Create polygon features

On the Mapview toolbar, feature construction tools for polygon feature layers create single-part and multipart polygon features. A polygon feature is a fully enclosed planar region comprising of straight and curved line segments. Polygon features are used to represent water bodies, building footprints, and areas of operation. Segment construction tools specific to the active tool are available on the construction toolbar and mini toolbar above the context menu when you right-click the map.

When you use a polygon construction tool, consider the following:

• Vertices for 3D z-aware features are assigned z-values based on your current elevation settings.
• To resume editing an existing feature, or to add a part, use the Continue Feature tool .

Create polygon features in a new layer

To create a memory polygon feature class and add polygons, complete the following steps.

1. On the Edit tab, in the New Features group, click New Polygon Layer .

   A new layer named Polygon is added to the map.

   Note:

   New feature layers are initially created in a memory workspace. Features and attributes can be quickly captured but must be saved to a local workspace before the project is closed. To save a memory workspace, right-click the new feature layer in Contents and select Save. The features are saved to the project default geodatabase. Alternatively, if the layer is not saved, you are prompted to save it before the project is closed. If you do not save the memory workspace when the project is closed, the information is deleted.

2. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   Alternatively, right-click, click Absolute X,Y,Z and type the coordinate location.

3. Choose a segment construction tool on the construction toolbar.

   The line tool is active by default.

   

   Tip:

   To modify unfinished geometry as you draw a feature, click the Vertex Editing button on the construction toolbar to enable vertex editing.

4. Move the pointer and click the map to create a segment.

   To type a value for direction, distance, or elevation, or to apply a geometric constraint, right-click the map and click the corresponding command.

   Tip:

   To snap the pointer to a computed intersection, use the intersection tools on the construction toolbar.

   

5. Continue to create segments until the shape is fully constructed.

   If the fully constructed shape is a part of a multipart feature, right-click, click Finish Part , and draw the next feature.

   Note:

   A multipart polygon feature contains two or more individual part features that reference the same attributes, for example, a polygon feature representing an archipelago.

6. To finish the feature, double-click to add the final vertex, or click Finish , or press F2.

   Alternatively, to create another part for a multipart feature, right-click and click Finish Part .

7. Optionally, add an attribute label to the new feature
   1. Click Edit on the Edit toolbar in the Features group.

      The Edit Feature pane appears.

   2. Type a value in the Label text box, and press Enter.

      The label is added to the feature in the map.

8. On the Mapview toolbar, click Save All Edits.

   Optionally, on the ribbon, in the Manage Edits group, click Save All Edits .

   Alternatively, on the ribbon, in the Manage Edits group, click Save All Edits .

9. On the Edit tab, in the Close group, click Close Edit Mode .

   Optionally, continue editing until you're ready to close Editing mode.

   Alternatively, continue editing until you're ready to close Editing mode.

   Edit Mode is enabled and the Edit tab appears on the ribbon.

Create multisegmented polygon features

The Polygon tool creates multisegmented polygon features. By default, the Line segment tool is the active segment tool in the construction toolbar.

To create a polygon feature, complete the following steps:

1. Add the data and configure the editing settings.

   Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

2. On the Map tab, in the Features group, click Edit .
3. In Contents, click a polygon feature layer.
4. Click the Polygon tool on the Mapview toolbar.
5. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   To enter a coordinate value, right-click the map and click Absolute X,Y,Z .

   To enter a distance value, right-click the map and click Distance .

   To enter a direction value, right-click the map and click Direction .

6. Move the pointer and click the map to create the first segment. Repeat this step until the feature is fully developed.

   To create other segment types or trace existing features, click the corresponding segment construction tool on the construction toolbar.

   

   When you create segments, consider the following:

   • Right-click the map to type a numeric value for direction, distance, or elevation, override active snap settings and snap to other features, or to apply a geometric constraint.
   • To modify unfinished geometry as you draw the feature, click the Vertex Editing button on the construction toolbar and turn on vertex editing.
7. Click Finish , or press F2 to finish the sketch and create the feature.

   Alternatively, right-click and click Finish Part to continue creating parts for a multipart polygon feature.

8. On the Mapview toolbar, click Save All Edits.

   Optionally, on the ribbon, in the Manage Edits group, click Save All Edits .

   Alternatively, on the ribbon, in the Manage Edits group, click Save All Edits .

9. On the Edit tab, in the Close group, click Close Edit Mode .

   Optionally, continue editing until you're ready to close Editing mode.

   Alternatively, continue editing until you're ready to close Editing mode.

   Edit Mode is enabled and the Edit tab appears on the ribbon.

Create freehand features

The Freehand tool creates free-form segments following the movement of the pointer.

When you use this tool, consider the following:

• Snapping is automatically turned off until you finish the feature.
• The construction toolbar is not available with this tool.

To create a freehand polygon, complete the following steps:

1. Add the data and configure the editing settings.

   Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

2. On the Map tab, in the Features group, click Edit .
3. In the Contents pane, click a polygon feature layer.
4. Click the Freehand tool on the Mapview toolbar.
5. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   To enter a coordinate value, right-click the map and click Absolute X,Y,Z .

6. Move the pointer to create a freehand feature following the movement of the pointer.
7. Click the map to finish the feature.

   The segments are automatically converted to Bézier curves.

8. On the Mapview toolbar, click Save All Edits.

   Optionally, on the ribbon, in the Manage Edits group, click Save All Edits .

   Alternatively, on the ribbon, in the Manage Edits group, click Save All Edits .

9. On the Edit tab, in the Close group, click Close Edit Mode .

   Optionally, continue editing until you're ready to close Editing mode.

   Alternatively, continue editing until you're ready to close Editing mode.

   Edit Mode is enabled and the Edit tab appears on the ribbon.