Thanks Duncan,
I have checked the help files and merging two feature datasets is relatively straight forward, but I want to acheive in a tool or batch process the merging of attributes within the same dataset, as if you would in an editing session "merge command (Editor Toolbar)". Similar to dissolve, I guess, but I want to end up, if applicable to the case at hand, a multipart polygon, which may end up being made up of several to several hundred polygons, but the resulting polygon needs to only have a single row entry.
Rory