Get started editing—ArcGIS AllSource

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.

Start ArcGIS AllSource and sign in if necessary.
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.

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.
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 .
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.
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.

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

On the View tab, in the Panes group, click Contents .
In the Contents pane, click a layer.
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

Creating new point, line, area or multipoint features is done by activating edit mode, and using tools on the Edit tab and Mapview toolbar to quickly start putting features on the map. If an existing dataset does not exist, create one using the following steps:

On the Map tab, in the Features group, click Edit .

This opens the Edit tab and the Mapview toolbar.

Select a new feature layer type in the New Features group.
- New Point Layer —Create a memory point feature class, point layer in the map, and sets point creation tools in the Mapview toolbar.
- New Line Layer —Create a memory polyline feature class, polyline layer in the map, and set line creation tools in the Mapview toolbar.
- New Polygon Layer —Create a memory polygon feature class, polygon layer in the map, and set polygon creation tools in the Mapview toolbar.
- New Multipoint Layer —Create a memory multipoint feature class, multipoint layer in the map, and set multipoint creation tools in the Mapview toolbar.
Select the desired construction tool on the Mapview toolbar and create the feature.
Right-click and click Finish , or press the F2 key.
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 .

Modify features

The Mapview toolbar contains the primary tools you can use to modify and update 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. It is recommended that you use the selection tools that appear with a tool instead of the general selection tools on the Mapview toolbar tab.

Select the layer to modify in the Contents pane if not already selected.
Select the feature to modify.
Select the desired tool in the Mapview toolbar.
Edit the feature following the steps for the specific tool.
Right-click and click Finish , or press the F2 key.
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 .

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