ArcGIS Server Banner

Exporting selected features and records in ArcMap

Exporting selected features and records in ArcMap
Release 9.3 E-mail This TopicPrintable VersionGive Us feedback

About exporting selected features and records

In ArcMap, you can select features or records using any selection method, such as selecting features by dragging a box around them or by specifying an attribute query. You can then export them to a new feature class or table using either the Extract Data wizard or the Export Data command.

If you want to export dependent data with the features or records, as Copy and Paste does, use the Extract Data wizard. Because it can export data from any layer or table in the ArcMap document, it also allows you to export from several feature classes at the same time.

If you are exporting to a file or ArcSDE geodatabase, the Extract Data wizard does not allow you to specify a configuration keyword. One way to get around this would be to use Extract Data, then copy and paste the new data to specify one or more configuration keywords.

If you want to export selected features or records from a single feature class or table, you can use the Export Data command. Unlike the Extract Data wizard, it exports attributes and records only, without any dependent data. For example, if you export features from a feature class that uses a domain or has linked annotation, the domain or annotation does not export with the features. Export Data does preserve field properties though, such as the alias, whether to allow null values, and the default value.

If you are exporting to a file or ArcSDE geodatabase, the Export Data command doesn’t allow you to specify a configuration keyword. So if you want to control how the new feature class or table is created and stored, use the Feature Class To Feature Class or Table To Table tool. They export data the same way Export Data does, but they allow you to specify a configuration keyword.

How to export selected features and records

Exporting selected features with the Extract Data wizard

  1. In ArcMap, click View, point to Toolbars, then click Distributed Geodatabase.

    2. The Distributed Geodatabase toolbar will appear on your map document.

  2. Specify the features you want to export by setting the current view extent to include them, drawing a graphic around them, selecting the features, or applying a definition query.

    3. Or, you can specify the bounding coordinate values later in the wizard.

    If you use more than one of these methods, the features in common will export.

  3. Click the Extract Data command.

  4. If in step 2 you specified features from more than one geodatabase, click the geodatabase containing the data you want to export and click Next.

  5. Click Data.

  6. Specify the destination geodatabase or type the path and name of a new geodatabase you want to create.

  7. Check the Show advanced options check box and click Next. To accept the defaults, leave the check box empty, click Next, and proceed to step 11.

  8. Specify the method you chose in step 2.

  9. The list of data to export expands to include all the data in any feature dataset and any related data. For example, if you selected features from just one feature class in a feature dataset, all feature classes in the feature dataset are listed.

    10. Uncheck a box if there is a feature class or table you don't want to export. You can also override selections, queries, and spatial extents.

  10. Click Next.

  11. Choose a post-data extraction option.

  12. Click Finish.

Exporting selected features with the Export Data command

  1. In ArcMap, select features using any selection method.

  2. Right-click the layer that contains the selected features, point to Data, and click Export Data.

  3. Click the Export drop-down arrow and click Selected Features.

  4. Click Use the same coordinate system as this layer’s data source.

  5. Click the Browse button and navigate to the existing geodatabase to which you will export.

  6. Type the name for the new feature class you will create.

  7. Click the Save as type drop-down arrow and choose the output type.

  8. Click Save.

  9. Click OK.

Exporting selected records from a table

  1. In the ArcMap table of contents, right-click a table and click Open.

  2. Select records using any selection method.

  3. Click Options and click Export.

  4. Click the Export drop-down arrow and click Selected Records.

  5. Click the Browse button.

  6. Click the Save as type drop-down arrow and click the type of table you want to export to.

  7. Navigate to the existing geodatabase you want to export to.

  8. Type a name for the new table you will create.

  9. Click Save.

  10. Click OK.