idea Modify/Import Aliases in a batch process... in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Modify/Import Aliases in a batch process...

DanielO_Donnell1 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 23:04:05 GMT

I have hundreds of feature classes each bearing tens-to-hundreds of attribute fields... I critically need the ability to modify &/or import the field aliases for all of them in a batch process.

The aliases could be imported from a stand-alone table containing ROW1=Field Name & ROW2 = Field Alias.

Ideally, it would function as "seamlessly" as a table join &/or domain/subtype import.

Thanks!

Re: Modify/Import Aliases in a batch process...

JasonBalmut — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 19:54:04 GMT

You could use this tool: Rename Field Geoprocessing Tool (10.1) It will do aliases as well in batch mode.

Re: Modify/Import Aliases in a batch process...

MicheleH_DNReply — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 20:38:56 GMT

It would also be good to be able to batch add aliases to feature classes - SDE and file geodatabase.

Re: Modify/Import Aliases in a batch process...

JessicaJThompson — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:13:49 GMT

Yes Please!

Being able to import fields and domains is great. However, manually adding field aliases, and the choice lists for all of the domains seems like a solvable problem that would save everyone so much time!

@DanielO_Donnell1 's recommendation is perfect.

Re: Modify/Import Aliases in a batch process... - Status changed to: Closed

SSWoodward — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 02:31:03 GMT

Using the Alter Fields (multiple) tool allows users to pass any number of class / field_name / alias combinations programmatically into ArcGIS Pro using a little bit of Python.

For more information on the Alter Fields (multiple) tool check out the documentation linked below.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/3.4/tool-reference/data-management/alter-fields.htm

In the example below a stand alone table with columns 'field_name' and 'field_alias' is used to update the alias of each named field in a given class.

import arcpy target_class = << path to target >> alias_table = << path to alias table >> field_updates = [] with arcpy.da.SearchCursor(alias_table, ['field_name', 'field_alias']) as cursor: for row in cursor: name, alias = row field_updates.append([name, "", alias]) arcpy.management.AlterFields( target_class, field_updates )