Select to view content in your preferred language

Better Access to Metadata in ArcGIS Desktop

591
1
07-16-2013 03:30 PM
Status: Closed
LarryOrman
Deactivated User
There's a lot of push for Metadata use these days, but when you're in ArcMap (not Catalog), it's frustrating to not have quick access to understanding feature layers that you're adding to a project.  Why not install a full "View Metadata" right under "Data >" in the feature layer context menu (right click)?  Right now, you can right click, go to Data, then choose View Description and then find out that all you have is a lame short summary which rarely tells you anything at all (another issue about metadata...).  While you can change this by using Customize and choosing a full metadata view, why isn't the full metadata view (which starts with a summary anyway) the default, if metadata is so all-important? It's dumbing down important functions - fine for Explorer, but this is ArcGIS Desktop for heaven's sake..    

It turns out you can jimmy this yourself but using Customize/Context menus/Feature layer menu, blah, blah - but that's just wrong, if metadata is such a big deal.  We should start with it, not have to dig way down to find it. 

Thanks for considering this.
1 Comment
ValeriaChavez
Status changed to: Closed

Hi @LarryOrman 
ArcGIS Desktop retired on March 1, 2026 so we won’t be considering this idea. We recommend that you migrate to ArcGIS Pro, our fully supported desktop GIS application.

In ArcGIS Pro, there are many ways to view metadata for map layers and data. To learn more, please refer to the View and edit metadata section of the ArcGIS Pro documentation: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/metadata/view-and-edit-metadata.htm 

Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas. We truly appreciate your contributions to continuously improving the software to help you do your work and look forward to what ideas you have for ArcGIS Pro.