--- title: Joining data by attributes description: The join attributes feature enables users to join a file to an existing data layer based on a shared attribute, meaning information across different datasets can be easily combined in Podaris --- [Skip to content](https://support.podaris.com/joining-data-by-attributes#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![podaris\_logo\_png.png\]](https://support.podaris.com/hs-fs/hubfs/podaris_logo_png.png?height=50&name=podaris_logo_png.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Go to podaris.com](https://podaris.com/) [Go to podaris.com](https://podaris.com/) Podaris Support Centre - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://support.podaris.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Planning & Engineering](https://support.podaris.com/planning-engineering?hsLang=en) 3. [Datasets](https://support.podaris.com/planning-engineering?hsLang=en#datasets) # Joining data by attributes ## The join attributes feature enables users to join a file to an existing data layer based on a shared attribute, meaning information across different datasets can be easily combined in Podaris ### Why might I want to join datasets? It is common when working with datasets to find that the geometries and attributes relating to a particular dataset are provided separately. A typical example might be a shapefile of 2021 Census Output Areas, and a separate csv file containing information about population numbers and density in each of the Outputs Areas. In instances like these it is useful to be able to join data together, so that information across different datasets can be combined based on shared attributes. ### What is the join attributes feature? The ‘join attributes’ feature makes joining datasets possible by enabling users to join a file to an existing layer based on a shared attribute. To read more about how to import dataset layers in Podaris, see [here](https://support.podaris.com/datasets?hsLang=en). ### How do I join data by attributes in Podaris? #### Step by Step 1. Locate the dataset you want to join data to in the [datasets layer](https://support.podaris.com/layers-panel?hsLang=en) 2. Click the join attributes button ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdIZv9q6atGn0QoLw8l3DwmbsG3YLVlB81g_r3imUV56MHgfjuqClGbThr8l0P3RXUdCO0Du3pe3HUwwJLyGhNSlUSpzWzeZn1c_EBFlh4yPDDyXuJa1MfEStkILj9cocfXooRGzJdXdIOfCFsorw0oohZ5?key=iEDcWh-8F6IP0ro_YE96yQ) next to this data layer 3. Import the file you wish to join to this data layer ![File Upload](https://support.podaris.com/hs-fs/hubfs/File%20Upload.png?width=440&height=215&name=File%20Upload.png) 4. Select the attributes you want to include and for each attribute set the attribute type to either String, Number or Boolean ![Import Dataset](https://support.podaris.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Import%20Dataset.png?width=519&height=173&name=Import%20Dataset.png) 5. Select the attribute you wish to join the two datasets on (ie. the attribute in the existing dataset that matches the attribute in the new dataset) and click import ![Link Attributes](https://support.podaris.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Link%20Attributes.png?width=522&height=138&name=Link%20Attributes.png) 6. The attributes in the new dataset will now be joined to the existing dataset. You can view them using the [select tool](https://support.podaris.com/select-tool?hsLang=en)- by selecting a point in your dataset on the map all attributes for that point will be displayed in the [tool properties panel](https://support.podaris.com/tool-properties?hsLang=en) ![Outputted joined attributes](https://support.podaris.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Outputted%20joined%20attributes.png?width=624&height=351&name=Outputted%20joined%20attributes.png) An example of these steps being carried out to join Local Authority District (LAD) population estimates in csv form to their respective LAD in Podaris is shown below. ![gnA2hIj](https://support.podaris.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gnA2hIj.gif?width=688&height=386&name=gnA2hIj.gif)   - [Welcome](https://support.podaris.com/welcome?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Introduction](https://support.podaris.com/welcome?hsLang=en#introduction) - [Getting Started](https://support.podaris.com/welcome?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Key Concepts](https://support.podaris.com/welcome?hsLang=en#key-concepts) - 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