The Copy and Paste tools are used to duplicate features. You can create duplicate features in the same layer or a different layer of the same geometry type.
The following paste options are available:
- Paste—Paste features in the same layer and preserve the attributes from the source features.
- Paste special—Paste features in the same layer or a different layer and choose whether to preserve attributes.
Note:
Preserving attributes means you are pasting the attributes from the original feature that have matching fields into the target feature.
Copy and paste
You can use Copy and Paste to duplicate features within the same layer. Feature attributes are automatically preserved.
Note:
Table records can be copied and pasted within the same layer with or without attributes.
To copy and paste features with their attributes, complete the following steps:
- Follow the steps to select one or more features in the same layer.
Note:
Bulk feature editing is not available when more than 200 features are selected.
- Click Copy
. - Click Paste
.The new features are created in the same layer and with the same geometry as the copied features. Attributes from the copied features are preserved.
- Optionally, move the new features to a new location on the map.
Copy and paste special
You can use Paste special to paste features without attributes or paste to a different layer.
Note:
The target layer must be editable and share the same geometry as the copied features.
To copy and paste special, complete the following steps:
- Follow the steps to select one or more features.
Note:
Bulk feature editing is not available when more than 200 features are selected.
- Click Copy .
- On the general toolbar, expand the Paste menu , and choose Paste special.
The Paste pane appears.
- Optionally, check or uncheck the Paste with attributes check box.
- Optionally, click Clipboard
to view and delete any copied features. - Choose the target layer where you want to paste the features.
If only the source layer is listed, the 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.
- Click Next.
The Paste pane appears showing the fields and attributes for the copied features, depending on the layer configuration.
- In the Paste pane, update the editable attributes if necessary, and click Paste.
The new features are created in the chosen layer and with the same geometry as the copied features.
- Optionally, move the new features to a new location on the map.
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. The Paste special option may be available in some situations when Paste is not available.
The Copy option is not available in the following situations:
- You selected features from a layer that you cannot edit, and there are no other layers with the same geometry type where the features can be pasted.
- You selected multiple features from different layers or with different geometries.
- You selected features from a dependent layer in a relationship.
Note:
Copying attachments is not supported in Web Editor.
The Paste option is not available in the following situations:
- You have not copied any features yet.
- You cannot edit the copied layer.
The Paste special option is not available in the following situations:
- You have not copied any features yet.
- There are no other layers with the same geometry type where 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. The target field must have a length limit that is equal to or greater than the source field's length limit.
Note:
Group and preset templates are not supported with Paste special.
Resources
Use the following resources to learn more: