Masthead

Attributes in ArcGIS

Editing Attribute Values

The attribute "table" contains rows and columns similar to a spreadsheet. However, it's history and future are based on databases, where Columns are Fields, and Rows are Records.

We can add and delete columns (fields), and adding and deleting features adds and deletes rows. We can also edit and compute attribute values.

Calculate Geometry

You can calculate the area of polygons, the length of lines, and get the X and Y values for points by using the "Calculate Geometry" tool available by right-clicking on a field column heading in the Attribute table.

Calculating Geometry in ArcMap

It is common to see Lat/Lon or Easting/Northing in attribute tables for point layers. These are not the values used to render the spatial data! These values are not updated when you project, edit, or transform the spatial data! You will need to update these with Field Calculator after changing them.

 

Editing Attribute Values

In lab, we'll use Field Calculator to compute values for attributes. Below are the steps to manually edit the attribute values:

Start Editing

Start Editing

Starting an Edit Session

Without an Edit Session - ArcGIS will not track your changes, so "Undo" will not work!

Start an Edit Session

Making Changes

Making Attribute Table Changes

Stop Editing!

If you do not select "Stop Editing," than your changes will not be saved.

Stop Editing

 

Test Your Knowledge

 

Additional Resources

< Back

© Copyright 2018 HSU - All rights reserved.