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Attribute field management

Each layer in a hosted feature layer contains an attribute table that stores the data for the layer. Each table contains rows (features) and columns (fields). How you interact with the attribute table of a hosted feature layer depends on your role in the organization and the layer's configuration. Most people can view the layers and use them in their own maps and apps, but only the layer owner or an administrator can manage attribute fields.

Nonowners who are not administrators

Anyone who is not the layer owner or is not an administrator in the organization can only interact with the attribute table's contents. If the hosted feature layer has been shared with you, you can do the following with the attribute table's contents:

  • View the table's contents, related records and photos, and statistics. See Show tables for more information.
  • If the layer owner has enabled editing, you can update the contents of the attribute table. If the layer owner has enabled attachments, you can attach related photos or other files to specific features. See the Work with attribute data section of Item details.

Owners and administrators

If you own the layer or you are an administrator of your organization, you can view and edit data in the attribute table, plus you can perform the following field management operations from the Data tab of the layer's item page:

Set a display name

You can change the field name that other users see when they view a hosted feature layer's attribute table. Set a display name that concisely conveys the field contents to help others understand the data.

Changing the display name for a field does not affect the field name stored in the attribute table. Because it's a property of the field and not a field name, the display name can contain spaces and nonalphanumeric characters.

To change the field name that others see when viewing the attribute table, follow these steps:

  1. From the layer's item page, click the Data tab to show the table.
  2. Click Fields.
  3. If your hosted feature layer contains more than one sublayer, choose the sublayer you want to alter from the Layer drop-down menu.

    The fields list shows each field's display name, field name, and data type.

  4. Click the display name for the field you want to alter to open the field's details.
  5. Click Edit next to the display name and type a new name.

    Keep the name as brief as possible while still conveying the content of the field.

  6. Click Save when you're finished.