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Is there a way to create a feature class without the SHAPE_LENGTH and SHAPE_AREA?

Only way I seem to be able to do this is to create a new feature class by right clicking fgdb> New > Feature Class but that is not the same as ArcPy CreateFeatureclass_management. I am trying to create feature classes programmatically using Create Feature Class (arcpy CreateFeatureclass_management) and using a template which does not have SHAPE_LENGTH and SHAPE_AREA fields but when it is created it adds the two fields. Even when I don't use template, the output has the two fields unlike the manual process. The objective is to have output schema matching that of the template (not just hiding those two added fields) but it seems like that is not possible because of the addition of SHAPE_LENGTH and SHAPE_AREA. I have tried importing workspace xml documents and the same thing happens.

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  • Unfortunately, you cannot delete the field using tools in arcmap.
    – Diffusion_net
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 19:22
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    Those computed columns don't really exist on the table, but they are exposed when a geometry column is present.
    – Vince
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 19:43
  • @Vince I'd like to improve my answer by incorporating your comment. I'd be happy to see you do that instead (or write another answer) if you have time to.
    – PolyGeo ♦
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 23:19

1 Answer 1

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A file geodatabase feature class always has the system created and system maintained fields for storing each feature’s area and length.

You cannot create one which does not have them using ArcGIS Desktop or any other software and you cannot delete those fields either.

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    Why is a feature class made without the shape_length and shape_area when i manually create the feature class then? The behavior is strange that it is not consistent.
    – Diffusion_net
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 19:28
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    I’m not at a laptop to test but I suspect they are there but not being displayed on the creation wizard.
    – PolyGeo ♦
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 19:33
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    If the creation wizard has completed and you open attributes for the feature class then do you see them?
    – PolyGeo ♦
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 19:35
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    You are right it looks like it wasnt complete doing the wizard because after closing out and looking again they do have the fields.... I wonder since original feature classes i want to use as templates were made using OGR2OGR there is something different in configuration or methodology difference in approach taken to create a feature class.
    – Diffusion_net
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 19:58
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    The file geodatabase format is proprietary, but accessible via the open File GDB API. If ogr2ogr is not using that then it’s templates may not be in file geodatabase format, just something that looks like it.
    – PolyGeo ♦
    Commented Jun 4, 2021 at 20:13

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