Preserve Global IDs when using the Append tool in ArcGIS Pro

Summary

In ArcGIS Pro, the Append tool allows users to add new features or other data from multiple datasets to an existing dataset. Selecting the Preserve Global IDs option in the Append pane with data from a file geodatabase causes the tool to fail due to a known limitation. For more information, refer to BUG-000136371.

This article provides some alternatives to preserve the Global IDs when using the Append tool in ArcGIS Pro.

Procedure

Copy data from the file geodatabase to the enterprise geodatabase

Note:
An enterprise geodatabase is required before copying the data from the file geodatabase to the enterprise geodatabase. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Create Enterprise Geodatabase (Data Management) and ArcGIS Pro: Enable Enterprise Geodatabase (Data Management) for information.

In ArcGIS Pro, in the Catalog pane, right-click the desired item to copy and paste it into the enterprise geodatabase before using the Append tool.

Create new GUID fields

Note:
All features are required to be added to the map before performing the workflow. Alternatively, repeat Steps 2 to 3 and 5 to 11 for every new feature added to the map.

1. In ArcGIS Pro, open the attribute table of the input dataset, and click the Add Field icon to add a new GUID field.
2. Right-click the new GUID field, and click Calculate Field.
3. In the Calculate Field window, select the original GlobalID. Click Apply > OK.

4. Repeat Steps 1 to 3 in the attribute table of the target dataset.
5. In the Contents pane, right-click the target dataset, and click Data > Export Features. In this example, Schools is the target dataset.
6. Edit the Output Feature Class parameter, and expand Fields to remove the original GlobalID field under Field Map. Click OK.

7. In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and select Add Attribute Index (Data Management Tools) to add an attribute index to the GUID field of the newly exported feature class from Step 6.
8. In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and select Append (Data Management Tools).
9. Select the original input dataset for Input Datasets and the exported feature class for Target Dataset. In this example, PreSchools and Schools_ExportFeatures are selected.
10. Select the Use the field map to reconcile field differences option under Field Matching Type and edit the Field Map parameter if required. In this example, the GUID field is set.
11. Click the Environments tab, and check Preserve Global IDs. Click Run.