Exporting After Join

Question

I am using Arcmap 10.5 and I have a table stored in a geodatabase so a Geodatabase table with 15 500 000 rows and 8 columns. I joined to this table data from the attribute table of several shapefiles having a common field with the table using the "Add joint" tool. To keep the joins permanent with the original table, I tried to export the table. My problem is that the export process starts but never finishes. I thought it was the number of rows that was the problem but without the joins when I try to re-export the original table under another name it takes 10 minutes. I think that the table refuses to be exported with the joins and I don't understand where the problem is.

DudleyMcFadden · Answer

Have you created indices on the attributes participating in the join?  (ArcToolbox, Data Management Tools, Indexes, Add Attribute Index).  I don't think shapefiles and file geodatabases support multiple indices directly, but it still might help.

JoeBorgione · Answer

How many more columns are appended to the table with the join?  And are you really using shapefiles?  Is there a particular reason you cannot use a relationship class rather than a permenant join?

DavidPike · Answer

I would definitely try exporting the shapefiles to Feature Classes initially, joining again then exporting to a feature class.