Editing features in Collector for ArcGIS returns a prompt to change a feature type

Description

When attempting to edit the attributes of features in a layer on Collector for ArcGIS, a prompt message is returned with the message, 'You are changing the feature type, which may potentially overwrite some field values. Are you sure you want to do this?'

Cause

The message is displayed if the field of the edited attributes is assigned to a domain and the layer symbology is set based on the field. For more information, refer to BUG-000088987.

Solution or Workaround

In ArcMap, create a new field to be populated with values from the field assigned to the domain, and symbolize the layer based on the new field. This method uses the new field with no domain assigned to create the layer symbology.

1. In ArcMap, add the feature class containing the coded value domains.
2. Create a new field in the feature class, and populate the new field with values from the domain field using Field Calculator. Refer to How To: Calculate field values from an existing field to a new field in ArcMap for steps to do this.

   Note:
   When selecting the field type for the new field, select the same field type as the domain field.

   Below is an example of the expression used to populate a field with values from another field. In this example, TREE_STATUS is the newly created field, and TREE_REMOVED is the domain field containing the values to be populated in the new field.

   TREE_STATUS = [TREE_REMOVED]

   
3. Symbolize the layer using the values in the new field.
   1. In Table Of Contents, right-click the feature class, and click Properties.
   2. In the Layer Properties dialog box, select the Symbology tab.
   3. In the Show: box, select Categories > Unique values.
   4. Select the new field as the Value Field, and click Add All Values.
   5. Change the symbology as desired, click Apply > OK.
4. Publish the feature class to ArcGIS Online or Portal for ArcGIS as a service, and add the service to a web map for use in Collector for ArcGIS. To publish the feature class, refer to Publish from ArcMap (ArcGIS Online) and Publish from ArcGIS Pro or ArcMap (Portal for ArcGIS).

When editing the layer in Collector for ArcGIS, the new field still provides a drop-down with the option to select the desired attribute. The prompt message is no longer returned when editing the field attributes because the field is no longer controlled by a domain with coded values.