You can use project templates to create a project. A template includes various aspects of an ArcGIS project that are necessary to complete a specific task or achieve a specific goal. A template can include connections to folders, databases, and servers. A template can provide either complete datasets or schema-only data definitions as well as provide custom geoprocessing toolboxes. A template can also provide organizational standard layouts and styles to the teams who use them.
A basic map template is provided with ArcGIS AllSource that you can use to get started. Other templates are provided by ArcGIS communities and organizations. The ArcGIS AllSource start page features some of these templates. You can create custom project templates and share them with others in your organization.
A project template is fundamentally a type of project package.
Create a project template for personal use
When you create a template for personal use, you have more flexibility regarding the items you can include in a template than when the template is intended for a wide audience.
Create a template for a specific computer
To create a template for personal use that includes connections to data on your local computer, incorporate the steps below when you create a project package so the template is stored in the correct location.
- On the Disseminate tab, in the Share group, click Template
and select Create Project Template.The Create Project Template pane appears.
- Save the template to a file.
The Name text box updates automatically with the location where ArcGIS AllSource checks for personal project templates: Documents\ArcGIS\ProjectTemplates. Templates stored in this location are listed on the Settings page on the New tab when you list templates available from your local computer using the Computer option. Only you can see this template when you run ArcGIS AllSource on this computer.
- Provide an appropriate name and location for the project template in the Name text box.
- Optionally, complete the Summary and Tags fields.
A summary and tags are required when sharing to an ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 or earlier portal.
You can enter a maximum of 128 tags.
- Optionally, check the Include Toolboxes option to include all project toolboxes and the data referenced by their tools.
If this option is not checked, project toolboxes, except the default toolbox, are not included. Toolboxes in connected folders are not considered project toolboxes and are not impacted by this setting.
- Optionally, check the Include History Items option to include all geoprocessing history items and the data required to rerun the history item.
If this option is not checked, none of the project's geoprocessing history items are included. If history items are included, ensure that all data required to rerun the tool still exists and is accessible. If it's not, packaging will not be successful.
- Add the items you want to include to Attachments. This option allows you to include other content, such as detailed documentation, reports, and graphs. The following types of files cannot be included: .js, .vbs, .py, .pyc, .pyo, .bat, and .ocx. Also, only signed .dll and .exe files are allowed.
- Under Finish Sharing, click Analyze
to review for potential problems. Errors and warnings are listed on the Messages tab. Right-click a message to open its help topic or take corrective action in the software. Errors
must be resolved before you can share your GIS resource. Resolving warnings 
is recommended but not required. - Once validated, click Create to create the template.
You can use this template to create a project. The template is not automatically included in the Recent Templates list on the start page. The first time you use the template to create a project, it is added to the list.
If you included geoprocessing history in the project template, review the geoprocessing considerations for models and scripts .
Create a template for multiple computers
If you work on multiple computers, you can store project templates to your organizational account. When creating these templates, ensure that connections that apply to all computers you use are included. For example, if all computers you work on have the same folder structure for organizing GIS data or reference the same shared network folders, databases, or servers, it is appropriate to include these connections in the project template. However, if a project uses data in a specific location that is only available on one computer, it is not appropriate to include that connection in a project template that is available for use on many computers.
- On the Disseminate tab, in the Share group, click Template and select Create Project Template.
The Create Project Template pane appears.
- Upload the template to your organizational account.
The project template is saved to your organizational account in My Content. These templates are available when you click Settings on the start page or the Project tab on the ribbon, and click New. Available templates from the active portal are listed.
- Provide an appropriate name for the project template in the Name text box.
- Optionally, complete the Summary and Tags fields.
A summary and tags are required when sharing to an ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 or earlier portal.
You can enter a maximum of 128 tags.
- Optionally, check the Include Toolboxes option to include all project toolboxes and the data referenced by their tools.
If this option is not checked, project toolboxes, except the default toolbox, are not included. Toolboxes in connected folders are not considered project toolboxes and are not impacted by this setting.
- Optionally, check the Include History Items option to include all geoprocessing history items and the data required to rerun the history item.
If this option is not checked, none of the project's geoprocessing history items are included. If history items are included, ensure that all data required to rerun the tool still exists and is accessible. If it's not, packaging will not be successful.
- The template is stored in the root of My Content by default. Click the Folder drop-down arrow to select a folder in My Content where the template will be stored, as appropriate. Optionally, click the browse button to create a folder or choose an existing folder. You can also type the name of a folder in the text box.
- Add the items you want to include to Attachments. This option allows you to include other content, such as detailed documentation, reports, and graphs. The following types of files cannot be included: .js, .vbs, .py, .pyc, .pyo, .bat, and .ocx. Also, only signed .dll and .exe files are allowed.
- Under Finish Sharing, click Analyze to review for potential problems.
Errors and warnings are listed on the Messages tab. Right-click a message to open its help topic or take corrective action in the software. Errors
must be resolved before you can share your GIS resource. Resolving warnings is recommended but not required. - Once validated, click Create to create the template.
You can use this template to create a project.
Create a project template and share it with others
Project templates can help standardize and share the work of different groups in your organization. Custom basemaps can be included, maps can be produced with standard layouts, connections to the databases used by a group or for a project can be provided in advance, attachments with specifications or guidelines can be included, and so on. However, care should be taken when determining how templates are shared—to a specific group, to the organization, or to everyone—and if the Share outside of organization option is checked. Considerations for sharing project templates are the same as for sharing project packages.
- On the Disseminate tab, in the Share group, click Template and select Create Project Template.
The Create Project Template pane appears.
- Specify where to save the template—to your organizational account or as a file on disk.
- Provide a name and if saving the template to a file, the location for the project template on disk.
- Optionally, complete the Summary and Tags fields.
A summary and tags are required when sharing to an ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 or earlier portal.
You can enter a maximum of 128 tags.
- Optionally, check the Include Toolboxes option to include all project toolboxes and the data referenced by their tools.
If this option is not checked, project toolboxes, except the default toolbox, are not included. Toolboxes in connected folders are not considered project toolboxes and are not impacted by this setting.
- Optionally, check the Include History Items option to include all geoprocessing history items and the data required to rerun the history item.
If this option is not checked, none of the project's geoprocessing history items are included. If history items are included, ensure that all data required to rerun the tool still exists and is accessible. If it's not, packaging will not be successful.
- The template is stored in the root of My Content by default. Click the Folder drop-down arrow to select a folder in My Content where the template will be stored, as appropriate. Optionally, click the browse button to create a folder or choose an existing folder. You can also type the name of a folder in the text box.
- If you are uploading the template to an online account, specify how it will be shared:
- Everyone—Share your content with the public. Anyone can access and see it.
- My Organization—Share your content with all authenticated users in the organization. This option is available when you are signed in with an organizational account.
- Groups—Share your content with groups to which you belong and their members.
- Add the items you want to include to Attachments. This option allows you to include other content, such as detailed documentation, reports, and graphs. The following types of files cannot be included: .js, .vbs, .py, .pyc, .pyo, .bat, and .ocx. Also, only signed .dll and .exe files are allowed.
- Under Finish Sharing, click Analyze to review for potential problems.
Errors and warnings are listed on the Messages tab. Right-click a message to open its help topic or take corrective action in the software. Errors
must be resolved before you can share your GIS resource. Resolving warnings is recommended but not required. - Once validated, click Create to create the template.
You can use this template to create a project.