topic Re: Attribute Rules: Inactive Triggering Fields still activating? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Attribute Rules: Inactive Triggering Fields still activating?

SierraPelizza — Wed, 21 May 2025 20:20:52 GMT

Hello!

I have an attribute rule set to calculate the current date/time in a field named "DateLtChng", triggering on Insert and Update. I have this rule set to trigger on all field updates EXCEPT Lat & Lon (noted in Inactive triggering fields list).

I have noticed, that if I go to the Lat/Lon field and do a "Calculate Geometry" function my attribute rule stays true and does not trigger, thereby not updating my DateLtChng field. This is what I want.

However, I noticed if I do a manual update (physically typing in a number) to either of these two fields my rule ends up triggering. I am trying to avoid all updates to my DateLtChng field when it comes to Lat/Lon (we usually do these updates in a batch format, and it would be an inaccurate update to have the DateLtChng field change every time this happens).

Anyone know why a Calculate Geometry follows the rules I set, but a manual update does not? Or if I can adjust my rule to make this distinction?

Imaged attached of how my rule is set up for reference. I am on ArcGIS Pro 3.5. My Lat/Lon fields are set to the "Double" Data type.

Any help appreciated!

Re: Attribute Rules: Inactive Triggering Fields still activating?

Robert_LeClair — Wed, 21 May 2025 20:42:36 GMT

So in your screen grab, you have the "editable" box checked. In the help documentation, it says:

Checked—User-defined attribute edits are permitted on a field. User input for this field can be overwritten by evaluation of an attribute rule based on the rule definition.

Unchecked—User-defined attribute edits are not permitted, and the attribute field the rule is created on is defined as a system-maintained field. The calculation rule will be applied during the triggering event defined in the rule.

What I'm wondering if you uncheck the box, then user-defined edits, such as the user typing in an attribute value, is not allowed and won't be triggered. If I'm understanding the documentation correctly. What occurs if you uncheck the box?

Re: Attribute Rules: Inactive Triggering Fields still activating?

SierraPelizza — Thu, 22 May 2025 19:01:22 GMT

Unfortunately, this looks like it just keeps users from inputting their manual changes to the "DateLtChng" field (you can see the greyed-out field below).

I tested again manually changing the Lat/Lon fields and it seems to still update this DateLtChng field automatically, even with checking the "Enable Editing" function off.

Re: Attribute Rules: Inactive Triggering Fields still activating?

Palm_Tree — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 18:28:20 GMT

SierraPelizza,

I have noticed a similar issue of rules ignoring which triggering fields are inactive and running anyway. This sounds like a possible bug. For me, it occurs in an Enterprise GDB, while it doesn't happen with a FGDB. What kind of GBD are you using when you notice the issue?

Re: Attribute Rules: Inactive Triggering Fields still activating?

Robert_LeClair — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 20:52:33 GMT

@Palm_Tree - this does sound like a BUG to me. I'd recommend contacting Esri Support Services and work with an analyst to reproduce the issue and possibly create the BUG report. This will get it in front of the developers to address.

Re: Attribute Rules: Inactive Triggering Fields still activating?

mapmaker1 — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:55:42 GMT

What version of enterprise is this on? I just (sadly) discovered that this feature is not supported server-side until 11.4 per the comments on https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-pro/data-management/attribute-rules-triggering-fields.