Working with attributes

Attributes for features in shapefiles and ArcPad AXF files are displayed in the Feature Properties dialog box. For new features, the Feature Properties dialog box is automatically displayed once the geometry of the new feature has been captured. For existing features, the Feature Properties dialog box can be displayed by selecting the feature and then either tapping the Feature Properties button on the Edit toolbar, or double-tapping the selected feature.

The Feature Properties dialog box will, by default, contain the Attributes, Picture, Symbology, and Geography pages. However, if a custom edit form exists for the particular layer then this form will be displayed as the first page, or pages, of the Feature Properties dialog box.

Data that is prepared with the ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS, will by default, contain an Edit Form, Picture, Symbology and Geography pages. These can be used as-is, or further customized in ArcPad Studio.

The custom form designer may choose to hide any of the default pages. The example below shows a custom edit form with two custom pages: Site Details, and Tree Information. The name of the Feature Properties dialog box has also been renamed, to ‘Trees’, by the form designer.

You can create (or edit exisitng) custom forms for shapefile and ArcPad AXF layers by using ArcPad Studio. These custom forms allow you to display attributes using common form controls—for example, text boxes, combo boxes, and check boxes—and incorporate additional data validation and initialization of attributes.

Note:

Custom forms are created by default for feature classes by the ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS 9.3.

Custom forms are created by default for feature classes AND related tables by the ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS 10.

The custom edit form or Attributes page is used to display and edit the attributes and associated values of the selected feature. When accessed via the Identify tool, all values are read only. When accessed via the Feature Properties tool—or by double-tapping a feature with the Select tool—all values are read/write. An attribute that is used to define the symbology of the layer is displayed in red.

Attributes page for shapefile features

The Attributes page for shapefile features has two columns: Property and Value. The Property column corresponds to the field, or column, in the dBase table associated with the shapefile. The value column contains the value of the associated field or column. Tapping the value opens an edit box for editing the value entry.

With shapefiles, validation of the data entered is limited to adherence to the definition of the field or property. For example, ArcPad will not allow text characters to be entered into a field which has been defined as numeric. Additional validation can also be performed via custom forms and, in some cases, scripts.

Attributes page for ArcPad AXF features

The Attributes page for ArcPad AXF features has two columns: Property and Value. ArcPad AXF files support viewing and editing of related tables. The Attributes page for AXF features will also include a row for each relationship (or related table) that has been defined for the AXF feature layer.

Related tables, i.e tables that have a direct relationship with the attribute table, are indicated by a single Down button.

Tapping the value opens an edit box for editing the value entry, or activates a drop-down list to select from pre-defined valid values.

The value field for AXF layers and related tables may include built-in form controls—such as combo boxes (or pick lists)—if subtypes or coded value domains have been defined for the source geodatabase which the AXF layer was extracted from.

Validation of the data in AXF feature tables and related tables takes place at up to three levels:

1. Data is validated according to the definition of the field or property. For example, ArcPad will not allow text characters to be entered into a field which has been defined as numeric.
2. Data is validated according to the database schema that has been defined for the AXF file. For example, a property may be associated with a subtype or coded value domain that limits the valid values to a pre-defined list of valid values—which is presented as a drop-down list of values to select from. Or, a property may be associated with a range domain which, for example, limits the valid values from 1 to 100.
3. (only when custom forms are used) Data is validated according to custom rules defined in the form. You may define a rule in your custom form, to identify a logical result and prompt the user. For example if the user is entering pole heights, and a value of 1000 is entered, you may design a custom prompt that asks the user if they really want to add a pole that is 1000m tall!

Domains are defined as part of the AXF database schema. The schema can be defined for the geodatabase in ArcCatalog (ArcGIS Desktop). The ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS Desktop reads the geodatabase schema and then creates the corresponding schema for the output AXF file. ArcPad Studio can also be used to view the schema for AXF files.

Related tables

The tab for related tables is similar to the Attributes tab, with the following differences:

• The related table tab title consists of the icon and the name of the related table.
• The related table tab shows a list view of the related records.
• Each related table tab has a series of buttons (at the bottom) that allow you to edit and view your related records.
• When you choose a related record from the list view, a seperate form (similar to a features edit form) or the Attributes page, for the related record will open.

The related table list view consists of a list of records and columns in the table, with one row per record. Rows or records can be added or deleted in the list view, but the record contents cannot be edited.

The Attributes page for related table is exactly the same as an Attrbutes page for a feature layer. The page has two columns: Property and Value. The data can be edited in the single row view. This view also includes rows for the parent table and any secondary related tables. The Down button can be used to easily nagivate to any secondary related tables.

Tapping the value opens an edit box for editing the value entry, or activates a drop-down list to select from pre-defined valid values.

The related table Attribute page has the following buttons at the bottom of the page:

is used to accept the edits you have made in the Attribute page, and returns to the list view.

cancels the edits you have made in the Attribute page, and returns to the list view.

Selecting attribute values via the Symbology page

The Symbology page is used to view the symbols and labels defined in the ArcPad layer definition. The ArcPad layer file is created in ArcGIS Desktop using the ArcPad Data Manager. ArcPad assigns a random symbol for the layer if there is no symbology defined in the layer file. The symbol used by the currently selected feature is highlighted.

The Symbology page provides a visual method for selecting an attribute value. When a symbol, or category, is selected the associated property value is also selected for the current feature’s attributes. The example below shows the selection of the ZoneCode property equal to a value of 5. The Label text is for display purposes only, and is not saved in the feature’s attributes.

You can add a new category by tapping the button at the bottom of the legend. Each new category consists of a symbol, value, and label. You can also delete a category by selecting the category and tapping the button. Adding or deleting categories changes the symbology, or legend, used to display the features in the associated feature layer—adding or deleting categories has no impact on the attributes saved with features.