FAQ - kataya/arcgis-pro-sdk GitHub Wiki

General

Is a development license required to build add-ins with the ArcGIS Pro SDK?

No development license is required for the Pro SDK itself, although a licensed installation of ArcGIS Pro is required for development and use of add-ins. The SDK can be used with any ArcGIS Desktop license level (Basic, Standard and Advanced) which Pro will use. Developers are able to create add-ins with functionality for a Desktop license level, and users of the add-in will need to have the appropriate level of license.

How do I provide feedback for the ArcGIS Pro SDK?

Please post to the ArcGIS Pro SDK Group on GeoNet.

Where can I find general resources on the Pro SDK?

Please refer to ProConcepts Migrating to ArcGIS Pro for links to resources on learning the Pro SDK.

Can a namespace with an Internal subpath be used to create add-ins?

No. Anything with an Internal name component in a namespace (that is, a subpath component that uses the literal string Internal) is unsupported. It may not be used. None of these Internal methods are documented and since they are internal, are subject to change at any release.

Where can I find the ArcGIS Pro API Reference?

It is found at https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/sdk/api-reference/.

Where can I find a complete list of the latest API changes?

Please consult the What's New for Developers page, API Changes section for the current release.

Which Pro assemblies are supported for the Pro SDK?

Consult https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/sdk/api-reference/ for the complete list.

Any assembly with publicly scoped code that is not in this list is not supported.

What are the ways that ArcGIS Pro can be extended?

ArcGIS Pro can be extended with:

What is an add-in?

An add-in is an archive file containing an add-in assembly that references the Pro API. The assembly, along with a companion Config.daml file, can customize the Pro UI as well as add custom functionality to Pro (to automate a repetitive workflow or procedure, to add a custom tool or function, etc.).

Add-ins follow the same deployment model as was used at 10x, even though the underlying framework is different. The add-in package (".esriAddInX") is deployed to a well-known folder. By default, this is C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\ArcGIS\AddIns\ArcGISPro. There is an add-in manager utility for ArcGIS Pro the same as there is for 10x.

Consult ProConcepts Framework for more information.

Where do I manage my installed add-ins?

Go to the Add-in Manager page on the backstage of Pro.

What is a configuration?

An ArcGIS Pro configuration is an advanced customization of the application as compared to an add-in. Configurations are similar to add-ins but offer more ways to extend the application including customizing the splash screen and start-up page, customizing the ribbon, and customizing the start-up experience.

Configurations follow a similar deployment model to add-ins. The configuration package (.proConfigX) is deployed to the C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\ArcGIS\AddIns\ArcGISPro\Configurations folder.

Consult ProConcepts Configurations for more information.

Can I install multiple configurations on a single machine?

Yes, but only one configuration can be loaded during startup. Consult ProConcepts Configurations for more information.

I have Configurations already installed in my Public User Documents Folder and they won't load.

Prior to 2.2, the default location for Configurations was C:\Users\Public\Documents\ArcGIS\ArcGISPro\Configurations folder which has since been changed to C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\ArcGIS\AddIns\ArcGISPro\Configurations. To configure Pro to use the legacy default location for Configurations, add the admin key HKLM\Software\ESRI\ArcGISPro\Settings\UsePublicConfigurationFolders to your registry.

Consult ArcGIS Pro Registry Keys: UsePublicConfigurationFolders for more information.

Can Pro load multiple configurations per session?

No. Only one configuration can be loaded per session. Consult ProConcepts Configurations for more information.

Does the ArcGIS Pro SDK support stand-alone applications?

Use of Geometry and Geodatabase classes in ArcGIS.Core.dll is supported. Refer to ProConcepts CoreHost for more information.

Does the ArcGIS Pro SDK support automation?

Yes. Automation is supported via Python and the arcpy.mp module.

Can I include document content with my add-in

Yes. Consult ProGuide Content and Image Resources. Refer to Document content.

Can I use my add-in to install Toolboxes?

Yes. Consult ProGuide Content and Image Resources. Refer to Embedding Toolboxes.

Are the ArcGIS Pro Icons released with the ArcGIS Pro SDK?

No, the Pro icons will not be released.

How do I use one of the ArcGIS Pro icons in my custom add-in?

