ArcGIS Pro 3.0 API Reference Guide
ArcGIS.Core.Data.DDL Namespace / FieldDescription Class / CreateStringField Method
The name of the ArcGIS.Core.Data.Field to create.
The length of the ArcGIS.Core.Data.Field to create.
Example

In This Topic
    CreateStringField Method
    In This Topic
    Creates a field description for a string ArcGIS.Core.Data.Field.
    Syntax
    public static FieldDescription CreateStringField( 
       string name,
       int length
    )
    Public Shared Function CreateStringField( _
       ByVal name As String, _
       ByVal length As Integer _
    ) As FieldDescription

    Parameters

    name
    The name of the ArcGIS.Core.Data.Field to create.
    length
    The length of the ArcGIS.Core.Data.Field to create.

    Return Value

    A field description for a string ArcGIS.Core.Data.Field.
    Example
    Creating a Table
    // Create a PoleInspection table with the following fields
    //  GlobalID
    //  ObjectID
    //  InspectionDate (date)
    //  InspectionResults (pre-existing InspectionResults coded value domain)
    //  InspectionNotes (string)
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for a GlobalID field with default values
    FieldDescription globalIDFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateGlobalIDField();
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for an ObjectID field with default values
    FieldDescription objectIDFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateObjectIDField();
    
    // Create a FieldDescription for the InspectionDate field
    FieldDescription inspectionDateFieldDescription = new FieldDescription("InspectionDate", FieldType.Date)
    {
      AliasName = "Inspection Date"
    };
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for a Domain field (from a pre-existing domain)
    FieldDescription inspectionResultsFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateDomainField("InspectionResults", new CodedValueDomainDescription(inspectionResultsDomain));
    inspectionResultsFieldDescription.AliasName = "Inspection Results";
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for a string field
    FieldDescription inspectionNotesFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateStringField("InspectionNotes", 512);
    inspectionNotesFieldDescription.AliasName = "Inspection Notes";
    
    // Assemble a list of all of our field descriptions
    List<FieldDescription> fieldDescriptions = new List<FieldDescription>()
      { globalIDFieldDescription, objectIDFieldDescription, inspectionDateFieldDescription, inspectionResultsFieldDescription, inspectionNotesFieldDescription };
    
    // Create a TableDescription object to describe the table to create
    TableDescription tableDescription = new TableDescription("PoleInspection", fieldDescriptions);
    
    // Create a SchemaBuilder object
    SchemaBuilder schemaBuilder = new SchemaBuilder(geodatabase);
    
    // Add the creation of PoleInspection to our list of DDL tasks
    schemaBuilder.Create(tableDescription);
    
    // Execute the DDL
    bool success = schemaBuilder.Build();
    
    // Inspect error messages
    if (!success)
    {
      IReadOnlyList<string> errorMessages = schemaBuilder.ErrorMessages;
      //etc.
    }
    
    Creating a feature class
    // Create a Cities feature class with the following fields
    //  GlobalID
    //  ObjectID
    //  Name (string)
    //  Population (integer)
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for a GlobalID field with default values
    FieldDescription globalIDFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateGlobalIDField();
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for an ObjectID field with default values
    FieldDescription objectIDFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateObjectIDField();
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for a string field
    FieldDescription nameFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateStringField("Name", 255);
    
    // This static helper routine creates a FieldDescription for an integer field
    FieldDescription populationFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateIntegerField("Population");
    
    // Assemble a list of all of our field descriptions
    List<FieldDescription> fieldDescriptions = new List<FieldDescription>()
      { globalIDFieldDescription, objectIDFieldDescription, nameFieldDescription, populationFieldDescription };
    
    // Create a ShapeDescription object
    ShapeDescription shapeDescription = new ShapeDescription(GeometryType.Point, spatialReference);
    
    // Alternatively, ShapeDescriptions can be created from another feature class.  In this case, the new feature class will inherit the same shape properties of the existing class
    ShapeDescription alternativeShapeDescription = new ShapeDescription(existingFeatureClass.GetDefinition());
    
    // Create a FeatureClassDescription object to describe the feature class to create
    FeatureClassDescription featureClassDescription = 
      new FeatureClassDescription("Cities", fieldDescriptions, shapeDescription);
    
    // Create a SchemaBuilder object
    SchemaBuilder schemaBuilder = new SchemaBuilder(geodatabase);
    
    // Add the creation of the Cities feature class to our list of DDL tasks
    schemaBuilder.Create(featureClassDescription);
    
    // Execute the DDL
    bool success = schemaBuilder.Build();
    
