Using ArcGIS with OneDrive (Cloud Storage)

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See also SAL User Guide (Drive Letters, etc.)

 

In general, you cannot work on a GIS project directly from OneDrive (or other Cloud Storage).
Actually, you can... but you SHOULDN'T.

Using OneDrive for ArcGIS Pro (i.e., saving a project and/or spatial data on OneDrive which you attempt to open / use from a synced local computer) may APPEAR to work, but your files are at risk of unpredictable failure. The problem is that syncing and cloud-data-management processes (the timing of which you have no control over) can cause data issues and data loss. This means that your ArcGIS Pro project file and/or data may work over OneDrive perfectly well for weeks... but it could also be lost at any moment. Again - the key point is that it may appear to work most of the time, but can fail at any time.

That said, OneDrive (and other cloud storage options like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) work great for backing up data to be used on local computers.

 

For GIS projects, it is recommended that you do all of your work from C:\temp. Having both your data and your project files on the local hard drive is faster and more stable (less vulnerable to network issues, etc.). However, since C:\temp (on the SAL computers) is only temporary, this means you will need to save / store your work somewhere else. Storing your work (data, projects, etc.) on a portable thumb drive, a portable hard drive, One Drive, Google Drive, etc. are all viable options. In each case, you will need to transfer your current working files from your storage location to C:\temp each time you wish to work on your project. 

 

By default, ArcGIS Pro make use of a "Project Folder" (automatically created when you open a new project). Included in a Project Folder is Project File (.aprx), the Project Geodatabase (.gdb), the Project Toolbox (.tbx) and related files.

 

RECOMMENDED WORK-FLOW for Using C:\temp and Cloud Storage for ArcGIS Pro

CREATING AND SAVING A NEW PROJECT
  • Open ArcGIS Pro
    • Create a new ArcGIS Pro project (i.e., a project folder with a project file, project geodatabase, etc.)
    • Store this new project on the local computer (i.e., C:\temp)
      • Optionally you can create a subfolder within C:\temp and save your project there
      • Do not use spaces in the folder or project file names
      • Recommended: use short, descriptive names without spaces, such as:
        • smith_lab2
        • miranda_earthquakes
        • cortez_canada_population
    • Optionally copy any additional data required to your project folder (in C:\temp)
      • This could be extracted files from a zipped folder or by copying existing geodatabases, etc.
      • Recommended: use Catalog for copying spatial datasets
    • Proceed to work with your project (stored in your project folder on C:\temp), saving often...
    • When finished for the day, Save and Close ArcGIS Pro
       
  • Open Windows Explorer
    • Locate your ArcGIS Pro project folder
      • Optionally Compress / Zip your entire project folder
    • Copy your entire project folder FROM C:\temp
    • Paste your entire project folder TO OneDrive (or Dropbox, etc.)
    • Recommended: Delete your original project folder / files from the C:/temp folder of the local computer
       
  • Be sure you have successfully stored your project folder in the cloud before logging out of the local computer
OPENING AN EXISTING PROJECT (Stored on OneDrive)
  • Open you Cloud Storage (OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.)
    • Copy your entire project folder FROM OneDrive (or Dropbox, etc.)
    • Paste your entire project folder to the C:\temp folder on a local computer
      • If your project file is zipped, Extract the contents to an unzipped folder
      • This local version will now become your new, current, working project folder
    • Recommended: Rename your old, now not-current project folder (the one still on your OneDrive) with a date, creating an archived version
       
  • Open the .aprx project file from the (unzipped) project folder on the local computer
    • Conduct your work (on the locally saved project)
    • Save your work (often)
    • When done for the day, Close ArcGIS Pro

       
  • Open Windows Explorer
    • Locate your ArcGIS Pro project folder
      • Optionally Compress / Zip your entire project folder
    • Copy your entire project folder FROM C:\temp
    • Paste your entire project folder TO OneDrive (or Dropbox, etc.)
      • Note: you will now have TWO versions of your project folder on your OneDrive:
        • The old, original, now archival version
        • The new, updated, current version
        • As you continue to work on a project over multiple days you will have an archive of each day's work (as well as the current working project folder)
        • This archive can be extremely valuable in the event of data loss or a corrupted .aprx file (allowing you to restore a previous version of the project and at least some of your work)
        • If you need space on your drive you can delete the older archive folders at some point - or move them to a different storage location
    • Recommended: Delete your original project folder / files from the local computer
       
  • Be sure you have successfully stored your project folder in the cloud before logging out of the local computer

 

Note that this process (working locally, saving the completed project folder to the cloud when done) is appropriate when working at different computers on or off campus. As long as the data you are using is stored in the project folder you are able to download / open / work / save your project on any computer that has ArcGIS Pro installed. If you are using data stored on university servers you will not be able to continue this work off campus.

 

Reducing the Size of Project Folders:

Due to the need to transfer your entire current working project folder (with data) back and forth between C:\temp and OneDrive, the size of your project folder can become an issue. To reduce the size of your project folder here are some possible options:

  • Delete (or archive to a different folder and remove) unnecessary data file (especially earlier failed geoprocessing outputs, etc.)
  • Delete (or archive to a different folder and remove) unnecessary map export files
  • Delete (or archive to a different folder and remove) unnecessary toolbox(es) or models not being used
  • Sometimes, moving large datasets to a different folder (i.e., a portable drive or the U:/ drive) for ongoing use (by the current .aprx project file) can be done - especially if you are not editing these datasets and are not using them for geoprocessing
  • Sometimes breaking a single large project folder into multiple smaller projects can be done - especially if there are different aspects of the project that don't all share the same data 
  • Zipping and Unzipping your project folder prior to Copying / Pasting can help (sometimes)