idea Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

JamalNUMAN — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 16:59:44 GMT

Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer,

I’m not sure why the ArcGIS does calculate:

1. The area and parimeter in the polygon layer;

2. The length as a polyline layer

3. BUT doesn’t create the X and Y coordinate in the Point layer

I do know that there is a tool to calculate the XY coordinate, but I’m wondering why they are not calculated by default!!! In this case, for example, if we move one of the points, then we need to manually update its XY coordinates!!!

Is there any logic behind this?

Regards

Jamal

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

IngmarAlbinson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:52:23 GMT

A 3D point layer should have current X, Y and Z in attribute table.

Note: If layer is presented in other coordinate system the original coordinates + transformed coordinate should be in attribute table.

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

ChrisFox — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:14:48 GMT

One thing to consider is that a point feature class can also be a multi-point feature class which means each row could contain the definition of x number or points.

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

LeeDavis1 — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:25:55 GMT

I like the idea. The ShapeX & ShapeY and ShapeZ coordiantes could display the current values in the current coordinate system and projection. For multipoint the coordinates would be the XY of the centroid formed by the pionts.

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

RobertKlein3 — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:18:42 GMT

I would like to have these coordinate fields automatically calculated too -perhaps we're all missing something, since the unseen parameters of the feature geometry certainly already contain the information: how else would the feature be sketched on the map view? There must be some sort of VB or Python expression we could set as the default value for a given field to automatically insert the right value; question is, would it update if the feature geometry was edited?

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

CoryWilliams — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:26:07 GMT

I agree with this. Unless there's a plan to only have Multipoint features (as opposed to Point and Multipoint as two separate feature types), having the X,Y,Z automatically calculated would be extremely useful!

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

LukeBehling — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 17:55:59 GMT

This would greatly help the PLSS monument maintenance workflow where points are moved and in our case reports are generated. Right now we have to manually populate the XY fields or recalculate the entire point dataset.

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

PatrickMcKinney — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:20:21 GMT

I agree that the X and Y value should automatically populate while editing features. We have field teams who will be capturing point data through the ArcGIS Android app, consuming a feature service from SDE. It would be nice for the lat/long to automatically populate while they are editing.

As it stands now, we will have to calculate the lat/long back in the desktop environment. I know that setting a field calculator to !shape.firstpoint.x! and !shape.firstpoint.y! pulls the lat/long from the SHAPE field for point layers.

Automatically Updating Coordinate Fields in Feature Class Attribute Tables

JohnDye — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:41:56 GMT

Geodabases Feature Classes automatically create a Length and Area fields in the Attribute Table of a Feature Class as appropriate for the given geometry and the values displayed in these fields automatically recalculate and update without any action from the user whenever the feature is edited.

Why doesn't the Geodatabase do this for the X, Y coordinate pair of the feature as well? I would love to see X, Y or LON, LAT fields in the table that update automatically whenever a feature is moved. For lines and polygons, and multi-type geometries, it could just use the centroid.

Re: Automatically Updating Coordinate Fields in Feature Class Attribute Tables

RichardCitkowicz — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 14:27:14 GMT

Yes i agree, I understand the shapearea and shapelength updated automaticlly but not the XY. If these would get automaticlly populated would be great also with the customization of what output desired.

Re: Automatically Updating Coordinate Fields in Feature Class Attribute Tables

RichardFairhurst — Sun, 07 Sep 2014 19:39:54 GMT

Attribute Assistant, which comes with the Local Government Information Model (LGIM) downloads, does this behavior through the X_COORDINATE and Y_COORDINATE rules and lets you choose if you want the centroid, start or end of a line/polygon outline.

It also does much more automation, including maintaining sequential numbering using Max values or the GenerateID table, field caluculations thta can maintain date stamps or other values, user name stamps, validate values from a lookup table, maintain other related fields affected by lookup values in another field, etc. These rules are set up in the DynamicValues table, which must be added to the map where you want Attribute Assistant to follow the rules. A non-versioned GenerateID table can keep track of sequential numbering, and a MasterStreetName table can validate street names for centerlines/addresses.

All DynamicValue table rules can be controllled to respond to feature/record creation, attribute updates, geometry updates, or manual triggering, or any combination of those triggers. Rules fired by the same trigger are processed in the order that they were entered in the Dynamic Values table, so multiple rules can operate in sequence on one field if needed. All feature classes/tables referenced by the DynamicValues table must be within the map for the rules to work, otherwise the rules that follow a missing item will not fire.

