Creating Attributes for Digitized Features
Vector data is composed of two sides: geometry and corresponding attribute information. This tutorial describes how to create attributes for features that you have digitized in ArcGIS.
Included in this tutorial:
Adding New Fields
Assigning Values/Text to Attributes
Software version in examples: ArcGIS Pro 3.5.0
Credits: Sally Kaye and L. Meisterlin (2026)
Adding New Fields
When creating a new vector dataset, you can create attribute fields to be filled after your geometry is digitized. Fields can also be added any time after the dataset has been created, which we demonstrate below.
In the top bar of the Attribute Table, click Add to open Fields View and add a new field, then specify the data type of the field.
Note: All edits to all active layers must be saved before adding a new field.
In this example, we add a new Text field called “Name” to the attribute table of the “Test Points” feature layer, in which we have previously digitized four separate points. As shown, the field will contain only “<Null>” values until we manually input attributes.
creating an empty field from the attribute table
Assigning Values/Text to Attributes
Right now, these points do not have any additional attribute information besides their OBJECTID and Shape, generated automatically when they were digitized. To fill the “Name” field we have created, double-click directly into the box and type in the desired attribute information.
In the example, we name these four points “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” (highlighting each point either by selecting in the map frame or in the attribute table) then label the points with the “Name” field to show the attributes have been committed.
manually entering attribute information in an empty field
saving or discarding edits
When you are satisfied with your edited attribute values, save your changes in the Edit toolbar menu. Alternatively, you can discard your changes.