Copying Values to a New Field
This tutorial quickly demonstrates copying values from one field to another within an attribute table, by using the Calculate Field tool.
Included in this tutorial:
Replicating (copying) values from one attribute field to another, when calculating fields
Software version in examples: QGIS-LTR 3.40.5-Bratislava
Tutorial Data: The tutorial includes demonstration with sample data available here.
Credits: Sally Kaye and L. Meisterlin (2026)
Related Tutorials:
Replicating (copying) values from one attribute field to another, when calculating fields
First, access the Field Calculator through the Attributes Toolbar, in the Attribute Table, or in the Fields tab of the Layer Properties window. The Field Calculator will apply to whichever layer was selected when it was opened (in this example Tracts_wTable).
In this tutorial, we Create a new field and populate it in one step. You can also choose to Update existing field by clicking the checkbox and picking an existing field from the dropdown menu. (The demonstration briefly shows this option.)
TIP: The data type of the new field does not need to match the data type of the field with values to be copied.
This example demonstrates copying values from the Type_AB field to a new empty field called NewText in the Tracts_wTable layer. To do this, we:
Assign an output field name (NewText) and output field type (text string) to the new field.
Ensure the Expression tab is selected in the Field Calculator.
In the list of dropdowns next to the Expression box, open the Fields and Values menu. Double-click the field with value to replicate (in our example Type_AB).
Click OK to calculate the field.
Click Save edits in the attribute table to save the new calculation.
The chosen field name, within quotation marks, should appear in the Expression text box. The new field NewText will be calculated with copied values from the Type_AB field and is now visible in the attribute table.
copying values from an existing field into a new field