topic Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 14:34:37 GMT

Each time I attempt to calculate geometry for a feature class or shapefile, I experience extreme lag! It doesn't matter if it is one record or 100 records... it is still slow. Anybody else experiencing this?

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

DanPatterson — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 17:08:18 GMT

No, so you might want to look at

Announcing the ArcGIS Pro Performance Assessment Tool (PAT) (esri.com)

to see what is going on

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 17:46:01 GMT

Thanks Dan. I'll check it out.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

MichaelVolz — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:00:29 GMT

What version of Pro are you seeing this slowness in?

Did you ever use this tool in an earlier version of Pro and get better results?

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:07:00 GMT

2.8.2 and I just upgraded to 2.9

I installed the PAT tool that Dan suggested but I am lost on how to use it LOL.

I have performed the task in ArcMap and it didn't take half the time.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

MichaelVolz — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:22:18 GMT

Are you specifically using the Calculate Geometry Attributes tool?

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/2.8/tool-reference/data-management/calculate-geometry-attributes.htm

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:41:40 GMT

No I was opening the attribute table and right clicking on the field then choosing calculate geometry.

I did it in ArcMap 10.5.1 and it took 26.04 seconds on 265,953 records

I did it in ArcGIS Pro 2.9 and it took 55.83 seconds on 26,953 records

I'll try the Calculate Geometry Attributes tool to see if there is a difference.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:46:56 GMT

I used that tool and there was only a 1 second difference in processing time.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

DanPatterson — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 21:39:37 GMT

Which leaves...

Troubleshooting Performance Issues in ArcGIS Pro - Esri Community

A first good place to start is with a locally saved table in a file geodatabase so that everything but your machine and your setup can be ruled out.

Also... don't compare Arcmap to Pro (the arcgis versions), it will only frustrate you.

Some of us in the Community used to compare the original ArcInfo and original Arcmap (pre arcgis) to the new fangled ArcGIS with similar complaints many years ago 😉

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 21:43:11 GMT

Yes I get it Dan! I am working with a local cop of the data to perform the geoprocessing task.

In the scheme of things I know 55 seconds doesn't see long for that 200k+ of records but I have also see it happen with one record in an SDE environment.

I am an ArcMap 3.x baby so I get it... with each new development there are new headaches. Overall I really like ArcGIS Pro so I'll just keep looking for improvements in later releases.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

DanPatterson — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 21:50:20 GMT

Forgot to mention SDE is a whole other ball game.

If you are calculating using numeric data, NumPy. I often find TableToNumPyArray, calculate in numpy, ExtendTable to get the results back in a new field, the fastest. You could give that a try, I have old blogs on NumPy in the Python community

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

SteveKubera — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 18:20:42 GMT

Amanda, I'm having the same issue calculating geometry. Just curious did you find a fix to this delay?

I am also using Pro 2.9...

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 20:09:09 GMT

Hello Steve,

At the time of this post I was not able to resolve the issue, but now that I am in ArcGIS Pro 3.0.2, it seems to be much easier.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

GrantDickins_OX2 — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 22:49:33 GMT

Hi. I am on 3.0.3 and I am having the same problem. A simple calculate geometry on 30 simple poly features (right click on the field and calculate geometry) takes 2-3 minutes to process (I just did this now with the same slow performance). It's been like that for 2 years lol...I'm just used to it. It seems to fluctuate in time taken sometimes quick but that is rare, but I have never found a pattern, cause or solution. All my data is local to the PC, data is clean, indexed, I've even regenerated the data, etc. Mostly no other issues to speak of but the calculate geometry is very slow to calculate.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 13:04:37 GMT

Hi Grant,

Where does your data reside? (i.e.. file geodatabase, SDE, shapefile, service?)

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

GrantDickins_OX2 — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 21:30:17 GMT

HI Amanda,

The data is mostly in (local) file GDBs but the same experience occurs with the few SHPs I have calculated on. I have compacted the GDBs and rebuilt feature class indexes over time, as well.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

GrantDickins_OX2 — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 21:33:42 GMT

For context, I should also add that I have had IT check the PC (high-spec, 2 years old) for any system issues, background app impacts, etc. and really nothing to speak of. I recall running the PAT tool about 18 months ago and all was green and within the limits easily. Thanks.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

ABishop — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 21:40:53 GMT

Hello Grant,

You didn't mention your method. Are you attempting the calculate geometry manually? Have you tried any geoprocessing tools or a python script perhaps?

This one works well for me for version ArcGIS Pro 3.x

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/data-management/calculate-geometry-attributes.htm

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

GrantDickins_OX2 — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 21:58:19 GMT

Hi Amanda,

Yes, I have tried the GP tool - so both manually calculate (i.e. right click the attribute field header) and the GP tool, have the same result. I have not used Python directly - never attempted. For the former methods there is a lag in the process somewhere. Thanks.

Re: Calculating Geometry in ArcGIS Pro extremely slow

Debert — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 18:19:40 GMT

I'm in 3.5.3 and experiencing the same terrible lag when attempting to Calculate Field. It takes me 2 hrs. to update one column for 10k features. 20k features failed. I'm unable to 'highlight' much more as once I try to change the table to the selection, it locks out and loads forever.