[GIS] How to edit an existing ArcGIS .lyr file

Question

I have downloaded a layer file. The layer names are long, and I want to change these to approved abbreviations, for ease of data input. For instance, the layer file values look like this:

A1.1.1 Broadleaved woodland – natural.

A1.1.2 Broadleaved woodland – plantation

I want my students just to be able to use A1.1.1, A1.1.2 etc as the values. Is there a way of editing these files?

Answer 1

if you are in ArcMAP, right click on the layer, select properties, select the GENERAL tab, and change the layer name. Then save as .lyr file overwriting previous one.