DISSOLVE removes polygons that are adjacent to the universal polygon

Description

When using the Workstation DISSOLVE command on a polygon coverage, polygons that border the universal polygon are being removed.

Cause

The universal or outer boundary polygon is incorrectly coded with either a nonzero or nonblank item value for the the item(s) specified in the DISSOLVE command.

Solution or Workaround

• If the dissolve item is character, use the MOVE command in Tables to set the dissolve item value to <null> for the universal polygon.
  
  

  Arc: tables
  Tables: select soils.pat
  Tables: reselect $recno = 1
  1 Records Selected
  Tables: move '' to vegetation

  
  
• If the item is not character, use the CALCULATE command to set the dissolve item value to 0 for the universal polygon.
  
  

  Arc: tables
  Tables: select soils.pat
  Tables: reselect $recno = 1
  1 Records Selected
  Tables: calculate vegetation = 0