Editing field configurations across multiple feature classes

When creating field configurations for a database, you may find many commonalities in the ways fields should be displayed across the various feature classes and subtypes. The Edit Shared Field option allows you to set field properties once and apply the settings to multiple feature classes. When you modify the configuration for the fields, you can indicate which feature classes are going to have the settings applied. This means that you can choose to make the OBJECTID attribute visible but disabled and not apply the change to all the available feature classes.

The Edit Shared Fields dialog box with field configurations

You can also control the order in which the attribute fields are displayed in the Feature Attributes window. On the Edit Shared Fields dialog box, you can choose fields and reorder them by indicating whether they should be moved to the top or bottom of the list. Once you indicate whether the fields should be moved to the top or bottom, you can still move them up and down within the Move to Top and Move to Bottom lists.

Feature-level metadata options are only available in the Edit Shared Fields dialog box. They are not available when you edit fields individually. It is recommended that when an attribute is set as feature-level metadata, it is set that way for all feature classes and subtypes so you are limited to only setting these values through the Edit Shared Fields dialog box. When you configure feature-level metadata attributes, there are three properties you can set. First, you specify whether a field is a metadata field. Then, you specify whether the field should be automatically populated with the date and time or the user login. Finally, you specify when the field will be populated: when a feature is created and/or when it is modified.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. On the main menu, click Customize > Toolbars > Production Editing.
3. If necessary, create a field configuration table in one of the following:
   • A new product library
   • An existing product library

   The Field Configuration dialog box appears.

4. Click Edit Shared Fields on the Field Configuration dialog box.

   The Edit Shared Fields dialog box appears.

   Tip:

   You can also right-click in the Current Fields Configuration Table list and click Edit Shared Fields to open the Edit Shared Fields dialog box.

5. Right-click a field in the Shared Fields list and change its settings as appropriate.
6. Check the check boxes next to the names of the tables to which you want to apply the filter in the Choose Table(s) to Apply Shared Edits list.
   Tip:

   To indicate that the filter applies to all feature classes, you can right-click in the Choose Table(s) to Apply Shared Edits list and click Select All.

7. To move the field to the top of the list for all feature classes and tables, click Add To Top.
8. To move the field to the bottom of the list for all feature classes and tables, click Add To Bottom.
9. To change the order of the fields in the Move to Top or Move to Bottom lists, choose the field and click Move Up to move the field up in the list or Move Down to move the field down in the list.
   Tip:

   To remove fields from the Move to Top or Move to Bottom lists, click Remove. This adds the field to the Shared Fields list.

10. Repeat steps 5–9 as needed.
11. Click OK when you are finished editing the fields.

    The Field Configuration dialog box appears.

12. Click OK.
Tip:

If you only want to apply filters to certain subtypes in a feature class, you can right-click in the Choose Table(s) to Apply Shared Edits list, click Expand, then check the check boxes next to the subtype names to which you want to apply the filters.