HOW TO

Create and display layer symbology descriptions in legends in ArcGIS Pro

Last Published: July 19, 2023

Summary

Descriptions are additional text that can be displayed in a legend instead of, or in addition to, class labels. This article describes how to create and display layer symbology descriptions in legends in ArcGIS Pro.

Note:
Legend descriptions are only applied when items are symbolized as a single symbol rather than in groups or categories.

Procedure

  1. In ArcGIS Pro, add the feature layer to a project.
  2. Right-click the layer in the Contents pane, and click Symbology.
  3. In the Symbology pane, fill in the Label and Description fields as desired.
The Symbology pane with the Label and Description fields filled.
  1. In the same project, insert a layout, and insert a map frame containing the feature layer to the layout.
  2. Add a legend to the layout.
  3. Right-click the legend, and click Properties.
  4. In the Format Legend pane, under Legend Items, click Show properties.
  5. In the Format Legend Item pane, under Show, check the Descriptions check box.
The Format Legend Item pane with the Description check box checked to show the description.
The image below shows the label and description of a layer symbology are displayed in a legend.

The legend with a label and description.

Article ID:000024808

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 7 x
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 x

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