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ArcGIS Online is converting my table's text field to 'integer' data type.

PersefoniKapotas

I am trying to add a table to my content as a hosted layer. It is an excel table that has a column with numeric values stored as text. I did check to make sure that it was a text/string field. AGOL automatically converts the field to 'integer' and I can't find a way to convert it back to string, which I have to do because I want to join the table to a layer using this field. I tried bringing it into arcgis pro first, and arcgis pro recognized it as a string field so I didn't go any further with that idea. I ended up adding a new string field in agol, and copying over the data (i had to do some calculations to add a 0 in front, etc.). But i'm wondering if there is an easier/more straightforward way.

Why doesn't AGOL respect the data types from the original table?

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Anonymous User

Hi Persefoni,

To clarify one thing here - "arcgis pro recognized it as a string field so I didn't go any further with that idea" - you mean recognized it as an Integer field, correct?

My understanding is that ArcGIS automatically determines field type for Excel (.xls) fields based on entries in the column. The workaround here is to save the Excel workbook as a .csv file, the add as an item to ArcGIS Online. When you add the .csv you will be able to specify the field type as string when uploading.

Hope this helps,

-Peter

PersefoniKapotas

Actually, when I added to my ArcGis Pro map, it was listed as string. My problem occurred when I added it to ArcGIS online. That's what I thought was strange. But, I will keep your workaround in mind for the next time. (It would be great if this could be fixed so that one could specify field type when bringing in from excel as well, or at least respecting the field types already designated in excel) Thanks!

msevierTPCHD

I'm having the exact same issue. I have an Excel file that has 2 columns which in Excel read as integer but I need them to be text. I've converted them to a text column and chosen to "ignore error" in Excel so that when I export them to csv or another file type (even Excel) I can use them in a different system and the columns are read as text data type. BUT when I upload them to AGO they are converted back to integer. This has made it impossible to use the join and hosted feature class view option for updating my data through AGO. I had to go back to using desktop tools for doing the join and exporting the data. I'm working at an agency that hasn't yet moved to ArcGIS Pro so it's ArcMap for me. Also when I bring the Excel file into ArcMap it's no problem. The converted columns read as text. This is a big problem!

Anonymous User

Hi Maria,

Saving the Excel file as a CSV before adding to ArcGIS Online will enable you to choose the field type when you upload:

Hope this helps and let me know if it works for you/if you have any other questions.

Thanks,

-Peter

SamSimpson

Hi Peter,

I'm wondering if there is a workaround like this when importing Google Sheets? When I go to import a Sheet from my Google Drive I am not presented with the option to change the field types. Currently I have a ZIP code field I need to bring into AGOL as a string but every time I import it converts it to an integer. I tried specifying in the sheet beforehand that it is a string but no luck.

Thanks,

Sam

VanessaGoold

Hi Sam, I am having exactly the same problem. I just tried going into my GSheet and publishing it to the web (File > Publish to Web...) as a .csv and then adding to my AGOL map directly from the URL, hoping that might solve the problem. (See this article: https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-online/data-management/using-google-docs-in-your-arcgis-online-maps/?rmedium=redirect&rsource=blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2012/02/21/using-google-docs-in-your-arcgis-online-maps) Nope - still brought the field in as an integer rather than string, and you can't change the field type that AGOL automatically assigns.

Please let me know if you find a solution to this. I have a case in with ESRI Support. Will keep you posted if I find a solution. Seems like this would be a very common issue that AGOL should be able to handle!

Thanks!

Vanessa

souzadias

Hi folks,

I'm having the same issue of AGOL reading text as numeric but also numeric as text. Particularly, if a column stores numeric values but has empty cells (null or empty), AGOL will read it as a string. Of course, I can upload as CSV and edit the field type, one by one, by I have a file with over 100 columns. It's just not practical to edit the field type every time I need to re-upload my file. There needs to be a more predictable way to structure an incoming data file so that they are correctly read by AGOL. Alternatively, a way to assign field type from the original file and avoid fiddling during the upload.

JohannaS

Hi!

I always upload as CSV and have never seen the option to change field type on upload to AGOL. I am having the same issue with text being changed to number in a CSV file that I'm uploading and I can't do the join that I need to do. I can look up how to change or create a new field, but is there any easier way to have it stay the way it is in my CSV file when I upload it?

JohannaS

Oh, I see what I was doing! In case anyone else is doing the same thing as me, you have to upload it from my content as a hosted layer (not from a map) https://support.esri.com/en/technical-article/000026756.

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