idea Store default feature class symbology in geodatabase in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Store default feature class symbology in geodatabase

Bud — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:56:08 GMT

ArcGIS Pro 3.2.2; Oracle 18c 10.7.1 EGDB:

I would like to define default symbology for a given FC at the geodatabase level. Whenever a user adds the FC from Catalog to a map, it would use the default symbology from the GDB system tables.

For example, a Roads FC TYPE field:

Arterial red; width 3
Collector orange; width 2
Local black; width 1

Similar to what was accidentally done here, but easier (not via a geoprocessing tool): FC has symbology and labelling permanently stored in enterprise geodatabase?

Could that functionality be added?

Re: Store default FC symbology in geodatabase

JamesSerendip1 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:41:12 GMT

Fantastic Idea! Would be very helpful!!!!

Re: Store default FC symbology in geodatabase

JamalNUMAN — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:20:23 GMT

In the screenshot below, adding the feature class automatically symbols and labels it! I'm unsure why or how this occurred

Also, posted here:

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-questions/arcgis-pro-3-0-2-adding-a-feature-class-to-the-map/m-p/1400163#M80884

Re: Store default feature class symbology in geodatabase

Bud — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:58:17 GMT

For what it's worth, I noticed something about the "permanent symbology and labelling" bug in older versions of Pro that confuses users:

If a FC has permanent labelling stored in the EGDB, including a labelling SQL definition (such as WHERE TYPE='B'), then that SQL definition gets applied to all subsequent labelling that the user might apply to the feature layer in the map. It’s confusing when that happens – not all features get labelled and the user doesn’t know why because they’re not aware that the labelling SQL definition exists.

So that might be something to keep in mind regarding this idea.

Re: Store default feature class symbology in geodatabase

JamalNUMAN — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:16:12 GMT

Many thanks for the input. very useful

Re: Store default feature class symbology in geodatabase

RTPL_AU — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 23:22:30 GMT

So @Bud. You just want Pro / Kory to give us back Representations? 🤣

That basically did you describe - along with some amazing capability such as zoom level changes, etc.

Re: Store default feature class symbology in geodatabase

MarcelBeckmann — Thu, 15 May 2025 09:01:44 GMT

If it would be possible to save the default symbology also in a file geodatabase, there would be another benefit. When a hosted feature layer is created from such a File Geodatabase in ArcGIS Online, the service should automatically use the stored default symbology. This would greatly streamline workflows and ensure consistency across the ESRI environment.