[GIS] How to copy features from a vector layer to another vector layer with only correspondent attributes in QGIS

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I have two vector layers:

A first one with all cadastral parcels of a region. This layer has several attributes, it's only the geometry and 3 of the attributes I'm intrested in.

My second layer is a selection of parcels from the same region. This layer has 7 attributes. The first 3 attributes are identical to 3 attributes from the first layer with all cadastral parcels. The 4 other attributes are filled in afterwards.

How can I copy a parcel from the first layer to the second one, only with the geometry and matching attributes in the right field of the attribute table?

Best Answer

When copying features from one layer to another, attributes are copied and pasted in the same order they appeared in the original attribute table. Attribute/column names are not considered.

This is how you could make it work:

Your original parcel layer should be restructured so that the the 3 attributes you care about are first in the attribute table.

If you then copy features from the original layer to the target layer, all attributes will still be copied but at least your attribute values of interest will end up in the correct columns. The rest can be deleted or written over.

Related Solutions

QGIS PostGIS – How to Create New PostGIS Table with Records and Geometries from Another Table

Data in geometry columns are independent from any other columns (what makes sense in terms of database design...) and are treated like any other data type.

You could use the following SQL to copy the data in your example:

    INSERT INTO parcels 
(parcel_addr, parcel_city, total_value, total_acres, land_use, county, geom)
      SELECT
        situs_addr
        , situs_city
        , cfmv_total
        , ttl_acres
        , land_use
        , 'jefferson'
        , geom
      FROM jefferson_parcels
    ;

See also this similar question on dba.stackexchange.com

QGIS – Copying Fields from One Layer to Another Explained

Duplicating the layer in QGIS Canvas does not mean creating a new shapefile in your hard disk (HDD), you are still referencing to the same shapefile in your HDD. To create a new shapefile you need to right-click -> Export -> Save feature as and create a new shapefile.

Before exporting to a new shapefile, you can uncheck the fields that you do not need and check the fields the you want to keep in the new shapefile

Best Answer

Related Solutions

QGIS PostGIS – How to Create New PostGIS Table with Records and Geometries from Another Table

QGIS – Copying Fields from One Layer to Another Explained

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