Can I export features for use outside the current layer?

Suppose you have experimented with several alternatives, settled on one, then you want to work with the features outside of the current layer.  You can export the selected features to a new shapefile or geodatabase feature class using the ArcMap Export Data function.  You can also use this function to create a new layer that only contains the selected features.

Exporting selected features to a new data source

1. Select features using any selection method (interactively, according to location, or by attribute).

2. Right-click the layer that contains the selected features, point to Data on the pop-up menu, and click Export Data.

3. Click the Export drop-down list and click Selected Features.

4. Click the Use the same Coordinate System as this layer's source data radio button.

5. Click the Browse button  and navigate to a location to save the exported data.

6. Type the name for the output data source.

7. Click the Save as type drop-down list and select the output type.

8. Click Save.

9. Click OK.

Creating a new layer from the selected features

1. Select features in a layer using any ArcMap selection method.

2. In the table of contents, right-click the layer, point to Selection on the pop-up menu, and click Create Layer From Selected Features. The new layer is added to the map.

For more information, see ArcMap Help.