Joining Multiple Tables to the Same Input Table

Question

Hi ArcCommunity,

This question might be a basic one but it is an efficiency and data management issue I run into time and time again. For instance, I am running analysis on calculating different metrics for a given buffer zone and I want to join a bunch of different outputs back to the original buffer layer so they are spatially referenced.

Currently, I join fields to a new copy layer each time so then I end up with a bunch of layers each with 1 more field (or however many fields I joined) than the last layer.

I mean this workflow gets the job done, but if anyone has a more efficient workflow that does not involve making duplicate tables your expert input would be greatly appreciated!

From a young student of the game,

Evan

EvanShea · Answer

Ah yes that makes sense.

And therefore no new join can be made on a table that already has a join performed on it. So, would you say - only one join per table? How does one get around this without duplicating the table, or is that the best work around?

Evan

DanPatterson · Answer

"participating in a join" means that the table is either the source or destination table of the join... so a join has been made and the table in question is one of the two

EvanShea · Answer

Hey Dan,

Thanks for the message. Can we interpret that as "The table has already performed a join", or how do we interpret the use of the term "currently"?

Because in my case the table has indeed already performed a join, but does that mean it is currently participating in a join? Tricky terminology.

If you have thoughts let me know!

Evan