I'm back still trying to learn, I have a shape file with polygons with labels like A3, B3, A2, D4
what I want to do is join all that has an A into a polygon, ones that has B into a polygon, ones that has
3 into a polygon ,,, you get the idea... any help would be greatful
you had a pattern until you said '3' so which group does 'A3' go into? and do you want them to become multipart shapes? or just symbolize them? just a new classification in the attributes table.
The game plan clarification might help to provide useful suggestions
We don't know what you want to do, but I think that you want this tools
Dissolve tool . Dissolve—Help | ArcGIS Desktop
But before use this tool, Add a new field and field calculator with Left ([field name],1 ), to get the first letter of the Field A, B , C ,, etc.
or calculate with Right ([field name],1) , to get the number in the last of field.
that is according to the group that you want ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) or ( A , B , C)