topic Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy in Python Questions

Merging features in feature class with arcpy

ThomasBlankinship — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 20:43:15 GMT

I need to merge all polygon features in a given feature class into a single polygon. The intended functionality is similar to the "Merge" tool under the Edit->Tools tab. The Merge_management tool takes feature classes as an input and I cannot find documentation on the difference/command for this "Edit->Merge."

I figure I will have to iterate through my feature class using a search cursor and use the dissolve tool to merge the features. I have tried iterations of the following to no avail:

with ap.da.SearchCursor(feature_class, "*") as cursor:
    feature_list = []
    for row in cursor:
        feature_list.append(row)
    ap.Dissolve_management(feature_list, out_feature_class, {dissolve_field},{statistics_fields}, {multi_part}, {unsplit_lines})‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

My question is what do I use as my in_features (first field in ap.Dissolve_management)? How do I pass the features into the ap.Dissolve_management function?

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

Jeremy_Moore — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 20:43:18 GMT

In ArcGIS Pro you can access the Merge tool from the edit ribbon and Merge will be under the tools section.

You can also access the merge tool in arcpy from arcpy.Merge_Management() and the documentation can be found here :https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/tool-reference/data-management/merge.htm

If this is a one off process and not being incorporated into a automated workflow it would probably be easier just to do it in ArcGIS Pro.

If you still want to do it within python let us know. I can give you a hand with the dissolve tool or the merge tool. Which ever fits the bill

EDIT:

From the documentation it looks like you do not have to iterate through a feature inside of a feature class to get dissolve to work. It's documentation is here:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/tool-reference/data-management/dissolve.htm

So your code should look something like this:

import arcpy as ap

ap.env.workspace = r"Path To Your Featureclass"
feature_name = "The name of the feature to dissolve all polygons into one"

ap.Dissolve_management(feature_name, out_feature_class, {dissolve_field}, {statistics_fields}, {multi_part}, {unsplit_lines})‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

ThomasBlankinship — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 04:30:34 GMT

Thank you a ton! The documentation confused me, but that works exactly as I wanted.

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

Jeremy_Moore — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 15:41:03 GMT

You're very welcome

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

JTBatSLO — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 17:41:51 GMT

Greetings Jeremy,

As best I can tell, the arcpy.Merge_Management() gp tool does not function the same as the "esri_editing_MergeFeatures" tool available from the ribbon, in that the gp tool will not permit features to be merged within the originating feature class.

Is there any way to Merge features as one might do from the Modify Features pane in ArcGIS Pro, but programmatically from a stand-alone Python script?

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

mgeguner — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:15:27 GMT

were you able to do this

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

wolfvincent — Wed, 03 May 2023 07:27:56 GMT

Same question here ^^

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

Koeller_Christine_A_-_DOT — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:12:31 GMT

Any updates on this?

As best I can tell, the arcpy.Merge_Management() gp tool does not function the same as the "esri_editing_MergeFeatures" tool available from the ribbon, in that the gp tool will not permit features to be merged within the originating feature class.

Is there any way to Merge features as one might do from the Modify Features pane in ArcGIS Pro, but programmatically from a stand-alone Python script?

Re: Merging features in feature class with arcpy

TobiSellekaerts — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:54:39 GMT

Jumping in with the same question.