Creating a feature class in a feature dataset

Steps:

1. In the Catalog tree, right-click the feature dataset in which you want to create a new feature class.
2. Point to New > Feature Class.
3. Type a name for the feature class. To create an alias for this feature class, type the alias.
4. Select from the drop-down list the type of features that will be stored in this feature class.
5. If your data will require m- or z-values, check the appropriate check boxes.
6. Click Next.
7. If any feature class in the feature dataset will have measures, enter the M tolerance or accept the default.
8. By default, the Accept default resolution and domain extent check box is checked. If you want to manually adjust the resolution and domain extent values of your new dataset, uncheck this box. If you are creating data in a pre-9.2 geodatabase or chose Unknown for the horizontal coordinate system, you should uncheck this box and confirm that the default values are appropriate.
9. If you have unchecked the Accept default resolution and domain extent check box, there is an additional panel in the wizard that allows you to change the M resolution as well as the minimum and maximum m-values.
10. If your geodatabase is not a file or ArcSDE Enterprise geodatabase, skip to step 12. If you want to create the table using a custom storage keyword, click Use configuration keyword, then specify the keyword you want to use. NOTE: This is available in ArcInfo and ArcEditor only.
11. Click Next.
12. To add a field to the feature class, click the next blank row in the Field Name column, then type a name.
13. Click the Data Type column next to the new field's name and click its data type.
14. To create an alias for this field, click the field next to Alias, and type the alias for this field.
15. To prevent nulls from being stored in this field, click the field next to Allow nulls, click the drop-down arrow, and click No.
16. To associate a default value with this field, click the field next to Default value and type the value.
17. To associate a domain with this field, click the field next to Domain, click the drop-down arrow to see a list of the domains that apply to this field type, and click the domain.
18. To set other properties specific to the type of field, either click the property in the drop-down list or type the property.
19. Repeat steps 12 through 18 until all the feature class fields have been defined.
20. If you want to import field definitions from another feature class or table, click Import.
21. Click Finish.

Tip:

• When creating a new feature class, you can use another feature class as a template. Click Import, navigate to the feature class that contains the field definitions you want to copy, then click OK. Now you can edit the field names and their data types.

• All simple feature classes in the geodatabase require an ObjectID and geometry type fields. You won't be able to delete the default ObjectID and geometry fields in this wizard.

• When adding a feature class to a feature dataset, the Spatial Reference button lets you review the feature dataset's spatial reference parameters; however, you can't change them. The exception to the rule is m domains; feature classes in the same feature dataset can have different m domains.

• You must be the owner of a feature dataset to add feature classes to it.