How To: Update a NULL Geometry Using ArcMap

Summary

Instructions provided describe how to update NULL geometry using ArcMap.

NULL geometries may be present in a feature class for a variety of reasons, such as when an organization needs to spatially enable a business table. Once this has been done, all the current records contain NULL geometry.

For example, a business table called ROADS was created with a NAME attribute. The business table was then spatially enabled using the 'sdelayer -o add' command.

The resulting business table contains the following records:

Code:
NAME            SHAPE   OBJECTID
---------- ---------- ----------
SONORA                         1
VINEDO                         2
MAR VISTA                      3
CONNAUGHT                      4

Note that there are no values for the SHAPE attribute.

Note:
If the geometry uses a native spatial type, the geometry can also be updated using SQL. But, if the feature class utilizes the SDEBINARY type, the geometry must be updated using ArcMap.

Procedure

The procedure for updating NULL geometry in ArcMap depends on the version used; follow the appropriate steps below.

ArcMAP 8.x/9.x:

1. Add the Feature Class to ArcMap and start a versioned or non-versioned edit session.

2. Right-click the Feature Class and open the attribute table. Highlight a record with NULL geometry by clicking the little gray box to the left of the desired record.

Note:
If a record is not highlighted in the attribute table, the newly digitized feature is associated with a new record, not to an existing record.

3. On the Editor toolbar, select the 'Modify Feature' from the Task drop-down list.
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4. Click the Sketch tool on the Editor toolbar and digitize the new feature.
This adds the geometry to the highlighted record.

5. Save the edits.

ArcMAP 10.x:

1. Add the Feature Class to ArcMap and start a versioned or non-versioned edit session.

2. Right-click the Feature Class and open the attribute table. Highlight a record with NULL geometry, by clicking the little gray box to the left of the desired record.

Note:
If a record is not highlighted in the attribute table, the newly digitized feature is associated with a new record, not to an existing record.

3. On the Advanced Editing toolbar, click the 'Replace Geometry Tool' and digitize a new feature. This adds the geometry to the highlighted record.
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