    // Inspect error messages
    if (!success)
    {
      IReadOnlyList<string> errorMessages = schemaBuilder.ErrorMessages;
      //etc.
    }
    
    Adding fields to a FeatureClass
    // Adding following fields to the 'Parcels' FeatureClass
    // Global ID
    // Parcel_ID
    // Tax_Code
    // Parcel_Address
    
    
    // The FeatureClass to add fields
    string featureClassName = "Parcels";
    
    FeatureClassDefinition originalFeatureClassDefinition = geodatabase.GetDefinition<FeatureClassDefinition>(featureClassName);
    FeatureClassDescription originalFeatureClassDescription = new 
       FeatureClassDescription(originalFeatureClassDefinition);
    
    // The four new fields to add on the 'Parcels' FeatureClass
    FieldDescription globalIdField = FieldDescription.CreateGlobalIDField();
    FieldDescription parcelIdDescription = new FieldDescription("Parcel_ID", FieldType.GUID);
    FieldDescription taxCodeDescription = FieldDescription.CreateIntegerField("Tax_Code");
    FieldDescription addressDescription = FieldDescription.CreateStringField("Parcel_Address", 150);
    
    List<FieldDescription> fieldsToAdd = new List<FieldDescription> { globalIdField, parcelIdDescription,
      taxCodeDescription, addressDescription };
    
    // Add new fields on the new FieldDescription list
    List<FieldDescription> modifiedFieldDescriptions = new List<FieldDescription>(originalFeatureClassDescription.FieldDescriptions);
    modifiedFieldDescriptions.AddRange(fieldsToAdd);
    
    // The new FeatureClassDescription with additional fields
    FeatureClassDescription modifiedFeatureClassDescription = new FeatureClassDescription(originalFeatureClassDescription.Name,
      modifiedFieldDescriptions, originalFeatureClassDescription.ShapeDescription);
    
    SchemaBuilder schemaBuilder = new SchemaBuilder(geodatabase);
    
    // Update the 'Parcels' FeatureClass with newly added fields
    schemaBuilder.Modify(modifiedFeatureClassDescription);
    bool modifyStatus = schemaBuilder.Build();
    
    if (!modifyStatus)
    {
      IReadOnlyList<string> errors = schemaBuilder.ErrorMessages;
    }
    
    Creating an annotation feature class
    // Creating a Cities annotation feature class
    // with following user defined fields
    // Name 
    // GlobalID
    
    // Annotation feature class name
    string annotationFeatureClassName = "CitiesAnnotation";
    
    // Create user defined attribute fields for annotation feature class 
    FieldDescription globalIDFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateGlobalIDField();
    FieldDescription nameFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateStringField("Name", 255);
    
    // Create a list of all field descriptions
    List<FieldDescription> fieldDescriptions = new List<FieldDescription> { globalIDFieldDescription, nameFieldDescription };
    
    // Create a ShapeDescription object
    ShapeDescription shapeDescription = new ShapeDescription(GeometryType.Polygon, spatialReference);
    
    // Create general placement properties for Maplex engine 
    CIMMaplexGeneralPlacementProperties generalPlacementProperties =
      new CIMMaplexGeneralPlacementProperties
      {
        AllowBorderOverlap = true,
        PlacementQuality = MaplexQualityType.High,
        DrawUnplacedLabels = true,
        InvertedLabelTolerance = 1.0,
        RotateLabelWithDisplay = true,
        UnplacedLabelColor = new CIMRGBColor
        {
          R = 0,
          G = 255,
          B = 0,
          Alpha = 0.5f // Green
        }
      };
    
    // Create general placement properties for Standard engine
    
    //CIMStandardGeneralPlacementProperties generalPlacementProperties =
    //  new CIMStandardGeneralPlacementProperties
    //  {
    //    DrawUnplacedLabels = true,
    //    InvertedLabelTolerance = 3.0,
    //    RotateLabelWithDisplay = true,
    //    UnplacedLabelColor = new CIMRGBColor
    //    {
    //      R = 255, G = 0, B = 0, Alpha = 0.5f // Red
    //    } 
    //   };
    
    
    // Create annotation  label classes
    // Green label
    CIMLabelClass greenLabelClass = new CIMLabelClass
    {
      Name = "Green",
      ExpressionTitle = "Expression-Green",
      ExpressionEngine = LabelExpressionEngine.Arcade,
      Expression = "$feature.OBJECTID",
      ID = 1,
      Priority = 0,
      Visibility = true,
      TextSymbol = new CIMSymbolReference
      {
        Symbol = new CIMTextSymbol()
        {
          Angle = 45,
          FontType = FontType.Type1,
          FontFamilyName = "Tahoma",
          FontEffects = FontEffects.Normal,
          HaloSize = 2.0,
    
