Get started editing

The following sections introduce fundamental concepts and a basic workflow to get started with editing. For detailed steps to use a specific tool, browse the table of contents or search the help by typing a keyword or phrase.

By default, an edit session is automatically started when you modify existing data or create data. The edit session stops when you save or discard your edits.

Open the project

Open the project containing the features you want to create or edit. If you don't have an existing project, create a project and create the feature classes in the default geodatabase, or start without a project template and save your work later.

1. Start ArcGIS AllSource and sign in if necessary.
2. On the start page, do one of the following:
   • To open an existing project, click a recent project , or click Browse and browse to the project.
   • To create a project, click Open to open the map project template.
   • To start a new untitled project and save it later, click Open .

   Note:

   When you open a project on a portal connection , the project package (.ppkx) is downloaded and unpacked in the <User Documents>\ArcGIS\OnlineProjects folder. When you close the project, the unpacked project file (.asrx) appears in the recent projects list.

Open the map and add data

Open the map containing the features you are editing. If the map doesn't contain layers, add them. A feature template with default settings is automatically generated for new layers.

1. On the ribbon, click the View tab, and in the Panes group, click Catalog Pane .

   Tip:

   To open all panes related to editing, click Reset Panes , and choose Reset Panes for editing.

2. In the Catalog pane, right-click the map containing the features you are editing, and click Map View .
   • If the map doesn't exist, on the Map tab, in the Insert group, click New Map .
3. If the current map doesn't contain the layers you are editing, add them.
   1. In the Catalog pane , click Database Folder .
   2. Expand the database containing the data or the default database where you are creating the feature classes.
   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is automatically generated for the new layer.

4. Create a feature class.
   1. Expand and right-click the database, click New and click Polygon feature class .
   2. Type a name for the feature class.
   3. Click the Feature Class Type drop-down arrow and choose the feature geometry you are creating.

      

   4. Click Next and add fields for the attributes you want to record with each feature.
   5. Click Next and choose a coordinate system.
   6. Click Finish.

      The new feature class is added as a layer to the map and contains no features until you create them.

Update the metadata

Metadata is descriptive information about data, such as when and how it was recorded, contributors, use limitations, and so on. It is searchable in the Catalog pane and can help others find your data and assess the appropriateness of using it with their work.

1. In the Catalog pane, right-click the feature class, and click Edit .
2. In the Metadata view, type the appropriate information in the required fields.
3. On the Metadata tab, in the Manage Metadata group, click Save Edits .
4. On the Metadata view tab, click Delete .

Symbolize the layer

Symbolizing a feature layer configures it to draw features using a specific symbol. Creating a feature class and adding it to a map automatically generates a default symbol. The symbol also appears in the Create Features pane for templates that create features on the layer.

1. On the View tab, in the Panes group, click Contents .
2. In the Contents pane, click a layer.
3. Right-click the layer and click Symbology to open the Symbology pane and change the symbology.

   Tip:

   This command is also available on the Appearance tab.

   

Create features

In the Create Features pane, feature templates contain the primary tools you can use to create features. Adding a feature layer to a map automatically generates a feature template with default settings. Click a template to show its tool palette.

1. On the Edit tab, choose the snapping preferences, and show the Create Features pane.
   1. In the Features group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.
   2. In the Features group, click Create .

      Tip:

      To open all panes related to editing, on the View tab, in the Panes group, click Reset Panes , and choose Reset Panes for Editing.

2. In the Create Features pane click a feature template.

   Note:

   Warning icons appear with templates that create nonvisible features for reasons that may include mismatched scale range settings, missing symbology attribute values, a failed definition query, and so on.

   

3. Click the Active Template button and type the attribute values to apply to the feature.

   Tip:

   To save the attribute values with the template and reuse them the next time you use the template, click the menu button , and click Properties .

   

4. Click a construction tool, or use the default tool, and create the feature.
5. Right-click and click Finish , or press the F2 key.
6. On the Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group, click Save Edits .

Modify features

The Modify Features pane contains the primary editing tools you can use to modify features. With most tools, you edit features interactively using the pointer. Some tools operate similar to geoprocessing tools: you type parameters and click a run button.

Selection tools that appear with editing tools combine additional functionality for performing specific edits. The best practice is to use the selection tools that appear with a tool instead of the general selection tools on the Edit tab.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Modify .
2. Type the name, category, or part of a name in the Search text box to show tools that perform specific edits.

   

3. Edit the feature following the steps for the specific tool.
4. Right-click and click Finish , or press the F2 key.
5. On the Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group, click Save Edits .