Configure a table template

After you create a table template, configure the tool palette, and specify the default attributes applied to new rows. These settings are available in the Template Properties dialog box.

Table template property settings appear on the following side tabs:

TabDescription

General

The template name and optional metadata for documenting, organizing, and searching.

Tools

Settings for tools that appear on the tool palette.

Attributes

Attribute values written to new features and other field settings.

Select a template

In the Manage Templates pane, select a template and click Properties Properties.

  1. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Manage Edits group, click Manage Templates Manage Templates

    Alternatively, click Manage Templates Manage Templates in the Create Features pane.

  2. In the layer view, expand Map Map View and click the layer to show the templates in the template view.
  3. In the template view, click the template.
  4. On the template view toolbar, click Properties Properties.

    Alternatively, right-click the template and click Properties Properties.

    Tip:

    To change the properties of an active template in the Create Features pane, right-click the template and click Properties Properties. This command is also available in the Active Template view on the Options menu Menu.

Configure the tool palette

On the Tools side tab, show or hide the tools that appear on the tool palette and choose which tool automatically runs when the template is activated. The tools that are available depend on the template type and the features it creates. Table templates only have one tool.

  1. Click the Tools side tab.
  2. Hover over the Click to set as default tool buttons and enable one tool to run automatically when the template is active.
  3. Hover over the Toggle tool visibility check boxes and check the tools you want to appear on the tool palette.

Specify attribute values

On the Attributes side tab, type the attribute values you want applied to each row the template creates. Field values are saved with the template.

You can type the values or right-click the field and set it to the geodatabase default value or restore it to the value last saved with the template, or get a unique value contained in the source attribute table.

  1. Click the Attributes side tab.
  2. To show the fields that are set as hidden columns, check the Show Non-Visable Fields check box.
  3. Type the attribute values you want to apply new rows, or click the available drop-down arrow or choose a value.
    Tip:

    Hover over the field name to view the data type, default geodatabase value, and other field properties.

    Alternatively, use the following methods to change a value:

    Right-click the field and click Set To '<Null>' NULL.

    Set the value to Null if the field accepts null values.

    Right-click the field and click Revert Undo.

    Restore the field value to the value defined in the template property settings.

    Click the Options menu Menu and click Revert Undo.

    Restore all field values to the values defined in the template property settings.

    Right-click the field and click Get Unique Values.

    Note:

    This command is not available for field values constrained to an attribute domain.

    Choose a value currently stored in this field.

    Right-click a field with an existing value and click Copy Copy. Right-click the field you are overriding and click Paste Paste.

    Note:

    These commands are not available for field values constrained to an attribute domain.

    Copy and paste a value from an existing field.

  4. To show a field below the tool palette in the Create Features pane, hover over the Prompt for attribute value check box and check it.

    Prompt for attribute value

    Note:

    Setting a field to prompt in the Create Features pane allows you to override the default value with opening the Active Template view.

  5. Click OK.

Field color codes

If a field or a field border is highlighted or shaded, the color indicates a specific status or how the field value is defined. The color codes are described in the following table:

Field colorDescription

Orange shading

This is the subtype field.

Purple shading

This symbolizes the layer.

Yellow shading

The Highlight property is enabled in the Fields view.

Gray border

The field is read-only and can't be edited.

Green border

The field is not using the geodatabase default value.

Blue border

The field is using the geodatabase default value.

Yellow border

The field value is an invalid entry for the optional contingent values assigned to the field.

Red border

The field value is an invalid entry for one of the possible reasons:

Attribute field color codes