, in this case the Lake layer, currently set to the Single Symbol map type. Clicking the symbol opens the Format Polygon Symbol mode (figures 2.2 b and c). The Format Polygon Symbol mode has two tabs: the Gallery tab (figure 2.2b) allows the user to choose from basic symbols, and the Properties tab (figure 2.2c) is used to manipulate the detailed settings of the symbol template. Panes can also possess secondary navigation tabs represented by icons, allowing the user to switch between sets of related functions or settings. For ease of reading, however, this book will adopt the term secondary tabs or tabs instead of “secondary navigation tabs.” The Properties pane, for example, is organized into three different secondary tabs. On each secondary tab, the settings are often organized into groups by headings. The back arrow can be used to return to the main pane. Finally, many panes contain an Options menu button that provides additional functions or settings.

Although this layout seems complicated, in practice it usually makes sense. The greatest difficulty for ArcMap users is finding a specific setting they are used to. It helps to spend some time exploring and playing with these panes until you learn where the common settings are found. It also helps that tabs on the ribbon often contain the basic settings that are used most frequently. For example, the Labeling tab contains basic settings for labels such as font, size, and color. Users need not employ the more complicated Label Class group unless they must modify details such as halos, rotation, or other advanced settings.

Figure 2.2. The Symbology pane shows how panes can be organized.

Views

Views are objects that are manipulated by the tabs and panes. The GUI references seven different types of views. Figure 2.3 shows the five view types used most often during mapping and analysis: (1) map views, containing maps and layers (analogous to data frames in ArcMap); (2) scene views, containing 3D visualizations; (3) the Catalog view, which permits searching and metadata viewing/editing; (4) a table view, showing the contents of an attribute table; and (5) a layout view, used to create a map layout for printing. Two additional views, the Fields view and Domains view, are used to modify the structure of feature classes and geodatabases.

Figure 2.3. The five primary views in ArcGIS Pro.

Time to explore

In this lesson, you’ll explore different aspects and functions of the GUI using an existing project created for Crater Lake, Oregon.

Objective 2.1: Getting familiar with the Contents pane

Now you’ll explore an existing project, and this one has more than a map. A project named CraterLake that you downloaded and unzipped earlier is waiting in the SwitchToProData folder.

1.Open the Project tab and click Open to switch projects (or use the Open button on the Quick Access Toolbar at the top of the GUI).

2.Navigate to the place you extracted the zip file, and open first the SwitchToProData folder and then the CraterLake folder. Click and open the project file, CraterLake.aprx (figure 2.4). Save the LearnPro project when asked.

Figure 2.4. Opening the .aprx file to open a project.

The Contents pane is similar to the ArcMap Table of Contents, and users will find many familiar menus and functions. For example, graphical tabs may be selected (figure 2.5) to present the pane in different modes with different functions.

Figure 2.5. Graphical tabs used to present the Contents pane in different modes with different functions (from upper left to lower right): Draw Order, Source, Selection, Editing, Snapping, Labeling, Charts, and Perspective Imagery.

3.Examine the icons at the top of the Contents pane and point to each one to learn its name. Which ones are also found in ArcMap? Which ones are new? Examine each one, and then return to List By Drawing Order.

4.Turn layers on and off and rearrange the order.

5.Right-click a layer and examine the menu items, noting which are familiar from ArcMap and which appear different or new.

6.Open a table for one of the layers, noting that it appears as a view in the display area.

Figure 2.6. Properties in ArcGIS Pro are shown as headings rather than tabs, as shown by these layer properties.

7.Double-click a layer to open its properties (or right-click a layer and click Properties). Like ArcMap, the appearance and behaviors of layers and maps are manipulated by settings. As you examine these settings, make note of which ones are familiar, which ones are new, and which ones might be missing.

8.Examine the available settings, shown in ArcGIS Pro as a list (figure 2.6) rather than as the tabs used in ArcMap. Click each entry in the list and examine the group of settings available for it. Click Cancel to close the properties without changing anything.

9.Still in the Contents pane, double-click or right-click the Crater Lake map icon to open the map properties (analogous to the ArcMap data frame properties). Examine each group of settings and click Cancel when finished to exit without saving any changes. In ArcGIS Pro, the Contents pane has additional functions and is used to show elements of different types of views.

10.Open the View ribbon and click Catalog View to open the Catalog view. Notice that the Contents pane now shows the folders of the project and the ArcGIS Online portal.

11.Switch back to the Crater Lake map view. The Contents pane now shows the map layers.

Objective 2.2: Learning to work with objects and tabs

Tabs can get confusing because the same tabs are not always visible, and because the contents of the tabs may change depending on what the user is doing. The key point to remember is that contextual tabs are shown only when the objects they work with are available, and the tab contents are sensitive to the actions that are permitted in the current situation.

1.In the Contents pane, click the map name, Crater Lake, to highlight it. Examine the ribbon configuration.

2.In the Contents pane, click the Vents layer to highlight it (figure 2.7). Notice that new tabs have appeared: a Feature Layer contextual tab set with three contextual tabs: Appearance, Labeling, and Data.