Set editing attributes options

Application options for editing attributes include settings to enforce attribute validation and set warning prompts for editing attributes and subtypes in the Attributes pane. These options are available on the Options dialog box on the Editing side tab.

Enforce attribute validation

To restrict attribute edits to values that satisfy the validation criteria imposed on a field, or to turn off this option, complete the followings steps:

1. On the ribbon Edit tab, click the Options dialog box launcher in the Manage Edits group.

   The Options dialog box appears.

2. Click the Editing side tab, and expand General.
3. Check the Enforce attribute validation check box.

   To turn off this option, uncheck this setting.

   Tip:

   Uncheck this setting to leave a field empty that otherwise disallows null values, or if your workflow requires you to override similar validation criteria. Examples of attribute validation include domain values and fields that do not allow null values or empty field values.

4. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Automatically apply attribute edits

The Auto Apply toggle button in the Attributes pane determines if edits to field values are applied with the Apply button or automatically applied when the focus of the pointer is clicked out of a field or the Enter key is pressed.

To set the default position of this toggle button, complete the following steps:

1. On the ribbon Edit tab, click the Options dialog box launcher in the Manage Edits group.

   The Options dialog box appears.

2. Click the Editing side tab, and expand General.
3. Check the Auto Apply attribute edits check box to switch on Auto Apply by default.

   Uncheck this setting to switch off Auto Apply and show the Apply and Cancel buttons.

4. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Highlight the layer in the Attributes pane

Highlighting a layer in the Attributes pane selection view allows you to edit the same attribute field for all features on a layer. Enable this option to highlight the source layer by default when features are selected.

Caution:

In some cases, this option can degrade performance depending on the data and number of selected features.

To enable or disable this option, complete the following steps:

1. On the ribbon Edit tab, click the Options dialog box launcher in the Manage Edits group.

   The Options dialog box appears.

2. Click the Editing side tab, and expand General.
3. Check the Highlight layer on selection change check box to highlight the source layer in the selection view by default when features are selected.

   Uncheck this setting to turn off this option.

4. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Configure the Attributes dialog box for uncommitted edits

The Attributes dialog box requires edits to be applied or cancelled if Auto Apply is turned off and the selection is changed while a field contains uncommitted edits. It can be configured to always appear or never appear and silently apply or discard uncommitted edits.

To configure the Attributes dialog box option, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Options dialog box launcher on the ribbon Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group.

   The Options dialog box appears.

2. On the Options dialog box, click the Editing side tab, and expand General.
3. In the Uncommitted attribute edits section, choose one of the following settings:
   • Always prompt—Always display the alert dialog box and require uncommitted attribute edits to be applied or discarded.
   • Apply—Turn off the alert dialog box and automatically apply uncommitted attribute edits when the selection is changed.
   • Discard—Turn off the alert dialog box and automatically discard uncommitted attribute edits when the selection is changed.
4. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Note:

To turn off this option on the dialog box, check the Remember choice and don't show this message again check box.

Show the dialog box for subtype changes

The dialog box for subtype changes appears when an attribute field for a subtype value is changed. The dialog box requires you to click Yes to change the default attributes for the feature to those defined by the new subtype. Fields with no default values associated with them remain unchanged.

To show the Change Subtype dialog box for changed subtype values, or to turn off this option, complete the following steps:

1. Click the Options dialog box launcher on the ribbon Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group.

   The Options dialog box appears.

2. On the Options dialog box, click the Editing side tab, and expand General.
3. Check the Warn on subtype change check box.

   To turn off this option, uncheck this setting.

   Note:

   When this option is turned off, default values defined by the new subtype value are automatically applied and fields with no default values associated with them remain unchanged.

4. Optionally, check the Initialize default value on subtype change check box to reinitialize the default values when you click Yes to change the default attributes for the feature to those defined by the new subtype.
5. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.