          Symbol = new CIMPolygonSymbol
          {
            SymbolLayers = new CIMSymbolLayer[]
            {
              new CIMSolidFill
              {
                Color = CIMColor.CreateRGBColor(0, 255, 0)
              }
            },
            UseRealWorldSymbolSizes = true
          }
        },
        MaxScale = 0,
        MinScale = 0,
        SymbolName = "TextSymbol-Green"
      },
      StandardLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMStandardLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AllowOverlappingLabels = true,
        LineOffset = 1.0
      },
      MaplexLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMMaplexLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AlignLabelToLineDirection = true,
        AvoidPolygonHoles = true
      }
    };
    
    // Blue label
    CIMLabelClass blueLabelClass = new CIMLabelClass
    {
      Name = "Blue",
      ExpressionTitle = "Expression-Blue",
      ExpressionEngine = LabelExpressionEngine.Arcade,
      Expression = "$feature.OBJECTID",
      ID = 2,
      Priority = 0,
      Visibility = true,
      TextSymbol = new CIMSymbolReference
      {
        Symbol = new CIMTextSymbol()
        {
          Angle = 45,
          FontType = FontType.Type1,
          FontFamilyName = "Consolas",
          FontEffects = FontEffects.Normal,
          HaloSize = 2.0,
    
          Symbol = new CIMPolygonSymbol
          {
            SymbolLayers = new CIMSymbolLayer[]
            {
              new CIMSolidFill
              {
                Color = CIMColor.CreateRGBColor(0, 0, 255)
              }
            },
            UseRealWorldSymbolSizes = true
          }
        },
        MaxScale = 0,
        MinScale = 0,
        SymbolName = "TextSymbol-Blue"
      },
      StandardLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMStandardLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AllowOverlappingLabels = true,
        LineOffset = 1.0
      },
      MaplexLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMMaplexLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AlignLabelToLineDirection = true,
        AvoidPolygonHoles = true
      }
    };
    
    // Create a list of labels
    List<CIMLabelClass> labelClasses = new List<CIMLabelClass> { greenLabelClass, blueLabelClass };
    
    // Create an annotation feature class description object to describe the feature class to create
    AnnotationFeatureClassDescription annotationFeatureClassDescription =
      new AnnotationFeatureClassDescription(annotationFeatureClassName, fieldDescriptions, shapeDescription,
        generalPlacementProperties, labelClasses)
      {
        IsAutoCreate = true,
        IsSymbolIDRequired = false,
        IsUpdatedOnShapeChange = true
      };
    
    // Create a SchemaBuilder object
    SchemaBuilder schemaBuilder = new SchemaBuilder(geodatabase);
    
    // Add the creation of the Cities annotation feature class to the list of DDL tasks
    schemaBuilder.Create(annotationFeatureClassDescription);
    
    // Execute the DDL
    bool success = schemaBuilder.Build();
    
    // Inspect error messages
    if (!success)
    {
      IReadOnlyList<string> errorMessages = schemaBuilder.ErrorMessages;
      //etc.
    }
    Creating a feature-linked annotation feature class
    // Creating a feature-linked annotation feature class between water pipe and valve in water distribution network
    // with following user defined fields
    // PipeName 
    // GlobalID
    
    // Annotation feature class name
    string annotationFeatureClassName = "WaterPipeAnnotation";
    
    // Create user defined attribute fields for annotation feature class
    FieldDescription pipeGlobalID = FieldDescription.CreateGlobalIDField();
    FieldDescription nameFieldDescription = FieldDescription.CreateStringField("Name", 255);
    
    // Create a list of all field descriptions
    List<FieldDescription> fieldDescriptions = new List<FieldDescription> { pipeGlobalID, nameFieldDescription };
    
    // Create a ShapeDescription object
    ShapeDescription shapeDescription = new ShapeDescription(GeometryType.Polygon, spatialReference);
    
    // Create general placement properties for Maplex engine 
    CIMMaplexGeneralPlacementProperties generalPlacementProperties = new CIMMaplexGeneralPlacementProperties
    {
      AllowBorderOverlap = true,
      PlacementQuality = MaplexQualityType.High,
      DrawUnplacedLabels = true,
      InvertedLabelTolerance = 1.0,
      RotateLabelWithDisplay = true,
      UnplacedLabelColor = new CIMRGBColor
      {
        R = 255,
        G = 0,
        B = 0,
        Alpha = 0.5f
      }
    };
    
