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Copying Features to another layer; only one target is available, why?

JonSymoniak

Trying to copy selected features from one layer and paste into another layer. When doing this, i follow the proper steps: 1. go in edit mode of item trying to copy. 2. select features i wish to copy. 3. click the copy button. 4. click the paste button. At this point the only layer i am able to copy to is the same layer that i'm in. I have many more layers available with my map, why am i unable to select a different layer. My coordinate zones match and there is no errors occurring. see attached...

trying to add some data that i exported as a .shp from Civil 3d and add it to my water main layer in arc-map. this is the only layer that is available and that is the layer i brought it in on from civil 3d, i need to copy to my Water Mains layer.

THANKS IN ADVANCE

Arcmap 10.3

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RichardFairhurst

The proper procedure is wrong in step 1. You should start an edit session on the target feature class, not on the source shapefile.

You can select features from any workspace as the set of features to copy with the copy button, but you can only paste to shapefiles/feature classes in the workspace/geodatabase target that you have started editing.

In addition, both the source and target shapefile(s)/feature class(es) must be checked/visible in the Table of Contents and both layers' features must be selectable. Also, if the target feature class is in sde you must have edit privileges for that layer granted by the sde administrator, and you need to know whether the sde feature class is versioned or unversioned and match that setting in the Editor options before you start editing. You should also avoid placing a definition query on the target feature class.

Other requirements include that you should only have selected features from one shapefile/feature class which has the same geometry type as the target shapefile/feature class.

AbdullahAnter

What layers will show up when I paste copied features ?

1- the layers that have same path (same folder for shapefile / same geodatabase for features class)

2-the layers that have same geometry type of copied features (point / line / polygon).

3-the layers that checked on in TOC .

Robert LeClair

Use 'Paste special' to paste the copied features into a different layer:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/help/editing/copy-and-paste-using-the-clipboard.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_46FF88DD4EC54E6485C123977A5235FD

NinaRihn

You say in your question that you start editing the feature you want to copy. You actually need to be editing on the feature class you want to copy INTO.... the layers with the same feature type (e.g. line) that are in the same workspace as the TO feature class will show up as layers you can paste into.

JonSymoniak

Advanced

ChristopherMcClain

What version of ArcMap are you using basic, Standard, or Advanced?

shan_sarkar

Jon,

If you are using a shapefile as your source file and a feature class as your target it definitely is not the same workspace. From what I understand, you are creating this source shapefile from a .dwg file and are attempting to bring in the data into your target feature class.

Assuming what I have mentioned is correct, I would request you to confirm if both the source and target have same field name and data types and same geometry and projection system. If they are the same, you can simply use the load option from the context menu of the feature class to add the data from the shapefile to your feature class without even opening ArcMap.

I am sharing few help links which should help you out:

Loading data in the Catalog tree—ArcGIS Help | ArcGIS Desktop

In case this is not what you are trying please let me know.

Regards,

~Shan

JonSymoniak

I just attempted doing that and it does not copy, everything looks like it went through with no errors, the lines do not copy over though. I'm probably just misunderstanding something. I created a test for myself with two shapefiles water and sewer from CAD and it worked fine. I had hopes it would work in it's actual environment as well but I'm starting to think it will not work.

NeilAyres

Have you tried just appending your new data into the geodatabase Fc?

Append—Help | ArcGIS Desktop

JonSymoniak

The file that i'm trying to copy over is a shape file. The layer I'm copying to is a geodatabase. Not sure if they are in the same editing work space, i believe yes. I'm pretty new to this stuff. I'm trying to just streamline importing as-built data. We currently bring in a .dwg and trace over the line work. I thought creating a shape-file from that line work, bringing it into arc map and copying it to the correct layer would be a lot faster... that is if i could figure out how to copy it over.

I tried it both ways, with that as the only selectable layer and not. Going from Water 2 (at top) trying to copy to Water Mains (the red one)

shan_sarkar

Hi Jon,

Are you using all layers as shapefiles? In case you are using shapefiles are the shapefiles residing in the same editing workspace?

Have you enabled "Make only selectable layer" option?

Regards,

~Shan

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