cim_lyr.featureTable.fieldDescriptions returns an empty list

[MarvisKisakye1]

Why would cim_lyr.featureTable.fieldDescriptions return an empty list when the feature layer clearly contains fields? @JeffBarrette @JeffMoulds 

[AaronDutch]

It seems that altering the Shape field alias no longer generates the CIM which is frustrating. Following this workflow all of my CIM objects are still empty when using print(cim_obj.featureTable.fieldDescriptions) even though in the APRX the alias has been changed. 

[julian_svcs]

@AaronDutch That is strange. I just tested this using ArcGIS Pro 3.0 and it works as expected. I read the fieldDescriptions before changing the alias and it is empty (as expected). When I use AlterField to change the SHAPE field alias and then call the fieldDescriptions again, I get the field details.

Here is my sample code that worked for me:

aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT")
m = aprx.listMaps(aprx.activeMap.name)[0]
for lyr in m.listLayers():
    if lyr.isFeatureLayer:
        print(f"{lyr.longName}")
        arcpy.AlterField_management(lyr, "SHAPE", new_field_alias="Shape")
        cim_lyr = lyr.getDefinition('V2')
        print(cim_lyr.featureTable.fieldDescriptions)
        for fd in cim_lyr.featureTable.fieldDescriptions:
            print(f"Field Name: {fd.fieldName}")

[Pascal]

Hey all,

thanks for the thread which already helped me a lot when I encountered the empty list.

As I aim to build a Python tool that can change the fieldDescription of a selected layer, I needed to modify the layer with arcpy.AlterField_management() from inside the tool.

Unfortunately, the CIM fieldDescription list is still empty after running the tool. In contrast, If I do the AlterField operation from the Python Window in ArcGIS Pro, the fieldDescription list is getting populated.

Does anyone have an idea how that could be and how the execution of a function from either Python Window or Python Toolbox differs?

Using ArcGIS Pro 3.0.3

Thanks!

[PhilLarkin1]

I experience the same issue when running Pro 3.2.0. When running AlterField in a geoprocessing script tool, fieldDescription is not being populated. When running in the Python Window it is.  @JeffBarrette