To use one of the Pro icons in your add-in, follow the steps below:

  1. If you want to use a Pro icon on a ribbon button, then set the smallImage and largeImage attributes in the Config.daml equal to the packuri of the Pro icon you want to reference. For example, here we reference the stock select tool icon on a custom button:
<button id="..." caption="..." className="..."
  smallImage="pack://application:,,,/ArcGIS.Desktop.Resources;component/Images/SelectionSelectTool16.png" 
  largeImage="pack://application:,,,/ArcGIS.Desktop.Resources;component/Images/SelectionSelectTool32.png">
         <tooltip heading="Tooltip Heading">...<disabledText /></tooltip>
</button> 

(You can find all the pack URIs of all the Pro icons in your bin\Extensions\<Extension> folders in the extension DAML files).

  1. If you want to use a Pro Icon on a WPF button or other WPF control then set the relevant content property of the button or control in your <UserControl>.xaml. Use the pack URI of the Pro icon (or set it on a view model property). For example, here a WPF button on a dockpane user control is referencing the Pro clear select icon.
<Button Width="300" Height="50">
 <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
   <Image Source="pack://application:,,,/ArcGIS.Desktop.Resources;component/Images/SelectionClearSelected16.png"/>
   <TextBlock Text="My Custom Button" VerticalAlignment="Center" />
 </StackPanel>
</Button>

If you plan to use one of the Pro icons in your add-in, it should be used for a similar purpose as the stock button or tool in Pro that also uses it (e.g. using select icons for a custom selection, edit icons for a custom edit tool, etc.). Using Pro icons in your own Add-ins for different purposes than the COTS tools can cause confusion with users.

Where can I find a reference for Pro DAML IDs?

ArcGIS Pro DAML ID Reference is a wiki page listing all the DAML values for controls and conditions.

Additionally, you can access these DAML IDs within Visual Studio in your add-in project by using the Pro Generate DAML Ids utility.

Are there samples for the SDK?

Yes. The samples are found in the https://github.com/esri/arcgis-pro-sdk-community-samples repo.

Where can I find the samples for a previous release of the SDK?

The samples per release can be accessed here: https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-pro-sdk-community-samples/releases

Where can I find the wiki documentation for a previous release of the SDK?

Older versions of the ArcGIS Pro SDK documentation is available from version 1.4 onward. When you clone the https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-pro-sdk/wiki repo, the master branch contains the documentation for the latest ArcGIS Pro SDK. In addition to the master branch, the older versions of the documentation can be obtained by switching to the v1.4.0.xxxx, v2.0.0.xxxx, v2.1.0.xxxx, etc branches.

Installation

How do I install ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET?

The Pro SDK templates and utilities are available as Visual Studio extensions (VSIX files) and can be installed from inside Visual Studio. You do not need administrative access or elevated user permissions to install the SDK. Refer to the ProGuide Installation and Upgrade for detailed instructions.

How do I upgrade to the latest version of the Pro SDK?

Please consult the ProGuide Installation and Upgrade document's upgrade section.

How do I revert back to an older version of ArcGIS Pro SDK?

Previous releases of ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET are archived here: https://github.com/Esri/arcgis-pro-sdk/releases

Why do I get a message "This extension is already installed to all applicable products" when I double-click the proapp-sdk-templates.vsix?

It is likely that you have already installed ArcGIS Pro x.x SDK (Final). Verify that the ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET templates and utilities are installed in Visual Studio. You should see an ArcGIS folder within the set of New Project templates for Visual C# and Visual Basic. Alternatively, you can select Manage Extensions from the Extensions menu in Visual Studio to check if ArcGIS Pro x.x SDK is already installed.

Why can't I see the ArcGIS Pro SDK templates in Visual Studio?

As of ArcGIS Pro 2.5, ArcGIS Pro SDK requires .NET Framework 4.8 or higher. In the New Project dialog in Visual Studio, check the version of .NET Framework listed in the combo box. The version needs to be .NET Framework 4.8 or higher.

Refer to the the topic ArcGIS Pro SDK Templates not found in Visual Studio for more information.

How can I create a new ArcGIS Pro SDK Visual Studio project with Visual Studio 2019?

The workflow to create new projects in Visual Studio 2019 has changed.

  • Access the Create New Project option from the Visual Studio start window.
    CreateNewProject_VS2019.png

  • Filter all the available Project templates by using custom ArcGIS Pro SDK Project Type Filter. You should see ArcGIS Pro SDK templates.

    ArcGIS_Pro_Addins_VS2019.png

How can I distribute ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET using a private gallery within an intranet?

Refer to this topic in the wiki: Distribute ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET using a private gallery

Availability

What versions of Visual Studio are supported?

The ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET is certified on Visual Studio 2017 and Visual Studio 2019. Please refer to the Requirements section for details.

