Saving feature templates in a view

After all the feature templates you want to use with your data have been created, you can save them in a view so they can be distributed to others working on the same type of data. For example, if there are several new templates that have been created to account for new combinations of attributes, you can create a new view called Updated templates for [product specification name].

Feature templates are automatically stored in the layer file or .mxd. However, layer files and .mxd files have additional information stored in them. If you want to distribute just the feature templates and not other layer information, you can store the templates in a view.

Note:

When the views are going to be used across an organization, it is recommended that they be saved in a product library that is an ArcSDE geodatabase.

Caution:

If the feature templates are not saved in a view, they are only available in the map document or layer file that has been used to create them. You cannot load the same data into another map and see the stored templates.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. If necessary, load data in the map.
3. On the main menu, click Customize > Toolbars > Production Editing.
4. Click the Production Start Editing button on the Production Editing toolbar.
   Note:

   The Manage Features and Create Attributes, Update Attributes, or Metadata Attributes windows automatically appear when you start an edit session using the Production Start Editing tool.

   Tip:

   If the Create Attributes, Update Attributes, or Metadata Attributes window does not appear when you start an edit session, click the Show/Hide Attributes button on the Manage Features window.

5. Click the Create tab on the Manage Features window.
6. Right-click the Create tab, then click New View.

   The New View dialog box appears.

7. Click the Views Table Location drop-down arrow and browse to the database location in which you will store the view you are creating.
8. Click the Name text box and type a name for your new view.
9. Click the Description text box and type a description of the view you are creating.
10. Check the Always override current map settings (Static view) check box if you want the default property of the specific view to always override the current map settings.
Note:

Using a Static view means that all map document properties (not just the feature templates) will be set when you apply the view. This option is not recommended when storing a view for feature templates.