Importing symbology from another layer
You can import layer symbology in ArcMap by clicking the Import button on the Symbology tab of the Layer Properties dialog box.
![]() |
You can import symbology from three sources:
- An ArcGIS layer file (.lyr)
- A layer in the current map document
- An ArcView 3 legend file (.avl)
Steps:
- Right-click the layer for which you want to import symbology in the ArcMap table of contents and click Properties to open the Layer Properties dialog box.
- Click the Symbology tab.
- Click the Import button.
- Select an option to import symbology—Import symbology definition from another layer in the map or from a layer file or Import symbology definition from an ArcView 3 legend file(*.avl).
-
Specify where the symbology is being imported from. Choose the layer from the Layer drop-down list to import from another layer on your map or click the Browse button
, then navigate to the layer file or legend file from which to import symbols.
- Click OK to close the Import Symbology dialog box.
- You can reuse any type of ArcGIS layer and symbology by copying a layer file, pasting it into your data frame, and changing the data source for the new layer. Also, remember to rename your new layer.
- Certain symbology types cannot be imported, including
- Raster symbology
- Proportional symbols
- Chart symbology
- Dot density symbology
- Quantity by Category symbology
Optionally, and if enabled, you can choose to import the complete symbology definition, the symbols only, or the classification only.

8/2/2012