Import domain code/description to metadata

[SFM_TravisBott]

Is there a way to import domain code/description into a feature class's metadata?

Once can import a domain to the geodatabase itself using Domain to Table/Table to Domain, but I can't find a way to import that same domain into the feature classes metadata. 

Some of those domains have dozens of options and it would be horrendous if Esri's designed/implied workflow was to type each of them manually....

[RobertBorchert]

Not a direct method. However, you can do it by using the Domain to Table function and exporting the domain to a table.  Then open that table and copy the Domain values and pasting them into the Metadata

[SFM_TravisBott]

Thanks, Robert. That would save literally typing each out, but there would still be a copy/paste for each code and then for each description. I have domains with dozens of options and that's still not practical. 

[RobertBorchert]

If you select all values from the domain to table table it should literally be one copy, one paste

COPY

PASTE

Though it may work easier to create your metadata description in Word and then paste it all at once. 

[SFM_TravisBott]

@RobertBorchert I see what you're saying but you're updating the domain in the item description, which is an open text field. That's not really what that's for. It's a wide dataset with a whole host of fields, several of which have long domains. To put all of those in open text is impractical. 

Our org uses FGDC format. Each code/description combination for each item it domain has its own text box, making copy/paste all at once impossible. Each 'enumerated domain' is a single code/value description that needs to be added individually if they don't carry over automatically (which is in itself perplexing, since it's not consistent. See below. 

What there needs to be  is a button to import a domain from a table or gdb into the metadata.

[RobertBorchert]

Oh I see.  That would make it cumbersome. 

Have you asked FGDC.gov if they have a solution? 

Out of curiosity is there a domain entry under metadata rather than resource. 

Seems impractical to have to add a new domain for each domain value.

Does your application not work if you don't pre-define the values?

[Jennifer_Parmeley]

Yes! THIS. There are so many, seemingly little, things that ESRI could do to make things easier on users.