topic Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes in Data Management Questions

Combine two feature classes with different attributes

HeatherHerrmann2 — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 15:44:22 GMT

I have two point feature classes that I'd like to put into a single feature class while keeping all fields/attributes for both feature classes. I'm stumped after google'ing possibilities and digging through the toolboxes. I searched here too but didn't see my question.

Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes

JayantaPoddar — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 16:12:56 GMT

Did you try Merge—Help | ArcGIS Desktop .

All fields in the output dataset and the contents of those fields can be controlled using the Field Map control.

Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes

HeatherHerrmann2 — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 18:06:02 GMT

So I copied one feature class and pasted to the other. And it worked. Surprised.

Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes

JayantaPoddar — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 19:24:31 GMT

Did all the fields of the source layer get copied to the target layer?

Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes

JoeBorgione — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 20:10:54 GMT

So I copied one feature class and pasted to the other. And it worked. Surprised.

Me too. It may have copied the geometry, but give the attribute tables are different, a simple copy and paste couldn't have worked for them. Personally, I would create an empty feature class with an attribute table of what you really want/need and then use the simple data loader to load each original feature class into the new one, mapping attributes as you go.

Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes

HeatherHerrmann2 — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 21:33:37 GMT

Yes Jayanta, it did work.

Joe, between the two feature classes, I was able to copy from one to the other but not the opposite way around.

Basically, I had a table of addresses (We'll call it Table A) that I had X & Y values for that I easily generated 500+ points from. The attributes obviously remained the same. I had a second table of roughly 30 addresses (we'll call it Table B) that had no X & Y values. So I geocoded them and took care of the unmatched/tied addresses to get as many accurate points as I could. That process of course, generated extra fields. The table for this one also had a couple more fields than Table A prior to the geocoding.

My ultimate goal was simply to get all of the resulting points from both feature class A (from Table A) and feature class B (From Table B) into one feature class. It wasn't a concern if I ended up with all fields of both, included in the final output because I was just going to be using the points for a density map.

Initially, I tried to copy/paste from feature class B to feature class A. It didn't like that. So for grins, I tried to copy the opposite way around. I was able to do that successfully. Basically, all of the fields I had from feature class B, are empty for the features I copied from feature class A in the output. I'm still trying to figure out why it worked one way but not the other.

Thank you both for your replies.

Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes

JoeBorgione — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:14:33 GMT

Hmmm. I'm a little confused but just so long as you are happy:

I'd like to put into a single feature class while keeping all fields/attributes for both feature classes.

It wasn't a concern if I ended up with all fields of both, included in the final output because I was just going to be using the points for a density map.

----->Basically, all of the fields I had from feature class B, are empty for the features I copied from feature class A in the output.<-----

That's pretty much what I meant.....

Re: Combine two feature classes with different attributes

HeatherHerrmann2 — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 13:36:57 GMT

I didn't interpret it the same I guess. My apologies. I'm pretty new to doing things like this so terminology and such throw me off sometimes.

Thank you so much for your help though. Very much appreciated.