An overview of the Graphics toolset

The Graphics toolset contains tools that convert between graphics layers and feature classes.

Graphics layers are containers for graphic elements. They provide a way to include simple notations on a map or layout that highlight particular areas or label places.

You can convert graphic elements such as points, lines, and polygons into features, and convert text graphic elements into annotation features. This is useful because features can have attributes and are created and stored securely in geodatabase feature classes.

You can also convert features into graphic elements so they can be moved and resized. This is useful when you want to change the location of features relative to each other for cartographic reasons.

Tools in the Graphics toolset

Tool	Description
Features To Graphics	Converts a feature layer's symbolized features into graphic elements in a graphics layer.
Graphics To Features	Converts a graphics layer into a feature layer with geometries based on the input graphics layer's elements.