topic Database view drops all field alias values in Geodatabase Questions

Database view drops all field alias values

DougBrowning — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 21:54:18 GMT

Have a simple view that combines two layers using Union. SQL server is the SDE backend. Both layers match exactly and have friendly alias field names with spaces.

My view completely dropped the alias values on the view. There is no way to edit them either.

I see similar posts but nothing for exactly this. My guess is I am out of luck but wanted to check before we do a big workaround (like add them in Pro then publish the service even though we really want then in the SDE).

Re: Database view drops all field alias values

VinceAngelo — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 14:10:22 GMT

Doug --

Views are, well, views. The geodatabase doesn't have the XML metadata from the original table(s)' columns, so it can't know what the aliases were. So it's not a matter of "dropping" them so much as never having had them. And if the view can't participate in geodatabase behaviors, it doesn't get the XML that permits aliases to exist.

Note that nothing is ever "in the SDE". It's always been in the database, accessed through what was last called ArcSDE (but nowadays, it's all just ArcObjects). SDE is long gone. "There is no Dana, only Zuul."

- V

Re: Database view drops all field alias values

DougBrowning — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:49:14 GMT

I understand but I was hoping when I registered the view with the geodatabase it could pick these up.