Generate Compact Unique IDs from GlobalID in ArcGIS Pro

[lal-sabbagh]

Problem

GlobalID fields in ArcGIS are robust but too long for compact reports, fieldwork, or external systems requiring shorter, user-friendly unique IDs. GIS professionals often need a scalable solution to derive such IDs without compromising uniqueness.

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Solution

This Python script hashes the GlobalID field to generate a 4-character unique ID prefixed with "GID" (e.g., GID1234). It automates the creation of a new field for example (GIS_ID) to store these IDs, ensuring efficient and compact ID generation directly in ArcGIS Pro.

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Features

• Compact IDs: 4-character unique IDs derived from GlobalID.
• Customizable: Adjust prefix (GID) or length as needed.
• Universal: Works on file and enterprise geodatabases with edit session support.
• Plug-and-Play: Easy integration into ArcGIS Pro workflows or custom toolboxes.

import arcpy
import hashlib

workspace = r"C:\Path\To\Your\Geodatabase.gdb"
input_fc = "YourFeatureClass"
global_id_field, gis_id_field = "GlobalID", "GIS_ID"

if gis_id_field not in [f.name for f in arcpy.ListFields(input_fc)]:
    arcpy.AddField_management(input_fc, gis_id_field, "TEXT", field_length=8)

edit = arcpy.da.Editor(workspace)
edit.startEditing(False, True)

try:
    with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(input_fc, [global_id_field, gis_id_field]) as cursor:
        for row in cursor:
            if row[0]:
                row[1] = f"GID{int(hashlib.md5(row[0].encode()).hexdigest(), 16) % 10000:04d}"
                cursor.updateRow(row)
    edit.stopEditing(True)
except:
    edit.stopEditing(False)