    // Create annotation  label classes
    // Green label
    CIMLabelClass greenLabelClass = new CIMLabelClass
    {
      Name = "Green",
      ExpressionTitle = "Expression-Green",
      ExpressionEngine = LabelExpressionEngine.Arcade,
      Expression = "$feature.OBJECTID",
      ID = 1,
      Priority = 0,
      Visibility = true,
      TextSymbol = new CIMSymbolReference
      {
        Symbol = new CIMTextSymbol()
        {
          Angle = 45,
          FontType = FontType.Type1,
          FontFamilyName = "Tahoma",
          FontEffects = FontEffects.Normal,
          HaloSize = 2.0,
    
          Symbol = new CIMPolygonSymbol
          {
            SymbolLayers = new CIMSymbolLayer[]
            {
              new CIMSolidFill
              {
                Color = CIMColor.CreateRGBColor(0, 255, 0)
              }
            },
            UseRealWorldSymbolSizes = true
          }
        },
        MaxScale = 0,
        MinScale = 0,
        SymbolName = "TextSymbol-Green"
      },
      StandardLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMStandardLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AllowOverlappingLabels = true,
        LineOffset = 1.0
      },
      MaplexLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMMaplexLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AlignLabelToLineDirection = true,
        AvoidPolygonHoles = true
      }
    };
    
    // Blue label
    CIMLabelClass blueLabelClass = new CIMLabelClass
    {
      Name = "Blue",
      ExpressionTitle = "Expression-Blue",
      ExpressionEngine = LabelExpressionEngine.Arcade,
      Expression = "$feature.OBJECTID",
      ID = 2,
      Priority = 0,
      Visibility = true,
      TextSymbol = new CIMSymbolReference
      {
        Symbol = new CIMTextSymbol()
        {
          Angle = 45,
          FontType = FontType.Type1,
          FontFamilyName = "Consolas",
          FontEffects = FontEffects.Normal,
          HaloSize = 2.0,
    
          Symbol = new CIMPolygonSymbol
          {
            SymbolLayers = new CIMSymbolLayer[]
            {
              new CIMSolidFill
              {
                Color = CIMColor.CreateRGBColor(0, 0, 255)
              }
            },
            UseRealWorldSymbolSizes = true
          }
        },
        MaxScale = 0,
        MinScale = 0,
        SymbolName = "TextSymbol-Blue"
      },
      StandardLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMStandardLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AllowOverlappingLabels = true,
        LineOffset = 1.0
      },
      MaplexLabelPlacementProperties = new CIMMaplexLabelPlacementProperties
      {
        AlignLabelToLineDirection = true,
        AvoidPolygonHoles = true
      }
    };
    
    // Create a list of labels
    List<CIMLabelClass> labelClasses = new List<CIMLabelClass> { greenLabelClass, blueLabelClass };
    
    
    // Create linked feature description
    // Linked feature class name
    string linkedFeatureClassName = "WaterPipe";
    
    // Create fields for water pipe
    FieldDescription waterPipeGlobalID = FieldDescription.CreateGlobalIDField();
    FieldDescription pipeName = FieldDescription.CreateStringField("PipeName", 255);
    
    // Create a list of water pipe field descriptions
    List<FieldDescription> pipeFieldDescriptions = new List<FieldDescription> { waterPipeGlobalID, pipeName };
    
    // Create a linked feature class description
    FeatureClassDescription linkedFeatureClassDescription = new FeatureClassDescription(linkedFeatureClassName, pipeFieldDescriptions,
      new ShapeDescription(GeometryType.Polyline, spatialReference));
    
    // Create a SchemaBuilder object
    SchemaBuilder schemaBuilder = new SchemaBuilder(geodatabase);
    
    // Add the creation of the linked feature class to the list of DDL tasks
    FeatureClassToken linkedFeatureClassToken = schemaBuilder.Create(linkedFeatureClassDescription);
    
    // Create an annotation feature class description object to describe the feature class to create
    AnnotationFeatureClassDescription annotationFeatureClassDescription =
      new AnnotationFeatureClassDescription(annotationFeatureClassName, fieldDescriptions, shapeDescription,
        generalPlacementProperties, labelClasses, new FeatureClassDescription(linkedFeatureClassToken))
      {
        IsAutoCreate = true,
        IsSymbolIDRequired = false,
        IsUpdatedOnShapeChange = true
      };
    
    // Add the creation of the annotation feature class to the list of DDL tasks
    schemaBuilder.Create(annotationFeatureClassDescription);
    
    // Execute the DDL
    bool success = schemaBuilder.Build();
    
    // Inspect error messages
    if (!success)
    {
      IReadOnlyList<string> errorMessages = schemaBuilder.ErrorMessages;
      //etc.
    }
    
    Requirements

    Target Platforms: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1

    See Also