Changing name of geometry column for feature class in file geodatabase?

Question

I'm converting geopackages to features in a file geodatabase using Copy Features. For some reason the geometry column is named geom instead of the usual Shape and I want to rename it to Shape:

I have tried:

• Alter Field but the geometry column is greyed out
• Make Feature Layer of the geopackage and renaming column then Copy Features but the column is still named geom.
• I have read this thread How do you change the geometry field name?, but the solution seems to require manual loading of data

How can I rename the geometry column?

Answer 1

I've come across this irritating problem in the past which has implications for tools that have not been developed robustly enough to deal with the situation when the geometry field is not called SHAPE, a standard that has been in place for many years. My gut feeling is that it is done by people who don't realise the ramifications and are changing it because they can change it, I'm guessing people in the open source community?

ESRI tools like featureclass to featureclass won't allow you to map geometry fields in the field mapping. The only way to resolve this is to create an empty featureclass where the geometry field is called SHAPE, import the field structure from the source dataset and either use the GUI to Load data or you can use the Append tool.

I've also come across situations where the OBJECTID is not called OBJECTID. You would have to follow the same procedure.

Answer 2

A workaround is to create an empty feature class, add all fields except OID and geometry and append the data:

import arcpy, os    
geopackage = r'C:\folder\testdata.gpkg\main.testdata'    
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(in_features=geopackage, out_layer='templyr')
fields = [f for f in arcpy.ListFields(dataset='templyr') if f.type not in ("Geometry","OID")]
arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management(out_path=r'C:\folder\Default.gdb', out_name='somename', 
                                    geometry_type='POLYGON', spatial_reference=arcpy.SpatialReference(3006))
for field in fields:
    arcpy.AddField_management(in_table=os.path.join(r'C:\folder\Default.gdb','somename'), 
                              field_name=field.name, field_type=field.type, field_length=field.length) 
arcpy.Append_management(inputs='templyr', target=os.path.join(r'C:\folder\Default.gdb','somename'))