topic Re: Cannot add field in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:01:44 GMT

I cannot add a new field column to my attribute table. It is greyed out in all menu areas.

Re: Cannot add field

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:08:39 GMT

if you were editing prior to trying to add a field, save your edits, then try again

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:23:44 GMT

Hi Dan, I have not been editing and was sure to double check that. Everything is greyed out in the Fields ribbon. I've tried in different projects and with different data. It seems like it should be an easy little thing I am missing.

Re: Cannot add field

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:34:22 GMT

hmmmm I always have data I can edit... maybe you don't... so check to see if it can be

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:48:39 GMT

Hmm... You seem to be onto something. But what is odd is I have edited some of this data in ArcMap Desktop in the recent past.

As you can see in the photo below it says that the layers are projected by 'on the Fly'. I have never heard of this. And there is no Edit ribbon available.

But as you can see below, the one layer 'AllBlocksMerge', that does not have the exclamation mark next to it also does not have the Edit ribbon available up top or the ability to add fields.

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:51:22 GMT

Oops! I needed to click back to the map to see the edit ribbon... just investigating that now.

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:53:58 GMT

Oops! I needed to click back to the map to see the edit ribbon... just investigating that now...

It looks like it could be a projection issue... Hopefully that will work!

Re: Cannot add field

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:56:01 GMT

projection has nothing to do with the ability to add a field

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:01:58 GMT

Yes, you're right. According to the status it should be editable...

Any other ideas?

Also, are you able to see the .png images I've been adding? When I look back on our conversation I cannot see them, but they show up before I post responses. (Thank you for your patience, I'm new to the community thread and to ArcPro).

Re: Cannot add field

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:11:04 GMT

it has to be something silly... we will try a bigger picture... If this doesn't work, then I will have to change arrow colors

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:20:52 GMT

Ok so I can make it to 3 and 4 and the add field options are not greyed out.

When I click either option it brings me to the fields table... this is where I feel like I am missing something simple. Once here, the add field option on the top is not available nor can I scroll to the bottom to add a new row.

We may need to change arrow colors haha.

Re: Cannot add field

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:33:49 GMT

it looks like it is a shapefile because of the FID field. Just make sure that it is not read only. And if you have it on a network, usb drive or some other flakey storage medium, copy all the bits of the shapefile to a folder on your computer in a simple path... like c:\temp or c:\test. Check the read/write status using file explorer. Something is preventing it from being edited.

ALSO... save the project

shut down Pro

restart PRO

see if it works

Last ditch

Save, shutdown, restart BUT open a new project and add just that one file... no basemap... just the shapefile

Re: Cannot add field

CheyneHadley — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:48:36 GMT

I've had this same problem. I just get around it by using the "Add Field" tool. It's kind of an annoying workaround, but it works.

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:55:54 GMT

Hey Dan,

Thanks for all the help, but nothing seems to be working... I tried everything mentioned above but to no avail. I'll have to contact ESRI about this one and when I figure out what it was I'll let you know.

(CHMappers work around does add a new field but it is a bit cumbersome for how many tables I need to edit)

Thanks again for all the help!

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 19:56:58 GMT

Hey thanks for the workaround! It does work but as you said it is a bit cumbersome. I'm going to contact ESRI about this and I will let you know their solution to my problem and hopefully it will help you.

Re: Cannot add field

CheyneHadley — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 20:02:59 GMT

I hope they do fix this. I guess my other section would be to use model builder to add an iterator or to define all the fields beforehand so you only have to run it once.

Re: Cannot add field

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 20:09:06 GMT

that is bizarre. I am using Pro 2.0.1... hope you were too

I would figure out the issue... there is no need to use the Add Field button, it is something in the data or its environment I am sure... or it only works in Canada!??!

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 20:14:41 GMT

Hey Dan,

So I contacted ESRI and they said it is a very specific bug. The add field option is greyed out when working with shapefiles in ArcPro 2.0 on a Basic Desktop. It is something that they are fixing for the next update.

Are you on a different licence type?

Also, if it only works in Canada then it should work for me as well!

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 20:16:13 GMT

Hi Cheyne,

ESRI confirmed that it is a bug. The add field option is greyed out when working with shapefiles in ArcPro under a Basic Licence.

They said they're aware of it and it should be fixed on the next release.

I'll try your model builder work around in the mean time!

Thanks.

Re: Cannot add field

IanBrown1 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 20:16:35 GMT

Basic Desktop Licence*