topic Upload a list for choice field in feature layer in ArcGIS Online Questions

Upload a list for choice field in feature layer

TobyChapman — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 09:50:13 GMT

I am wanting to setup a layer for capturing tree plots.

I would like to create a choice list for the tree species. I have the list of species in a csv file but I can't find way to upload it into the feature layer as a pick list.

Is there a way to this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Upload a list for choice field in feature layer

SaraJL — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 20:36:47 GMT

I have not seen a way to automatically do this in ArcGIS Online! The only way I have see to create a pick list of values in a feature layer in ArcGIS Online is to:

Create a Feature Layer from scratch in ArcGIS Online
Click on the Feature Layer > Select the Data tab (from the menu that says Overview, Data, Visualization, etc.)
Click on Fields on the top right
A large +Add button shows up on the top left > Add a field to the Feature Layer for the list (ex. Trees)
Click Add New Field
The new field should appear in the list > click on the field name (ex. Trees)
A Create List button shows on the top right
This will show the prompt window for adding values (in this case, tree species) to the list. There doesn't appear to be an automatic upload - so you might have to type the values in manually.

If you're using ArcGIS Field Maps, it will show up as a list picker on the GPS Unit/iPad - or if you are doing some other type of data collection.

Not sure if there is an alternative way to do this! Like with a pre-created CSV file that you can upload to the site to create the Feature Layer - I've tried a few different methods, but nothing was successful. I think manually creating the list might be the only option.

Good luck with your project!

Re: Upload a list for choice field in feature layer

RhettZufelt — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:43:10 GMT

You can use the python API for this. Just need to convert the csv to json dictionary formated as below.

Here is what I use with subset of MUTCD codes for example:

from arcgis.gis import GIS #JSON dictionary of the Domain Code/Values # Replace FieldName with the name of the field you want the list on update_dict = {"fields": [ { "name": "FieldName", "domain": {"type":"codedValue","name":"Coded_Value_Domain_Name", "codedValues":[ {"name" : "Unknown", "code" : "Unknown"}, {"name" : "Custom (Warning)", "code" : "Custom (Warning)"}, {"name" : "W16-13P", "code" : "W16-13P"}, {"name" : "W17-1", "code" : "W17-1"}]}}]} # Connect to your AGOL account my_agol = GIS(url='https://yourOrgHere.maps.arcgis.com/', username='AdminUser', password='AdminPass') # Get the first layer - Layer 0 - of your Hosted Feature Layer with ID <HFL_ID> # Change this to the layer number you want to modfy the Choice List for lyr = my_agol.content.get('asdagaasf54ahghdf').layers[0] update = lyr.manager.update_definition(update_dict)

This does not add to the list, but overwrites it. So, I keep the json list in text editor so when I need to modify it, I just copy/paste into the script.

This is also the easiest way I have found to add somehting to the list and don't want it at the end. After running this script, choice list is sorted in the order of the update_dict json.