What is the minimum target .NET Framework?

.NET version 4.8

What version of C# is supported?

This depends more on what version of Visual Studio you are using and its update level. As of the time of this writing (December 2019), the latest version of C# using the .NET Framework, 4.8, available with Visual Studio 2019, is version 7.3. Note: C# 7.3 requires update 7 with Visual Studio 2017.

Diagnosing Issues

Why does my add-in throw a ArcGIS.Core.CalledOnWrongThreadException exception?

Refer to the ProGuide: Diagnosing ArcGIS Pro Add-ins for more information on this.

Why does ArcGIS Pro not load my add-in?

Check your desktopVersion attribute in the Config.daml. Make sure your add-in desktopVersion is compatible with the version of Pro you are trying to run it on. Refer to ProConcepts Advanced Topics, add-in versioning for information on add-in versioning. Refer to the ProGuide: Diagnosing ArcGIS Pro Add-ins for other issues.

Why do I get this compiler warning when I build my add-in?

"<AddInAssembly.dll> was not found. The value of the defaultAssembly attribute in the config.daml should match the name of the of the assembly for the add-in project."

Refer to the ProGuide: Diagnosing ArcGIS Pro Add-ins for more information.

Why does my add-in's button disappear when I click on it?

Typically this means that the class your button references in its className attribute in the config.daml could either not be found or could not be loaded. Refer to the ProGuide: Diagnosing ArcGIS Pro Add-ins for more information on this.

How do I fix my broken references in my ArcGIS Pro add-in solution?

ArcGIS Pro assemblies are not stored in a GAC. They are referenced via file paths in the add-in's .csproj or .vbproj file. This means that if you share ArcGIS Pro add-ins as Visual Studio projects, your assembly reference paths stored in your .csproj or .vbproj may be different than your colleagues'. For example, some users may install ArcGIS Pro to their C: drive while others install to their D: drive.

To fix the broken ArcGIS Pro references in an add-in, use the Fix ArcGIS Pro Reference utility included in the proapp-sdk-utilities.vsix. The steps below explain how to use the tool.

  1. Install the ArcGIS Pro SDK Utilities VSIX package (proapp-sdk-utilities.vsix).
  2. Open the add-in project that has broken references.
  3. Right-click the add-in project in the Visual Studio Solution Explorer and click Pro Fix References.
  4. Click Yes on the dialog box that asks you to proceed. Your broken references will now be fixed.

I changed the namespace in my ArcGIS Pro add-in project. Now ArcGIS Pro crashes when I attempt to load the add-in.

The Config.daml file also has references to the namespace used in the ArcGIS Pro add-in solution. It is not sufficient to only change the namespace in your class files. The Config.daml file namespace references also need to be changed, even though there will be no compilation errors if they are different.

Why is there a warning about keytips in Visual Studio when an ArcGIS Pro add is compiled?

When you create an add-in using ArcGIS Pro SDK for .NET, you will see a "The required attribute 'keytip' is missing." warning in Visual Studio. Keytips are a component of 508 compilance.

missing-keytip-issue.png

The templates cannot pick a unique keytip for you. If you want to provide a keytip select a letter combination that is unique for any given tab.

Migration from 10x

Is the ArcGIS Pro SDK a replacement for ArcObjects?

No. There will continue to be an ArcObjects SDK for customizing and extending ArcMap, ArcCatalog, and ArcScene. The Pro SDK is only for the the ArcGIS Pro application.

Where can I find information on migrating to ArcGIS Pro?

Please refer to the ProConcepts Migrating to ArcGIS Pro document for information on migrating customizations from ArcMap, as well as other resources. Also, information on overall migration to Pro can be found on the Migrating to ArcGIS Pro page.

Is the ArcGIS Pro SDK a replacement for ArcGIS Engine?

No. The ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit is available as part of the Desktop .NET SDK through the 10.8.x releases (it is not available at 10.9)

Does my Arcobjects code work in ArcGIS Pro?

No. ArcObjects code must be rewritten using the Pro SDK to take advantage of the new classes and features in Pro.

Are custom geoprocessing functions supported in ArcGIS Pro?

No. You must use Python or ModelBuilder.

Are geodatabase class extensions (class and workspace) supported in Pro?

No.

Are plug-in data sources supported in Pro?

Yes. They are available since version 2.3. ProConcepts Plugin Datasources

Are Custom Layers supported?

No.

Are custom ArcObjects raster functions be supported in Pro?

No. The pattern in Pro is to use python to develop your custom functions. Refer to Python Raster Function.

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