I (almost) never make a layer the only selectable layer. I just rightclick a layer > Select > Select All (or Select Visible Features) > Copy > Paste Special > choose the target layer in the dropdown at the Paste Special window > OK > Save. If the Paste Special is not active while I know that I'm trying to copy one or more features from a source layer to a target layer where source and target are of the same featuretype (both point or line or polygon), I expect it to be some kind of a bug, as if ArcGIS lost track on something (or busy with some unexpected and unknown process(es)). In those cases I offen get the Paste Special correct working again just by closing the Map and (from the Catalog pane) reopening it.
Thanks for the video. Its amazing how something that simple can be so un-intuitive. Thank you ESRI!
I (almost) never make a layer the only selectable layer.
I just rightclick a layer > Select > Select All (or Select Visible Features) > Copy > Paste Special > choose the target layer in the dropdown at the Paste Special window > OK > Save.
If the Paste Special is not active while I know that I'm trying to copy one or more features from a source layer to a target layer where source and target are of the same featuretype (both point or line or polygon), I expect it to be some kind of a bug, as if ArcGIS lost track on something (or busy with some unexpected and unknown process(es)).
In those cases I offen get the Paste Special correct working again just by closing the Map and (from the Catalog pane) reopening it.
That is definitely another way to do it. Lots of options!