Default Identify Display

[SeanDonovan]

Is there a way to set the default identify display field for the Feature class so it shows up the same every time the layer is loaded?

[Anonymous User]

I would love to know if this is possible too!

[AlexeyTereshenkov]

As far as I know, this property, which you define on the Display tab of the feature class properties dialog box (Display Expression), refers to a layer and not to an underlying dataset.

You can set this property to a layer in ArcMap and then export this layer. After loading this newly exported layer file to ArcMap, the field you set up will be used for identifying features.

So, I believe you cannot set up the identifying field with the out-of-the-box functionality. Otherwise, I would think of using an attached table to each feature class in the geodatabase with the field name string. This string text will be used as an input for the display expression property for the added feature class to ArcMap session. I guess this can be implemened relatively easy with add-ins.

[BärbelHorat]

So, it's not possible?

I am actually not interested in building expressions but in defining a "default field" for labeling and identifying a particular feature class independent on the mxd.

Further help will be highly appreciated,

Matt (ArcGIS 10, SP1, ArcInfo)

[MichaelDesroches]

I've been trying to dig up some info on this also and am curious if you got anywhere with it. The field that is default in our dataset is populated with NULL values, which poses a glitch with the identify tool. Yes, I realize that you can save a "layer", but there are many scenarios whereby loading a layer is not practical. And our datamodel is a complex geographic network... No way will I even being to start replacing the layers with an export (a very good way to permanently mess up all relationships!).

So far, all I've been able to find is this from the Desktop Help topic "Understanding the display expression for a field":
[INDENT][/INDENT]"The display expression defaults to the first field of string type that contains the text name (case insensitive) in the field name. If no name field exists, the display field defaults to the first field of string type, then the first field of integer type, then the first field of any type. You can change the field used in the display expression on the Display tab of the Layer Properties or Table Properties dialog box."

ESRI Ideas, here we come... but sadly I doubt I'll ever see the day.