topic Re: Can't edit an attribute table?! in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Can't edit an attribute table?!

DanielPhillipsTTU — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 17:14:43 GMT

Hello All, I'm running the most current version of ARC Pro Desktop and am having an issue when I try to add data to newly created fields in a shapefile (located in a geodatabase and otherwise). My workflow in the past has been simple: Open the attribute table, add a new field if needed, just click the cell and enter text or numerical data, easy. Now it appears to be locked? When I click and type, no data. I've tried setting up new test colums of different types, tried saving the shapefile outside of a geodatabase, ensured that they are not "read only"--All to no avail. It's driving me crazy and I'm hoping someone has some advice for what seems to be a really basic function that no longer works! Attaching screenshot of the field that currently shows all null values

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

DanielPhillipsTTU — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 17:16:16 GMT

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

DanPatterson — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 17:21:21 GMT

check that you don't have any other pending edits that aren't saved

Save the project, shut it down and reboot.

Any change?

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

Anonymous User — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:07:43 GMT

I am sure you may have done this, but sometimes I forget. Click on the edit tab, then click edit.

Annette

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

DanielPhillipsTTU — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 18:46:49 GMT

Hi All, thanks for your replies. Edit is active and no other layers are in active editing. Now it appears that I can edit values in the shapefile version (which I copied to a different folder), but not the original feature class contained in the file geodatabase. Is this potentially the issue? Are attributes of featureclasses in a GDB locked by default or is there some other reason they can't be edited? Still feeling confused.

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

JenniferCadkin — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:26:11 GMT

@DanielPhillipsTTU Are you able to make any other edits to the original feature class? Can you check if there is an editing session error on the layer by going to the List by Editing view of the contents pane? If there is an error, there will be a red exclamation on the layer. Hover over the red exclamation for the screentip explaining the reason.

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

KimberlyMeinert — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 17:11:07 GMT

Did you find the magic answer on this? I'm experiencing the same thing in my file geodatabase.

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

solidsnake — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 15:10:19 GMT

You can not edit data type of a field if the table is populated

Source

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

Buckfan69 — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 21:49:52 GMT

I'm having the same issue can't edit the attribute table, like I have always done in the past, any suggestions?

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

Scott_Harris — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 22:06:20 GMT

Is anything showing in the List By Editing view of the Contents pane? Warnings, errors (they would show up in the area I boxed out in red below)?

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

KeithAddison1 — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:42:49 GMT

One possible cause is the layer to be edited not having a coordinate system defined.

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

ChristianNoack — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:08:14 GMT

Mine does! It says "This layer is being projected on the fly"

I'm guessing it won't edit because it's a different projection than the map?

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

Scott_Harris — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 22:21:43 GMT

That shouldn't prevent edits from being made, even though it's a best practice to edit in the same coordinate system as the data.

Re: Can't edit an attribute table?!

XiclalyMagdaleno — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:30:42 GMT

Hi everyone! If double clicking the cell within the attribute table doesn't activate field to edit, try selecting the column and press F2. After a minute or so, the lock on the cells returns so you may need to repeat the process as needed.