Automate attribution update?

[RobRees]

Hi guys,

I have a project I am working on which involves me snapping one set of nodes to another set, one by one.

Once this is done I need to update 2 blank fields in one node. One involves copying the item number from one node to the other. And the other update involves inserting a number into a blank field to indicate the node has been paired.

I wondered if there is a way to automate this? i presume this would involve some Python scripting which I am fairly new to, so any simplified advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Ray

[WesMiller]

You could use model builder to do it. The tools you'll need are listed below.

1. Spatial Join—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop
2. Add Join—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop
3. Calculate Field—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop
4. Remove Join—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop 

[RichardFairhurst]

Using Attribute Assistant is the only automation that happens as soon as you edit a feature.  It has an an Intersecting_Feature method (or a few other options) for filling in the first field and an Equation or GenerateID method to fill in the second field.

[RobRees]

Thanks for the reply, will this work with data from a personal geodatabase?

[RichardFairhurst]

It will work.  One of the bug fixes mentions that it was specifically done to make one of the Attribute Assistant dialogs work correctly for a personal geodatabase.

[RobRees]

Thanks Richard,

Do you know which download I require? It is not a standalone download, there are several options.. I'm not sure which I should be using.

Thanks,

Ray.

[RichardFairhurst]

I downloaded the Address Data Management templates for the Local Government Information Model, since my main dataset deals with roads.  However, it doesn't really matter which one you pick as far as the Attribute Assistant toolbar, since that will come with any of the templates and you would be customizing it for your specific needs anyway.  So just download any of the LGIM templates to start.

[RobRees]

OK thanks for your help Richard, I'll try and download it tonight. Once I have tried it out I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again.

[RobRees]

Hi Richard,

I have added the attribute assistant to my mxd and was about to setup the dynamic table... But Im unsure how to create the Value Method to copy one field from another layer to the field in this layer? This requires knowledge of visual basic syntax?

I cant seem to find much on this when googling so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ray.

[RichardFairhurst]

Here is an example of an INTERSECTING_FEATURE record in the DynamicValue table:

OBJECTID *	Table Name	Field Name	Value Method	Value Info	On Create	On Change (Attribute)	On Change (Geometry)	Manual Only	Rule Weight	Comments
193	CENTERLINE	CITY_LEFT	INTERSECTING_FEATURE	ZIP_CODES_WITH_CITIES|CITY|C	True	False	True	False	1	<Null>

Table Name is the target layer with the field that needs to be completed by another intersecting layer

Field Name is the field name in the target layer

Value Method is INTERSECTING_FEATURE (any one of the Attribute Assistant methods)

Value Info is made up of 3 components separated by a | character.  The components are:  Intersecting source Feature Class Name|Field Name in the source Feature Class|C(Centroid match) (alternatively I could have used P for Prompt for an option or F for using the first feature intersected)

On Create is set to True so that the moment the feature creation is finished the attribute will be updated.

On Change (Attribute) is set to False, since it doesn't need to refresh due to an attribute change.

On Change (Geometry) is set to True so that any change in geometry refreshes the attribute (the intersecting feature should have been fixed first before the target feature geometry changes).

Manual Only is false, but it could be true if I want to use the Attribute Assistant toolbar to force a refresh

Rule Wieght is optional but I ususally set it to 1

Comments provides any explanation of the purpose or use of the rule.

An Expression update does needs to have its Value Info written the same way you would write a VB Script field calculation.  Use the field calculator to test your expressions and ask for help here if you have problems with a specific equation.