topic Re: Replacing geometry of multiple features in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Replacing geometry of multiple features

SrinijaKonduru — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:57:18 GMT

I am using ArcGIS Pro, and I have 2 feature layers of polygon type that have a couple similar fields. One layer has the right shape geometry, but the other layer has the right information. How do I replace the geometry of all the fields that have the right information with that of the right geometry. The Replace Geometry and Transfer attributes functions work for one shape at a time. I have thousands to work with, so help me out please.

Re: Replacing geometry of multiple features

CalvinHarmin — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:01:47 GMT

There's a method to do this with python and UpdateCursor, since you can read/write the special SHAPE@ geometry 'field' like you would for other attribute fields.

You will need a unique ID or other value to positively match features from one feature class to the other to transfer the SHAPE. Do you have a such an attribute in each feature class?

The python workflow would be something like this:

import arcpy

# Define the paths to your feature classes
source_fc = "path_to_source_feature_class"
target_fc = "path_to_target_feature_class"

# Define the fields
unique_id_field = "your_unique_id_field" # This is the common unique ID field
geometry_field = "SHAPE@" # For accessing geometries

# Create a dictionary from the source feature class
geometry_dict = {}

# Use a SearchCursor to populate the dictionary with geometries from the source_fc
with arcpy.da.SearchCursor(source_fc, [unique_id_field, geometry_field]) as search_cursor:
for row in search_cursor:
unique_id = row[0]
geometry = row[1]
geometry_dict[unique_id] = geometry

# Use an UpdateCursor to update the geometries in the target_fc
with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(target_fc, [unique_id_field, geometry_field]) as update_cursor:
for row in update_cursor:
unique_id = row[0]

if unique_id in geometry_dict:
# Update the geometry in the target_fc if the unique ID matches
row[1] = geometry_dict[unique_id]
update_cursor.updateRow(row)

Re: Replacing geometry of multiple features

RyanUthoff — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 14:33:01 GMT

Do you have a unique key between the two layers? Perhaps you could do a join by attribute between the two layers and transfer your attributes that way? Once you've done the join, you'd just use the calculate field tool to transfer the attributes. I don't think you'll be able to transfer the geometry that way though, so you'd need to transfer the attributes over to the layer that has the correct geometry.

Re: Replacing geometry of multiple features

SrinijaKonduru — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:55:46 GMT

This worked, thank you!