You do not need to use the LGIM schemas or set ups to use the Attribute Assistant. Here is the Address Data Managment model download (click the OPEN buttton) as an example that contains the Attibute Assistant and some common rules set up in the DynamicValues table to support that edit flow.

Re: Automatically Updating Coordinate Fields in Feature Class Attribute Tables

JohnDye — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:48:17 GMT

Thanks for the comment rfairhurt24,
I am aware of the Attribute Assistant, I just think it's rather dumb that this is not a native GDB functionality. If they can do it with Length, Area and Perimeter, they can certainly do it with X & Y centroid. I mean, I could even write a Python Add-In to listen for the onEdit event and update the coordinates for the edited feature on my own, that doesn't mean I should have to.

This is low-hanging fruit, IMHO. Just because something is already possible through a plug-in or extension doesn't mean it shouldn't eventually transition to a native functionality. ET GeoWizards has been able to rename and reorder fields for years (granted it does that by creating a new dataset) but the fact that ET Geowizards exists and can perform that functionality doesn't suddenly let ESRI off the hook for creating that much demanded functionality in the software. I mean, if that's the case then I should probably go ahead and download and install every single plug-in and extension there is for the software. Letting ESRI get by with a fragmented plugin this, extension that, addon here approach results in severe functionality fragmentation.

Re: Automatically Updating Coordinate Fields in Feature Class Attribute Tables

RichardFairhurst — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 22:15:33 GMT

I do not disagree with you that many items can be built into the base software. However, if not for workarounds, 90% of my career in GIS would have been spent getting nothing done while waiting for Esri to support my work. I normally have developed my own tools with VBA and .Net about 4 to 7 years in advance of when Esri finally implements any similar functionality. So I workarounds are the nearly the only real salvation this software has ever had.

I always acknowlegde workarounds in my ideas to show that I am aware of them and to tell Esri why the workaround is overly complex, painful, frustrating, or stupid so that they do not dismiss the idea as solved by the workaround. I agree they are not off the hook, because few people go to the lengths I do to workaround their software limitations. But when a workaround exists I want to make sure others are at least aware of them so that they can get something done while Esri ignores this site.

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

AlaaFlaifel — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 05:51:40 GMT

Has this been developed in arcpro 2.4.1?

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

KoryKramer — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:36:05 GMT

This is partially implemented through the use of attribute rules and Arcade in ArcGIS Pro.

Set up your X and Y columns as a Double data type and create calculation rules to populate those with the point's geometry.

The Arcade expression would look like Geometry($feature).X or Geometry($feature).Y.

Before I move the point we see that the dynamic PointX and PointY values are the same as the static lon and lat fields:

Move the point to the east and see that the PointX and PointY automatically update:

Dynamic columns in attribute table to show XY (ArcGIS Pro)

Bud — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:27:29 GMT

In the attribute table of a point feature class in ArcGIS Pro:

Give users the option to turn on dynamic, read-only columns that represent each feature's X and Y coordinates.

The fields would have similar properties to that of the SHAPE column in the attribute table.

This would be helpful for day-to-day GIS analysis activities. And would eliminate the need for users to calculate or generate the X and Y columns themselves.

Re: Dynamic columns in attribute table to show XY (ArcGIS Pro)

KoryKramer — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 17:02:39 GMT

We've shared guidance in this in the comment above: https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/calculating-the-x-and-y-coordinate-automatically-for-the-point/idc-p/956402/highlight/true#M15672

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

JamalNUMAN — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:17:35 GMT

Sure Kory. We can add the x and y fields and calculate their values with the available tools.

What I wanted here is to have them added and calculated by default the same way the length and area fields are added for polygon layers and dynamically calculated

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer

KoryKramer — Fri, 21 May 2021 16:32:18 GMT

This idea is Open, but I wanted to share a blog that I wrote recently showing how to do this with Attribute Rules: Get to the Point: Automatically maintain x,y,z attribute values with ArcGIS Pro and attribute rules

Re: Calculating the X and Y coordinate automatically for the point layer - Status changed to: Closed

SSWoodward — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:11:48 GMT

Thank you everyone for your contributions to this Idea.

In the coming release of ArcGIS Pro 3.6, Users will have access to a new templated attribute rule geoprocessing tool, Calculate Geometry Properties. This tool may be used to configure fields containing the x and y coordinate geometry information of point features. The rule is configured by default to trigger on insert and on updates to an existing features' shape field.

Having the x and y coordinate automatically populated for all point feature classes is not currently on the roadmap of enhancements for ArcGIS Pro.