idea If field gets renamed, reset field alias in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

If field gets renamed, reset field alias

Bud — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:52:44 GMT

In the Fields tab in ArcGIS Pro:

Currently, if we rename a field, the field alias stays the same as it was before we renamed the field:

We often don't think to update the alias when renaming a field. The old name doesn't apply anymore, and is often downright misleading. Especially since the alias is used as the field header in the attribute table, not the field name.

Intuitively, when renaming a field, we'd expect the alias to be reset to the field’s new name.

Could Esri consider changing that behavior?

ArcGIS Pro 2.6.8

Re: If field gets renamed, reset field alias

JonathanNeal — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 16:22:53 GMT

The Alter Field tool has a new display name field. I believe this satisfies your needs. If not please explain further.

Re: If field gets renamed, reset field alias

DuncanHornby — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 16:46:40 GMT

I would argue that I wouldn't want the Alias to sync with the new field name. Whilst I too have fallen foul to the Alias being left as-is when I change the field name I can think of scenarios where the Alias auto adjusting would be problem.

May be this could become an Application property, rather than a property of the tool. For those who want this behaviour they go into Options to turn it on?

Re: If field gets renamed, reset field alias

DonaldRees — Wed, 24 May 2023 00:24:10 GMT

@Bud is that a derived alias you're seeing in the layer?

Re: If field gets renamed, reset field alias

Bud — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 19:35:19 GMT

@JonathanNeal In the Fields View, if I rename a field name, then I want the Alias to be automatically changed to the new field name.

@DonaldRees No, it's not a derived/automatic alias. I had entered it manually (previously).

Re: If field gets renamed, reset field alias - Status changed to: Closed

SSWoodward — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:19:55 GMT

Thanks for this Idea @Bud,

I can see how this might catch you, however this is a feature of aliases.

If we implemented this, users would still encounter this issue, just from the other side. Imagine setting your aliases, and then a field name change is in order, and your alias is deleted and replaced with the field name. You'd still need to remember to update the alias manually, only this time you would be redoing work you'd already completed and did not ask to change.

If a user manually defines that alias, it is a stand alone property of the table and ArcGIS Pro should not change it unless the user makes that change.