About exporting selected features and records

In ArcMap, you can select features or records using any selection method, such as selecting features by dragging a box around them or by specifying an attribute query. You can then export them to a new feature class or table using either the Extract Data wizard or the Export Data command.

If you want to export dependent data with the features or records, as Copy and Paste does, use the Extract Data wizard. Because it can export data from any layer or table in the ArcMap document, it also allows you to export from several feature classes at the same time.

If you are exporting to a file or ArcSDE geodatabase, the Extract Data wizard does not allow you to specify a configuration keyword. One way to get around this would be to use Extract Data, then copy and paste the new data to specify one or more configuration keywords.

If you want to export selected features or records from a single feature class or table, you can use the Export Data command. Unlike the Extract Data wizard, it exports attributes and records only, without any dependent data. For example, if you export features from a feature class that uses a domain or has linked annotation, the domain or annotation does not export with the features. Export Data does preserve field properties though, such as the alias, whether to allow null values, and the default value.

If you are exporting to a file or ArcSDE geodatabase, the Export Data command doesn’t allow you to specify a configuration keyword. So if you want to control how the new feature class or table is created and stored, use the Feature Class To Feature Class or Importing tables tool. They export data the same way Export Data does, but they allow you to specify a configuration keyword.