Move, rotate, or scale features

The Move tool , Rotate tool , and Scale tool allow you to move, rotate, or scale features by dragging them. You can also rotate or scale features by a specified value. These tools are available in the Modify Features pane.

If topological editing is turned on, contiguity is maintained between features within a given tolerance. As you edit features, rubber band lines actively preview the result. If edits break the topology, the rubber band lines disappear and only the selected features are edited.

To learn more, see Map Topology.

Move features

The Move tool moves features by dragging them. Additionally, you can align or distribute features using commands on the context menu.

For steps to use the Move To tool , see Move a feature to a specified location.

1. Open the map containing the features to be edited or add the layer to the map.

   To learn more about adding layers, see Add layers to a map or scene.

   Tip:

   Before editing, confirm the layers you are editing are editable, snap settings add efficiency and accuracy to your workflow, and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.

   For a basic checklist of settings, see Configure settings for editing.

2. Click the ribbon Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

3. Click the Move tool .

   To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Move in the Search text box.

   Alternatively, click the tool on the ribbon Edit tab in the Tools group.

   Note:

   If map topology is turned on, click the tool Features tab.

   

   The tool opens and the Select one or more features tool automatically runs.

4. Select the features to be moved.

   If features are currently selected, the selection tool displays Change the selection.

   To refine the selection in the selection view, right-click a feature and click Unselect or Only Select This .

   The selected features highlight in the map and appear in the selection view organized by layer. The selection anchor appears at the center (centroid) of the envelope for the entire selection set.

5. Optionally, move the selection anchor to a useful location and use it to snap to other features.

   Press Ctrl and hover over the selection anchor. Drag the selection anchor when the pointer changes to the Directional cursor .

   The selection anchor snaps to other features using the current snap settings.

6. Hover over the selected features and drag them when the pointer changes to the Move cursor .

   To move a multipatch or 3D object feature along an x-, y-, or z-axis in a 3D scene, hover over an axis symbol. When the pointer changes to the move cursor, drag it.

   Note:

   Annotation leader anchor points move with their respective annotation features. To keep annotation leader anchor points fixed to their original location, use the Annotation tool .

   To learn more, see Move, rotate, or resize annotation features.

7. Click Finish on the toolbar or press F2.

Keyboard shortcuts for Move

Keyboard shortcuts for the Move tool

Keyboard shortcut	Action	Comment
Ctrl and click	Relocate the anchor.	Relocate the selection anchor to the clicked location. You can zoom in to a feature without the current location of the anchor being visible in the active view.
Ctrl and drag	Move the anchor.	Move the selection anchor.

Rotate features

The Rotate tool rotates features by dragging them. Alternatively, you can press the A key and type an angular value.

1. Open the map containing the features to be edited or add the layer to the map.

   To learn more about adding layers, see Add layers to a map or scene.

   Tip:

   Before editing, confirm the layers you are editing are editable, snap settings add efficiency and accuracy to your workflow, and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.

   For a basic checklist of settings, see Configure settings for editing.

2. Click the ribbon Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

3. Click the Rotate tool .

   To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Rotate in the Search text box.

   Alternatively, click the tool on the ribbon Edit tab in the Tools group.

   The tool opens and the Select one or more features tool automatically runs.

4. Select the features to be rotated.

   If features are currently selected, the selection tool displays Change the selection.

   To refine the selection in the selection view, right-click a feature and click Unselect or Only Select This .

   The selected features highlight in the map and appear in the selection view organized by layer. The selection anchor appears at the center (centroid) of the envelope for the entire selection set.

5. Optionally, move the selection and auxiliary anchors to useful locations and use them to snap to other features.
   • Press Ctrl and hover over the selection anchor. Hover over the anchor and drag it when the pointer changes to the Directional cursor .
   • Press S to turn the auxiliary anchor on or off. By default, it appears near the pointer. Press Ctrl, hover over the anchor, and drag it when the pointer changes to the Directional cursor .

   The selection and auxiliary anchors snap to other features using the current snap settings.

6. Hover over the selected features and drag them when the pointer changes to the rotation cursor.

   Alternatively, press A and type an angle. A positive value rotates the selection counterclockwise. A negative value rotates the selection clockwise.

   To rotate a multipatch or 3D object feature along an x-, y-, or z-axis in a 3D scene, hover over an axis symbol. When the pointer changes to the rotation cursor, do one of the following:

   • Drag the rotation symbol.
   • Turn on on-screen constraints, press Tab to activate the text box, type a rotation angle, and press Enter.

7. Click Finish on the toolbar or press F2.

Keyboard shortcuts for Rotate

Keyboard shortcuts for the Rotate tool

Keyboard shortcut	Action	Comment
A	Specify the angle.	Open the Angle dialog box.
Ctrl and click	Relocate the anchor.	Relocate the selection anchor to the clicked location. You can zoom in to a feature without the current location of the anchor being visible in the active view.
Ctrl and drag	Move the anchor.	Move the selection anchor.
S	Access the secondary anchor.	Turn the secondary anchor on and off. When it is turned on, the anchor is positioned at the pointer location.

Scale features

The Scale tool resizes features by dragging them. Alternatively, you can press the S key and type a scale factor.

1. Open the map containing the features to be edited or add the layer to the map.

   To learn more about adding layers, see Add layers to a map or scene.

   Tip:

   Before editing, confirm the layers you are editing are editable, snap settings add efficiency and accuracy to your workflow, and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.

   For a basic checklist of settings, see Configure settings for editing.

2. Click the ribbon Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

3. Click the Scale tool .

   To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Scale in the Search text box.

   Alternatively, click the tool on the ribbon Edit tab in the Tools group.

   The tool opens and the Select one or more features tool automatically runs.

4. Select the features to be scaled.

   If features are currently selected, the selection tool displays Change the selection.

   To refine the selection in the selection view, right-click a feature and click Unselect or Only Select This .

   The selected features highlight in the map and appear in the selection view organized by layer. The selection anchor appears at the center (centroid) of the envelope for the entire selection set.

5. Optionally, move the selection and auxiliary anchors to useful locations and use them to snap to other features.
   • Press Ctrl and hover over the selection anchor. Hover over the anchor and drag it when the pointer changes to the Directional cursor .
   • Press S to turn the auxiliary anchor on or off. By default, it appears near the pointer. Hover over the anchor and drag it when the pointer changes to the Directional cursor .

   The selection and auxiliary anchors snap to other features using the current snap settings.

6. Hover over a control point along the selection boundary and drag it when the pointer changes to the scale cursor.

   Alternatively, press F and type a scale factor.

   To scale a multipatch or 3D object feature along an x-, y-, or z-axis in a 3D scene, hover over an axis symbol. When the pointer changes to the Move cursor , do one of the following:

   • Drag the axis symbol.
   • Turn on on-screen constraints, press Tab to activate the text box, type a scale factor, and press Enter.

7. Click Finish on the toolbar or press F2.

Keyboard shortcuts for Scale

Keyboard shortcuts for the Scale tool

Keyboard shortcut	Action	Comment
F	Apply a scale factor.	Open the Scale dialog box.
Ctrl and click	Relocate the anchor.	Relocate the selection anchor to the clicked location. You can zoom in to a feature without the current location of the anchor being visible in the active view.
Ctrl and drag	Move the anchor.	Move the selection anchor.
S	Access the secondary anchor.	Turn the secondary anchor on and off. When it is turned on, the anchor is positioned at the pointer location.