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How can I duplicate (copy/paste) a non-spatial record into the same table in ArcMap? I can copy and paste to/from spatial tables, but there doesn't seem to be a way to do this in the attribute table of a non-spatial table (there's no paste button).

I need a way to copy and paste, as a common editing task (multiple times per minute). Maybe with one or two clicks, and no noticeable processing time. I would have thought I'd be able to copy and paste, just as I do with many other computer programs.

I am using ArcGIS Desktop 10.3.1.

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  • Here is a link explaining how to join and relate tables within ArcGIS. desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/10.3/manage-data/tables/…. – GBG Dec 7 '16 at 15:53
  • How does this help me copy and paste non-spatial records? – Wilson Dec 7 '16 at 22:25
  • Oh- I assumed the spatial data and the table were related. If not, why don't you just use Access or Excel on the table? If so, joining your non-spatial data to your spatial data will result in new columns in your spatial data with the values from the non-spatial data. Then you can use the field calculator to populate columns. – GBG Dec 8 '16 at 23:21
  • Highlight the row you want to copy, Control C. Click on empty row, control V. – Ben S Nadler Dec 25 '16 at 20:23
  • Nothing happens when I do this. Does this work for you in a non-spatial table? – Wilson Jan 2 '17 at 17:43
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I just tested this using ArcGIS Desktop 10.5 and to me it seems to be a software limitation.

I notice that the Help for Copying and pasting records in a table alludes to this limitation when it says:

This method of copying and pasting records is only valid for attribute tables of layers. It will not work for tables that have no associated features or tables in a database.

You could try to have this limitation lifted via ArcGIS Ideas where you could upvote Ability to edit standalone tables in ArcMap just as easily as feature classes.

You may also want to look for whether this functionality is already present in ArcGIS Pro.

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  • Thanks for your help. Will do. Strange, I don't see the equivalent to 'Copying and pasting records in a table' for ArcGIS Pro. That would be the only way I'd be able to check. – Wilson Jan 10 '17 at 18:54

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