Create a New Feature Definition Attribute Based on an Existing Attribute

If you need to create a new feature definition attribute that will share properties with an existing attribute, you can make a copy of the existing attribute. You can then change the name and description for the attribute and any other properties as necessary. The new copied attribute remains assigned to the same feature definition as the copied attribute.

To create a new feature definition attribute based on an existing attribute:

In the Project Explorer, right-click the node representing the feature definition attribute you want to copy.
In the context menu, select Create a Copy.
A new Attribute node displays nested beneath the same feature definition as the copied attribute with the same name but appended with a number. In addition, the <AttributeType>Properties pane displays.

In the Attribute Definition Properties pane, make any necessary edits:

Number Attribute Properties

Use these properties to define an attribute that contains number values.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection. Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection.
Range
Default	Enter the most common value that will be entered; it will automatically display by default in the attribute field.
Minimum	Enter the minimum value allowed for the attribute.
Maximum	Enter the maximum value allowed for the attribute.

Integer Attribute Properties

Use these properties to define an attribute that contains integer values.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection. Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection.
Range
Default	Enter the most common value that will be entered; it will automatically display by default in the attribute field.
Minimum	Enter the lowest integer allowed for the attribute.
Maximum	Enter the highest integer allowed for the attribute.

Text Attribute Properties

Use these properties to define an attribute that contains strings of letters, numbers, and other characters.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection. Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection.
Range
Default	Enter the most common value that will be entered; it will automatically display by default in the attribute field.
Minimum	Enter the minimum number of characters allowed for the attribute.
Maximum	Enter the maximum number of characters allowed for the attribute.

Date Attribute Propertie

Use these properties to define an attribute that contains a date.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection. Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection.
Display format	Select a date format from the list. Note: To export data to one of the available GIS export formats, make sure that the date format you specify for any date attributes is the same as the date format on the computer that has the GIS software. Many GIS systems check the date setting of the computer when importing files and assume that the dates in the files are in the same format as the settings of the computer. If the settings are different, you can get null values in the GIS software.

Time Attribute Properties

Use these properties to define an attribute that contains a time.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection. Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection.
Display format	Select a time format from the list. Note: To export data to one of the available GIS export formats, make sure that the time format you specify for any time attributes is the same as the time format on the computer that has the GIS software. Many GIS systems check the time setting of the computer when importing files, and assume that the times in the files are in the same format as the settings of the computer. If the settings are different, you can get null values in the GIS software.

List Attribute Properties

Use these properties to define an attribute that contains a list of values (items) from which a user can select to assign to a feature.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection. Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection.
Items	Click the More button located to the right of the Items field to display the List Attribute Items dialog. Then do any of the following to populate or edit the attributes list. When you are done, click OK to save your changes. To add a new item to the list, click the Add button and enter a name for the new item directly in the list. To remove an item from the list, select the item and click the Remove button. To move an item up or down in the list, select the item and click the Up and Down arrow buttons. To select the default item in the list (the item that will be assigned to a feature if no other selection is made), select the item and click the Default button.
Default	As an alternative to using the List Attribute Items dialog, use this list to quickly select the default item in the attribute list (the item that will be assigned to a feature if no other selection is made).

File Attribute Properties

Use these properties to define an attribute that references a file.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection. Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection.

Photo Attribute Properties

Use these properties to define an attribute that references a photo file.


Information
Name	Enter a name for the attribute.
Description	Optionally, enter a brief description of the attribute. (The description is not used during fieldwork.)
Input method	Required - The attribute requires a valid value/selection. Office use only - The attribute must be entered in TBC. It cannot be entered in the field software. Optional - The attribute does not require a value/selection. Auto Generate - The attribute must be a photo captured via the device. Auto Generate - Read Only - The attribute must be a photo captured via the device, and the photo cannot be edited in the device.

Your changes are saved automatically.