Equivalent of Simple Data Loader in Modelbuilder

Question

I have a model which processes a user specified polygon feature class InputFC, with the final result a dissolved (based on a user specified dissolve field D_FIELD) polygon feature class OutputFC. The model also creates a file geodatabase and an empty feature class called FinalFC using InputFC as a template (for the attribute schema).

If I were doing this manually, I would now load the data from OutputFC into FinalFC using the Simple Data Loader in ArcCatalog. Since they have the same table structure, ArcCatalog would automatically match D_FIELD in OutputFC to its matching D_FIELD in FinalFC and load the data into it. The rest of the attributes in FinalFC would be empty. Is this functionality available as a tool for ModelBuilder, or is there a better way to get the dissolved data into the correct table structure?

• Roy: What is the purpose of creating the blank FC template? Couldn't you just use the blank file geodatabase as the output for your dissolved feature class?
• Cindy Jayakumar: The dissolved output will only have the one field; I need it to have the same schema as the original input, even if I don't necessarily populate all the attributes with data.

Answer 1

I think the Append tool is what you're looking for. Just make sure the schema_type is set to 'TEST'.

• Cindy Jayakumar: This is what I was looking for! I had to set the schema_type to NO_TEST though, as I needed it to match my dissolve field to the final feature class. It worked as expected, with only the dissolve field populated and the other fields empty. Thanks!