Error: The import geometry type does not match destination geometry type

Article ID:	22484
Software:	ArcGIS - ArcEditor 8.1, 8.1.2, 8.2, 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 ArcGIS - ArcInfo 8.0.2, 8.1, 8.1.2, 8.2, 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 ArcGIS - ArcView 8.1, 8.1.2, 8.2, 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3
Platforms:	Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP

Error Message

This error message occurs when you attempt to import layer symbology into ArcMap:

"The import geometry type does not match destination geometry type"

Cause

This message means that the .lyr file selected has a different geometry type than the current layer. You can only import symbology from a .lyr file of the same geometry type. For example, for a polygon layer you can only import symbology from a polygon.lyr file.

This message may also appear if you try to import symbology from a .lyr file with a broken data path. You cannot import symbology from .lyr files with broken data paths.

Solution or Workaround

Open ArcCatalog and browse to the location of the .lyr file.
Double-click on the .lyr file to open the Layer Properties dialog box.
Select the Source tab.
Click Set Data Source and browse to the correct data source.
Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box.
Open ArcMap.
You will now be able to import symbology from the .lyr file.
For more information on absolute and relative paths, please see the "Referencing data in the map" topic in the ArcGIS Desktop Help > Contents tab > ArcMap > Creating Maps > Referencing data in the map.

Related Information

Repairing a layer in ArcMap does not restore joins and relates
When repairing a layer with a broken link, joins and relates that were defined for that layer are not repaired.
Save an ArcMap map document to a CD preserving the paths to the data
Instructions provided describe how to save ArcMap map documents on a CD while maintaining the data source paths.

Created: 5/13/2002
Last Modified: 9/11/2008