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Easy way of copying geodatabase schema to a different feature class

AdrianWelsh

I feel like I'm having a GIS brain fart where I can't remember how to do this easily.

There is a certain 'schema' I use for a set of feature classes (like number of fields, the field names, field types, and some domains) that I want to 'copy' into a brand new feature class. This new feature class only has features that were imported from CAD. What's the best way about turning my newly created feature class into a shell of what I want it to be? Does that make sense?

ArcGIS Pro 2.1.3

Geodatabase‌

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Accepted answers

JonathanFarmer_oldaccount

Howdy Adrian!

No worries, I have those brain farts all the time myself.

In ArcGIS Pro, right click on your geodatabase connection in the Catalog pane and go to New - Feature Class. In the Create Feature Class pane, you'll go ahead and start filling out all the details (name, projection, config keyword, etc). There are 6 pages there, the last one is called Fields.

When you get to the Fields page, click on the Import button at the top. Navigate to the feature class you want to import the schema from and click OK. You should then see all those fields added in. Click Finish to create the feature class.

Hope that helps!

Jonathan

All comments

JonathanFarmer_oldaccount

Howdy Adrian!

No worries, I have those brain farts all the time myself.

Hope that helps!

Jonathan

AdrianWelsh

Thanks Jonathan. That makes sense from creating new feature classes and I will do that when I make new ones from now on.

But, is there a way to apply that same concept to an existing feature class?

If not, I may just do a join, make a new feature class again, and then I'll delete the non-useful fields.

...I suppose if I did that, I might as well just go ahead and create a brand new feature class, import in the fields like you mentioned, and then copy my existing feature class over... oh, the options...

Thanks again!

JonathanFarmer_oldaccount

Hey Adrian,

We don't offer a way to import a schema from another feature class into an already existing one. You'd have to do it manually (or maybe the join option you mentioned). But I personally would just create a new one and import myself.

Jonathan

AdrianWelsh

Thanks.

Also, it seems in Pro that the create new feature class options are a bit different. I did not see a place for fields but I did see a place to import a template feature class which is virtually the same thing:

Though, this template does not bring in domains, it seems.

JoeBorgione

Not exactly 'easy' (but that's all relative, right?!) but you could create a python script that utilizes arcpy.ListFields, and then loop through that list and add fields to the existing feature class:

ListFields—ArcPy Functions | ArcGIS Desktop

Field—ArcPy classes | ArcGIS Desktop

Add Field—Data Management toolbox | ArcGIS Desktop

AdrianWelsh

Oooohhh... tasty!

Next time I will try that.

MelindaBrown1

Another option for creating new feature classes from an existing schema, that should retain domains, is to use the Import / Export XML Workspace tools. Try right-clicking a feature class from within the Catalog pane > Export > Feature Class(es) to XML Workspace Document. Under Export Options, you can choose 'Schema only'. To create the new empty feature class with this schema (including domains), simply right-click the geodatabase of interest from within the Catalog pane > Import > XML Workspace Document, which launches the similarly named gp tool. Select the recently created XML for the Import file and choose to 'Import schema only.'

Export XML Workspace Document—Data Management toolbox | ArcGIS Desktop

Import XML Workspace Document—Data Management toolbox | ArcGIS Desktop

Note: These are only available with a Standard or Advanced license.

AdrianWelsh

Melinda,

That is very helpful! Thanks for the info on this. I will certainly try exporting/importing the XML info next time as it seems like this maybe even a more streamlined process than what's discussed above. It's good to know about the licensing as well - I appreciate you including that.

Thanks!

MichaelTomiak

I have a similar issue: I find it quite odd how (by 2022 - Version Pro 2.9.1) there still isn't an obvious way to essentially emulate an existing FC's table/attribute setup, in another (already created FC).

I understand that you can apply when setting up a new FC, but I have al the FCs I want to apply the schema to already created.
I used a Model Builder work around, but that was basically to re-create all the FCs just with a slightly different name. A nuisance and effort, so I would like to see this functionality (which I would have thought would be a fairly regularly required task) to be available.

A simple method would be when in the Data Design> Fields view, an 'import from existing FC' tool.

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