Calculating the Length for a line shapefile

1. Optionally, start an edit session in ArcMap. Calculating a field is faster outside of an edit session, but you won't be able to undo the calculation.
2. Open the attribute table of the layer you want to edit.
3. Right-click the field heading for length (if there is no field holding length values you can add a new field for length by clicking the options button and selecting the new field option).
4. Click Calculate Values.
5. Check Advanced.
6. Type the following VBA statement in the first text box: Dim dblLength as double Dim pCurve as ICurve Set pCurve = [shape] dblLength = pCurve.Length
7. Type the variable dblLength in the text box directly under the length field name.
8. Click OK.

   Tip:The property length returns a field type of double. For best results, your length field should also be a double field type.

This text comes directly from the ArcGIS help window and can be reached by first locating "Fields in tables" in the index and then "calculating values".

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