Unlike the 32-bit ArcMap and ArcCatalog applications, ArcGIS Pro supports multithreading/hyperthreading (use of multiple core processors), graphics processing units (GPUs), and more than 4 GB of RAM. This also means that ArcGIS Pro requires more computer resources to run properly.

The minimum requirements for ArcGIS Pro 3.x are the following:

• Windows 64-bit OS: Windows 10 or 11 Home, Pro, or Enterprise
• Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022 Standard and Datacenter
• Multithreaded/hyperthreaded dual-core processor
• 8 GB RAM (Note: this is increased from past versions)
• 32 GB hard drive space
• 4 GB dedicated video memory (Note: this is increased from past versions)
• Microsoft .NET Framework 6.0.5
• Microsoft Edge
• DirectX 11
• OpenGL 4.3
• Shader Model 5.0

Keep in mind that these are the minimum requirements. The more hardware, the better where ArcGIS Pro is concerned. In general, I would recommend...

ArcGIS Pro has three different license levels: Basic, Standard, and Advanced. The license level determines the level of functionality available to the user. Basic has the least functionality, Advanced has the most, and Standard is somewhere in between.

In general, Basic allows you to visualize GIS data, produce maps, perform simple data edits, and perform basic GIS data analysis. Standard builds on the capabilities of the Basic level, with more advanced editing and data validation tools. Advanced expands the capabilities of both Basic and Standard by adding more data analysis tools. For a complete list of the capabilities of each license level of ArcGIS Pro, go to https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/get-started/license-levels.htm.

It is important for you to know which license level you are using so that you know what capabilities are available to you. Some recipes in this book will require a Standard or Advanced license. In this...

ArcGIS Pro makes use of project files that have an .aprx file extension. Projects store 2D maps, 3D scenes, database connections, folder connections, custom toolboxes, and more. When you start ArcGIS Pro, you must open a project.

In this recipe, you will learn how to open an existing project. Later in this chapter, you will learn how to create a new project.

Getting ready

To complete this recipe, you will need to make sure you have downloaded and installed the data associated with this book. The instructions to do so are present in the Download the recipe data section of the preface. If you followed the installation instructions, the data and projects should be located in C:\Student\ArcGISProCookbook. You will also need access to the internet. You will need to have ArcGIS Pro 3.0 or later installed as well. The recipe can be completed with any license level of ArcGIS Pro: Basic, Standard, or Advanced.

How to do it...

Now that you...

Now that you know how to open an existing project, it is time to learn how to open a map stored within the project. Projects can contain 2D maps, 3D scenes, data connections, layouts, styles, toolboxes, and more. However, 2D maps are still the primary canvas that GIS professionals work with.

In this recipe, you will learn how to open an existing 2D map. Once open, you will learn how to navigate within the map.

Getting ready

If you have successfully completed all the previous recipes, you should not need to do anything more to continue with this recipe. If you have not completed the other recipes in this chapter, you will need to do so before starting this one.

How to do it...

Now, you will continue to expand your skills. You will start to familiarize yourself with the ArcGIS Pro interface by opening a map and using common tools to navigate within the map:

1. Start ArcGIS Pro if you closed it at the end of the last recipe and open the...

We have mentioned several times that you must first open a project before you are able to access the functionality included in ArcGIS Pro. You have begun to experience this in the previous recipes where you opened and worked with existing projects. These were already configured and contained several project items including maps and database connections. How were these projects created?

In this recipe, you will create a new project using one of the four project templates included with ArcGIS Pro. You will see the structure created by ArcGIS Pro when a new project is created.

Getting ready

To complete this recipe, all you need to do is ensure that you have ArcGIS Pro installed, access to a license, and the data for the book downloaded and installed. This recipe does not even require you to have completed the previous recipes, though it might help provide a better understanding of what you are doing.

How to do it...

Now is the time for...

In the last recipe, you created a new project using the Catalog template. This template automatically created several items associated with the project including a project geodatabase, folder, and toolbox. You may encounter situations where these items are not needed. You may just need to review some data and perform a quick edit or simple analysis. Can ArcGIS Pro create a project without those automatically created items? Yes, that is possible in ArcGIS Pro 3.X.

ArcGIS Pro 3.X allows you to create a project without a template. When you do this, ArcGIS Pro creates project-specific items such as databases, toolboxes, and folders temporarily. When ArcGIS Pro is closed, another project is opened, or a new project is created, these temporary files are deleted.

In this recipe, you will create a new project without using a template. You will see the structure created by ArcGIS Pro and how it differs from the project you created in the previous...