Q: How do I merge two or more layers in ArcGIS?
Answer
Merging in ArcGIS takes the features of two or more layers (or two rasters) and creates one layer. An example of a situation where a merge would be appropriate could be if you have separate point layers representing hospital locations for Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and you want one layer of hospitals in New England.
- In ArcToolbox, open Data Management Tools > General > Merge.
- The input datasets are the layers you want to merge together.
- Choose where you want to store the merged dataset.
- The Field Map will populate the field names from the attribute tables of each layer. Field names that are common in more than one layer will automatically be matched if the names are the same. Here you can also remove fields that you do not want in the merged layer's attribute table.
- Click OK.
If you want to add a dataset into another (i.e. add rows in the attribute table), use the Append command.
Further Resources:
- ESRI: Merge (Data Management)
See Also
Created by MIT GIS Services. Email gishelp(at)mit.edu for more assistance.