topic Importing editable layers. in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 22:18:34 GMT

Hi, I'm trying to import an editable layer into Arc Pro. I've tried .csv, .txt, and even converted it to a Geoprocessing file. I'm able to import it to the map, but then am never able to edit the layer and it always shows up as a non-editable layer in the context tab.

Any advice?

Thanks.

Re: Importing editable layers.

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 15:13:11 GMT

what type of file was it?

Have you tried to make a copy and edit it?

And the obvious... do you have full permissions on your machine? and are you editing the file on your machine? or was the source file on some restricted location?

Re: Importing editable layers.

GünterDörffel — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 12:04:01 GMT

Travis - if you add CSV or text files, you most likely fail because your data misses the required ObjectID field. See this help topic for explanation (plus this might help, too). You cant edit, do a definition query, select by attribute ... right?

You either have to store this data as real tables ( see hlep topic above) or edit the data in its original *.txt/*.csv files (so most likely outside ArcGIS or with a python routine) and then refresh your data in ArcMap and you'll see the changes.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:23:03 GMT

Hi Dan, thanks for your reply. It was a .txt file that I imported. I was able to import it just fine with no problem, and looking at the "Standalone Table Properites" under "Data Source", the data type that it is listed as is File Geodatabase Table. It also has ObjectID Field.

I have tried copying it and reimporting it as well, with no luck to make edits to it.

I made sure the permissions allowed me to do everything I wanted to be able to do as well.

I will be editing the points in ArcGIS, as I need to see them referenced to locations on the map in order to edit them, so I can't really edit them outside of ArcGIS.

Appreciate your help.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:25:29 GMT

Thank you for your reply Gunter.

I followed the links you provided and wasn't able to come up with anything, as the ObjectID fields are set to "yes".

You are correct that I can't edit or select anything with that data. However, I cannot really edit outside of ArcGIS, as I need to be able to reference the locations on a map while I am editing that data and see the changes in an active window in real-time.

Any more advice?

Thank you very much.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:31:21 GMT

It is the layer I am having trouble with, not the table I believe

Re: Importing editable layers.

GünterDörffel — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:36:04 GMT

Hi Travis,

it is not the NAME of a field that makes it an ObjectID - it is the field type. And this you can not set/get with a *.csv or text file (see graphic, only if the field is of TYPE Object ID it is accepted as such).

I am afraid but you will have to store the data in a real table to do what you want. ... At least that is my level of knowledge. I never ever managed to use a *.csv or *.txt or *.tab file and edit the file through ArcMap/ArcGIS Pro.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 19:05:58 GMT

Thank you for the prompt response Gunter. The stand alone table turns out to have an ObjectID, but then when I convert it to a layer, that goes away and the layer becomes uneditable. This is what the I find under "Properties" and "Source" for the stand alone table.

However when I switch to the layer, this is what I find:

I won't be able to do what I need to if I store the data in a real table and then edit it.

Thank you.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TimOrmsby — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 19:24:15 GMT

Hi Travis,

When you make an XY layer from a standalone txt or csv table, the layer table doesn't have an OBJECTID field--as you noted. Also, the table is not editable. You're not doing anything wrong. That's how the software works. To make it editable, you have to export the XY layer to a feature class.

You said "I won't be able to do what I need to if I store the data in a real table and then edit it." What is that you need to do?

Tim

Re: Importing editable layers.

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 19:37:09 GMT

If you need to be able to edit the contents of the file without converting it to either a featureclass (and hence its table) or a table, then you might have to do your processing outside using python and numpy and/or Pandas. If you could elaborate on what it is you need to do/edit, it might be easier to provide a concrete example. There should be no obstacle to working with a non-event layer table in any workflow, since you can simply delete it when you are done, presumabley because you would export it back to csv when you are finished.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 22:27:29 GMT

Thank you Tim. I will see what I can do with that.

I have surveyed topography data and need to edit out some features out of that data to model a "what-if" scenario.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 22:28:51 GMT

Thanks for the response Dan. I'll be needing to take surveyed topography data and edit out some features in order to model a "what-if" scenario on a river.

Appreciate the help.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TimOrmsby — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 22:38:28 GMT

Without knowing the particulars, this workflow might be reasonable:

Convert your XY layer to a feature class. Call it SurveyTopoAsIs or something like that. It's your real data from the csv.
Make additional copies of the feature class as needed with the Copy Features tool. Name these SurveyTopoWhatIfA, SurveyTopoWhatIfB, etc.
Edit these copies as you want to model alternative scenarios.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 21:17:04 GMT

Thank you Dan!

Re: Importing editable layers.

TravisRamos — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 21:18:25 GMT

Thank you Tim. What I ended up needing to do was convert it to a feature class, as you stated above. That made the layer editable. I am now able to edit the layer and data as I needed.

Appreciate the advice and help very much.

Re: Importing editable layers.

TimOrmsby — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 21:41:06 GMT

Great, you're welcome. I think life would be simpler if the software just created a feature class directly from the text file.