How to Use ArcCatalog and ArcMap to Edit or Add Fields to the Attribute Table

Transcription

1 Hw t Use ArcCatalg and ArcMap t Edit r Add Fields t the Attribute Table The name and data type f an existing field in the Attribute Table cannt be mdified; instead, yu must add a new field with the apprpriate name and data type using ArcCatalg Adding a field in ArcCatalg 1. Open ArcCatalg by clicking n the icn in the tlbar, r frm the ArcGIS menu listed under All Prgrams in the Start Menu n yur desktp. It may take a few mments fr ArcCatalg t lad. Once it pens, yu can brwse, cpy, paste and delete files yu wuld n yur desktp. Nte that nce yu delete smething in ArcCatalg, it is gne frever. It des nt g t the Recycle Bin. Brwse t the shapefile r lne.dbf file yu wuld like t edit and select it. Ntice that shapefiles are listed as ne file here, unlike 4 r 5 files n yur desktp. If yu change the name f a file here, it will autmatically change the name f all the files that cmpse the shapefile.

2 2. Under the File menu, select Prperties. 3. Click the Fields tab. 4. Scrll dwn t the empty rw belw the last entry under Field Name and type the name f the new field. 5. Click under Data Type next t the new field name and select the apprpriate data type in the list. Typically yu will want text r shrt integer (numeric entries) The prperties that are apprpriate t the new field's data type will appear in the Field Prperties bx belw.

3 6. Custmize the field that is listed based n the data type yu chse: Prperties may include: Precisin The number f digits that can be stred in a number field. Fr example, the number has a precisin f 4. Scale The number f digits t the right f the decimal pint in a number in a field f type Flat r Duble. Fr example, the number has a scale f 2. Scale is nly used fr Flat and Duble field types. Length The length f a text field specified in characters. 7. Click OK.

4 Adding a field in ArcMap 1. In ArcMap, right click the shapefile layer in the table f cntents and select Open Attribute Table. 2. Click the Optins buttn and select Add Field. 3. Type a field name in the Add Field windw. 4. Click the Type drp dwn arrw and select a type. The prperties that are apprpriate t the new field's data type appear in the Field Prperties list.

5 5. Custmize the field that is listed based n the data type yu chse: Prperties may include: Precisin The number f digits that can be stred in a number field. Fr example, the number has a precisin f 4. Scale The number f digits t the right f the decimal pint in a number in a field f type Flat r Duble. Fr example, the number has a scale f 2. Scale is nly used fr Flat and Duble field types. Length The length f a text field specified in characters. 6. Click OK.

6 Editing Attributes The Attributes dialg bx allws yu t view and edit attributes f features yu've selected in yur map when yu're in an edit sessin. Yu can pen it by clicking the Attributes buttn n the Editr tlbar. The attributes buttn lks like this: The left side f the dialg bx lists the features yu've selected. Features are listed by their primary display field and gruped by layer name. The number f features selected is displayed at the bttm f the dialg bx. The right side f the Attributes dialg bx cntains tw clumns: the attribute fields f the layer yu're viewing, and the values f thse attribute prperties. The attribute fields, such as ZONING and PARCEL_ID, are listed under the Prperty clumn, and their values are in the Value clumn.

7 The attribute values that appear n the right side f the dialg bx depend n what yu click in the tree n the left side f the dialg bx. T mdify a value fr a single feature, click the primary display field fr the feature (such as 1401, 1402, and s n) n the left side f the dialg bx and make yur changes in the Value clumn n the right. T mdify attribute values fr all selected features in a layer at the same time, click the layer name n the left and make yur changes in the Value clumn n the right. In the example graphic, if yu click Parcels, yu can change the attributes fr all the selected features. T edit the attributes f tables r feature classes that are related t the selected features, click and traverse thrugh the tree, and edit the values n the right.

8 Entering attributes after creating a new feature Yu can turn n a setting n the Attributes tab f the Editing Optins dialg bx s yu will be prmpted t enter attributes int the Attributes dialg bx after any editing peratin that results in new features, in either all layers r specific nes in yur map. As sn as yu cmplete a sketch r an peratin resulting in new features, the Attributes dialg bx will appear. Yu will need t clse the dialg bx befre yu can d anything else with ArcMap. Turning n this setting will be mst useful when: Yur gedatabase des nt allw features t have null attribute values. When prmpted, yu can edit and replace null values befre the new feature is stred in the gedatabase. Yu are creating new features and want t attribute them immediately. This is especially true when yu are creating a few new features at a time, and they have knwn attributes r subtypes. Editing attributes in the table windw Yu can als edit attributes in the table windw. An attribute table windw can shw yu the values fr all features in a layer, nt just thse selected. Editing attributes thrugh the table windw allws yu t quickly make changes t several features (recrds) at nce using the field calculatr. In additin, the table windw allws yu t add and delete fields and custmize hw the fields appear by setting up field aliases, hiding fields, and s n. Select the Optins buttn t access these features.

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