Field Descriptions from Metadata

[CynthiaWanschura]

Anyone know how to populate field descriptions from existing metadata?

This question has been asked before, but no one has responded with a solution: Populating field descriptions.

I spent some time trying to do it using ArcGIS API for Python without success.  It appears that the field descriptions are attributes of the layer but are a nested dictionary with Description and Field Value Type under the fields.

I can view the description and field type by printing the fields information, but I can't figure out how to update it.

Any ideas?  Am I missing something obvious?

[LisaBerry · Accepted solution]

Hi Cynthia,

Here is a python3 script that can add alias names, field descriptions, and field value type to the REST service, and also updates the popup decimals and thousands separators in bulk. https://github.com/lisaberrygis/AliasUpdater

[CynthiaWanschura · Accepted solution]

THANK YOU!!!!! This script worked beautifully!!!!

[CynthiaWanschura]

@LisaBerry - Is it OK if I make a couple of changes to prompt for inputs and share with my colleagues?  You will definitely be getting the credit for it. 🙂

[LisaBerry]

Of course! Use however is most helpful to you and your team. Glad it was helpful! 

[ShareUser]

I am hoping to export full groups and have all of the layers within them for update. Is there a way to do this?