1

Using Arc 10.4.1, I have joined a geodatabase feature class table to a standalone geodatabase attribute table. This is a many:1 join (standalone attribute table:feature class). After making the join, I need to do a series of queries on the standalone attribute table, then calculate a field in the feature class table. Because of this many:1 situation, I am forced to join the feature class table to the standalone attribute table, rather than joining the standalone attribute table to the feature class table.

However, when I try to change values in the joined (feature class) table, the field calculator is greyed out. Sure enough, the Arc Help documentation states:

"You can only calculate values for fields in the origin table."

But I could swear that I've successfully used the field calculator on a joined table in the past (Arc 9.x, methinks).

Is there a way to create calculations on joined fields?

Improve this question
6
  • 1
    What about joining the fc to the standalone table?
    – klewis
    Commented Oct 17, 2016 at 18:56
  • 1
    Reverse the join. You can only edit the parent table, not the joined table. As far as I can recall this has always been the case.
    – Midavalo ♦
    Commented Oct 17, 2016 at 19:09
  • @Midavalo I cannot reverse the join because of a many:1 situation. I've edited the original question to include this.
    – Stu Smith
    Commented Oct 18, 2016 at 20:32
  • Start editing the table and then calculate the fields. I think that has worked for me in the past. Additionally, before the join, make a new field for the calculations, then joins and do the calculations in the new field
    – TsvGis
    Commented Oct 19, 2016 at 4:43
  • @TvsGis you are correct! Please feel free to post your comment as an answer.
    – Stu Smith
    Commented Nov 8, 2016 at 19:44

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

As commented by @tsvgis:

Start editing the table and then calculate the fields. I think that has worked for me in the past. Additionally, before the join, make a new field for the calculations, then joins and do the calculations in the new field

Improve this answer
1
  • @TsvGis Well, here I am a year later after an upgrade to 10.5.1, and the problem has returned: the Field Calculator is grayed out for all fields in a Join table (it is not grayed out for the Origin table fields). It doesn't matter whether I start editing the Join table before or after making the join - the Field Calculator is not available to make edits in the Join table. Huh?
    – Stu Smith
    Commented Nov 28, 2017 at 20:12
0

I found your post searching for my own solution to this problem in 10.6.1. But I realized the issue was that I had joined one table to another table that also had a join with a different table, which was making the field calculator button grey out.

So it went like this:

  • Table A was joined to Table B creating Table A/B
  • Table A/B joined to Table C - buttons greyed out
  • Table A OR Table B joined to Table C - buttons function

This may not be what's causing it for you, but if not you, maybe it will help someone else.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.