Configure editing settings

You can configure map, layer, and editing settings to improve the editing experience. Map and layer settings are available in the Contents pane. Editing settings are available on the ribbon, on the Edit tab.

The following sections are structured as a checklist that you can use when you create or modify features. They are not comprehensive steps you must complete from start to finish.

Tip:

To reset all editing panes with one click, click the View tab, and in the Panes group, click the Reset Panes drop-down menu , and choose Reset Panes for Editing.

Add feature data

To add a feature layer containing the data you are editing, find and drag a feature layer from the Catalog pane, or right-click it and click Add To Current Map . If the data doesn’t exist, create a feature class.

To add feature data from the Catalog pane, complete the following steps:

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

   The Contents pane appears.

2. Click the Project tab.
3. Expand the Database folder and find the data.
4. Drag the feature class to the active map.

   Alternatively, right-click the feature class, and click Add To Current map .

   Note:

   Basic feature templates are automatically generated with the default setting for each feature layer you add to a map.

Review the coordinate system

When you create or modify features, all edits occur in the coordinate system that is assigned to the current map. If the data source is stored in a different coordinate system, the data is synchronously projected on the fly to the map coordinate system.

For most editing operations and most coordinate system transformations, the integrity and accuracy of your edits are maintained. However, depending on the coordinate systems used, certain editing operations may produce unexpected alignment or accuracy errors.

For best results, specify a coordinate system for the current map that matches the coordinate system of the layer or layers you are editing.

To view the coordinate system assigned to the current map, complete the following steps:

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

   The Contents pane appears.

2. Right-click the map name, and click Properties.
3. Click the Coordinate Systems tab.
4. Review the coordinate system information.
5. Click OK to save the settings and close the dialog box.

Set the layer display field

When you select features for editing, they are listed in tool pane selection trees by their display field layer property setting. By default, it is set to the first available string field in the feature layer containing the word name in the field name. If the field is null, the FID field value is shown.

You can change the display field on the Layer Properties dialog box or write a custom display expression for easier identification. This property setting is also used by the selection chip, MapTips, Pop-ups, published map services, and other areas of ArcGIS AllSource that identify a feature layer.

Set the source layer to selectable and editable

To create or modify features, the source layer must be set to selectable and editable on their respective tabs in the Contents pane.

To enable these settings, complete the following steps:

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

   The Contents pane appears.

2. Click the List By Selection tab , and check the layer check box for the layer you are editing.
3. Click the List By Editing tab , and check the layer check box for the layer you are editing.

Configure snap agents

Snapping controls the accuracy of the pointer when you hover near a vertex, an endpoint, or other geometric element. Enable a combination of snap agents to help you work more efficiently and accurately. Turn snapping on and off to control when the snap agents are applied to the pointer.

Tip:

Press the Spacebar to temporarily turn snapping off while you create or modify features.

To turn on snapping or configure snap agents, complete the following steps:

1. Click Snapping on the status bar to turn snapping on and off.

   

   Alternatively, on the ribbon, click the Edit tab, and in the Snapping group, click Snapping .

2. To enable and disable the snap agents, hover over Snapping on the status bar.

   

   Alternatively, on the ribbon, click the Edit tab, and in the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu .