BUG-000104847 for ArcGIS for Desktop

Bug ID Number	BUG-000104847
Submitted	May 2, 2017
Last Modified	June 5, 2024
Applies to	ArcGIS for Desktop
Version found	N/A
Operating System	N/A
Status	Known Limit

Additional Information

The software is working as designed. When saving a layer file, only the description and credits are seen because that is the only metadata content that can be stored within the layer itself. By design, metadata is not generated for layer files automatically. Therefore, the only metadata content that is transferred from the feature class to the layer file is the content that can be stored internal to the layer. When adding the layer file to the map, and right-clicking the layer to Data > Item Description in its context menu. The metadata seen is for the data, not the metadata for the layer. The layer in the map is not capable of having the complete metadata.

Workaround

The metadata from the feature class can be copied to the layer file, but it is not entirely straightforward because there are many precautions put in place to prevent ArcGIS from automatically creating metadata for layer files.

In ArcCatalog, select the layer file and click Edit in the Description tab to edit the layer file's metadata.
Make some change such as adding a tag, and click Save. This creates a metadata file that can be used to describe the layer file.
With the layer file selected in the Catalog tree, click the Import button in the Description tab.
In the Import Metadata button, specify the Source Metadata as the feature class, and specify the Import Type as FROM_ARCGIS, then run the tool.

The feature class's metadata is copied to the layer file. The copy of the metadata on the layer file is not automatically updated later if the feature class's metadata is changed.