topic Re: How do I select attributes from multiple records in a Table? in Data Management Questions

How do I select attributes from multiple records in a Table?

WalterWitt — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 00:35:29 GMT

I am correcting a Table created from an Excel spreadsheet that has attributes for about half the records switched into the wrong column. I am laboriously copying and pasting the incorrect attributes for each record, one by one. Is there no way I can select attributes from multiple records so the cut and paste process can be speeded up?

Re: How do I select attributes from multiple records in a Table?

JakeSkinner — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 12:04:05 GMT

Hi Walter,

Instead of copying/pasting, you should perform the following:

1. Select all the incorrect rows

2. Right-click on the field that needs to be updated > Field Calculator

3. Set the field calculator to the field in which you wish to copy the values from

Re: How do I select attributes from multiple records in a Table?

WalterWitt — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 01:33:45 GMT

Thanks for the tip, Jake. I haven’t used Field Calculater before. I do wish though that it could be simpler (like in Excel)

Cheers

Walter

Re: How do I select attributes from multiple records in a Table?

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Sun, 29 Nov 2015 16:03:52 GMT

Walter, Jake's answer definitely answers your question, but you may want to go back to your Excel document, which I assume was the source, to see if you can figure out the reason for the shift. Chances are it is a formatting issue, such as having a comma or quote within a field, that is causing data to skip to the next field.

what process did you use? Direct from Excel or thru a .csv format....thru a tool or copy-paste? One of these help topics may help:

Understanding how to use Microsoft Excel files in ArcGIS—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Formatting a table in Microsoft Excel for use in ArcGIS—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

An overview of the Excel toolset—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Adding a Microsoft Excel table to ArcMap—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Table To Excel—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop