Add a new field to a shapefile or a feature class using ArcObjects.

Summary

Instructions provide a code sample that shows how to add a new field to a shapefile or featureclass using VBA. The layer that the field will be added to must be selected in the Table of Contents before running the code.

Procedure

1. Start ArcMap.
2. Open the Visual Basic Editor.
   
   
   In ArcMap, select Tools > Macros > Visual Basic Editor.
   
   
3. Expand Project.mxt in the Project Explorer window and select ArcMap Objects > ThisDocument and right-click to select View Code.
   
   

   Note:
   Code in the Project's ThisDocument code module will only run in the current map document. If you want to store the code in all map documents, open the Normal.mxt ThisDocument code module instead.

   
   
4. Copy the following code into the code module.
   
   

   Code:
   Public Sub AddField()
    
   Dim pMxDoc As IMxDocument
   Dim pLayer As ILayer
   Dim pFLayer As IFeatureLayer
   Dim pFeatClass As IFeatureClass
   Dim NewField As IFieldEdit
   
   Set pMxDoc = ThisDocument
   Set pLayer = pMxDoc.SelectedLayer
   Set pFLayer = pLayer
   Set pFeatClass = pFLayer.FeatureClass
   Set NewField = New Field
   
   With NewField
   .Type = 3
   .Name = "NewField"
   End With
    
   pFeatClass.AddField NewField
   
   End Sub

   
   
   
5. Close the Visual Basic Editor.
6. Run the code.
   
   
   A. Click Tools > Macros > Macros to display the Macros dialog box.
   B. Select a macro and click Run.