Copy and paste features

The Copy and Paste tools are used to duplicate features. You can create duplicate features to the same layer or a different layer of the same geometry type.

Two paste options are available:

• Paste allows you to paste features in the same layer. If one feature is copied, you can update the attributes for the pasted layer. If more than one feature is copied, the pasted features will preserve the attributes from the source features.
• Paste special allows you to paste features in the same layer or a different layer, and choose whether to preserve attributes. Pasting to a different layer is only available when one feature is copied.

Copy and paste within the same layer

You can copy and paste features within the same layer with or without their attributes.

Feature attributes are automatically pasted unless you specify not to preserve them.

Note:

Table records can be copied and pasted within the same layer with or without attributes.

Copy and paste with attributes

Copying and pasting within the same layer with attributes preserved is completed using Paste.

To copy and paste features with their attributes, complete the following steps:

1. Follow the steps to select one or more features.

   Bulk feature editing is not available when more than 200 features are selected.

2. To copy features, do one of the following:
   • On the general toolbar, click Copy .
   • Use the Ctrl+C shortcut for Windows or Command+C shortcut for Mac.
3. To paste features, do one of the following:
   • On the general toolbar, click Paste .
   • Use the Ctrl+V shortcut for Windows or Command+V shortcut for Mac.

   If you copied and pasted a single feature, the Create features pane appears showing the fields and attributes for the pasted feature.

   Note:

   You can alter the editing settings to hide the Create features pane in situations in which the fields have default values that do not need to be updated, allowing a more rapid copy and paste workflow.

   If you copied multiple features, skip to step 5. The features are pasted with the same attributes as the source feature. You can update attributes for the pasted features in the Attributes pane.

4. In the Create features pane, update the editable attributes if necessary and click Create.

   The new feature is created in the same layer and with the same geometry as the copied feature. Attributes from the copied feature are preserved unless changed in the Create features pane.

5. Move the new features to a new location on the map if necessary.

Copy and paste without attributes

Copying and pasting within the same layer without attributes preserved is completed using Paste special.

To copy and paste features without their attributes, complete the following steps:

1. Follow the steps to select one or more features.

   Bulk feature editing is not available when more than 200 features are selected.

2. To copy features, do one of the following:
   • On the general toolbar, click Copy .
   • Use the Ctrl+C shortcut for Windows or Command+C shortcut for Mac.
3. To paste features, do one of the following:
   • On the general toolbar, expand the Paste menu and choose Paste special.
   • Use the Ctrl+Alt+V shortcut for Windows or Command+Option+V shortcut for Mac.

   The Paste features pane appears.

4. Uncheck the Paste with attributes check box.
5. For Choose a type, verify that the source layer is chosen.
6. Click Paste.

   If you copied and pasted a single feature, the Create features pane appears showing the fields for the pasted feature. Attributes from the copied feature are not retained.

   If you copied multiple features, skip to step 8. The features are pasted without retaining attributes. You can update attributes for the pasted features in the Attributes pane.

7. In the Create features pane, update the editable attributes if necessary and click Create.

   The new feature is created in the same layer and with the same geometry as the copied feature.

8. Move the new features to a new location on the map if necessary.

Copy and paste to a different layer

Copying and pasting to a different layer is completed using Paste special. Pasting to a different layer is only available when one feature is copied. The target layer must be editable and share the same geometry as the copied feature.

To copy and paste a feature to a different layer, complete the following steps:

1. Follow the steps to select a feature.
2. To copy features, do one of the following:
   • On the general toolbar, click Copy .
   • Use the Ctrl+C shortcut for Windows or Command+C shortcut for Mac.
3. To paste features, do one of the following:
   • On the general toolbar, expand the Paste menu and choose Paste special.
   • Use the Ctrl+Alt+V shortcut for Windows or Command+Option+V shortcut for Mac.

   The Paste features pane appears.

4. Check or uncheck the Paste with attributes check box if necessary.
5. For Choose a type, click the target layer in which you want to paste the feature.

   If only the source layer is listed, your web map does not include other editable layers with the same geometry as the source layer. Update the editing permissions on the necessary layer or use Map Viewer to add an editable layer to the web map.

6. Click Paste.

   The Create features pane appears showing the fields and attributes for the copied feature, depending on the configuration in step 4.

7. In the Create features pane, update the editable attributes if necessary and click Create.

   The new feature is created in the chosen layer and with the same geometry as the copied feature.

8. Move the new features to a new location on the map if necessary.

Troubleshooting

If Copy or Paste are not available when you select or copy features, it may mean you cannot edit the layer or that there are no editable layers with the same geometry type in the web map where the features could be pasted. Contact the data owner to update the settings for the necessary layers to allow you to edit. Paste special may be available in some situations where Paste is not available.

Learn more about data access

Copy is not available in the following situations:

• You have selected features from a layer that you cannot edit, and there are no other layers with the same geometry type in which the features can be pasted.
• You have selected multiple features from different layers or with different geometries.
• You have selected features from a dependent layer in a relationship.

Paste is not available in the following situations:

• You have not copied any features yet.
• You cannot edit the copied layer.

Paste special is not available in the following situations:

• You have not copied any features yet.
• There are no other layers with the same geometry type in which the features can be pasted.
• You are pasting records from a Table layer.

Note:

When you use Paste special with attributes preserved, fields are matched automatically only if the source and target field types, and source and target field names are identical. Source attributes are not pasted for unmatched fields.

Related topics

Use the following resources to learn more:

• Edit attributes
• Move features