Create sketch layers

In Map Viewer, you can create features on a map by creating a sketch layer. A sketch layer is a type of feature collection. When you create a sketch layer, you create features to symbolize something you want to show on the map. You can also add descriptive information that appears in pop-ups when the feature is clicked.

Tip:

You can use keyboard shortcuts to quickly complete common workflows in Map Viewer. To view the full list of keyboard shortcuts in Map Viewer, press Alt+? on Microsoft Windows or Option+? on Mac.

The features in a sketch layer are saved with the map so that only you, the map author, can edit and save them. Creating a sketch layer is a good way to add a small number of features to a map, for example, the swimming pools managed by your city's parks and recreation department.

There are six types of features you can draw in a sketch layer: stamps, lines, polygons, rectangles, circles, and text.

Tip:

When you search for locations or features on the map, you can add search results to a new or existing sketch layer.

Create a sketch layer

To create a sketch layer, complete the following steps:

1. Follow the instructions for any of the following sketch tools to add features to the map:
   • Stamp
   • Line
   • Polygon
   • Rectangle
   • Circle
   • Text
2. Optionally, click Sketch settings and change any of the following options:
   • Turn on the Enable tooltips toggle button to show feature dimensions while drawing sketch features.

     Note:

     Tooltips must be enabled to set editing constraints when drawing features. Editing constraints allow you to type coordinates for points, and direction and distance values for line and polygon segments.

     To set editing constraints while drawing features, press Tab, then enter a value in the input field. Press Enter to set the editing constraints for that point or segment. Press Tab to navigate between input fields. Click Lock constraint to turn off editing for an input field, and click Unlock constraint to turn on editing for an input field. For point features, enter coordinate values, then press Enter to place the point on the map. For line and polygon segments, click Direction mode and select Deflection or Absolute to change the directionality setting. When you get to the end of the new line or reach the starting point of the polygon, double-click that location on the map to complete the drawing.

   • Turn off the Enable snapping toggle button to disable snapping.

     Tip:

     Snapping provides visual guides that help you draw shapes—for example, draw at right angles or draw straight lines—and allows you to place features directly on the edges and vertices of features.

   • Turn off the Geometry guides toggle button to disable the visual guides that appear when you are drawing or updating sketch features—for example, guides that help you draw right angles and straight lines.
   • Turn off the Feature to feature toggle button to disable the ability to snap to the vertices and edges of other features while drawing and updating sketch features on the map.
   • Turn on the Grid toggle button to overlay a customizable grid to help guide feature drawing and placement.
   • If snapping is enabled, click Snapping layers and select additional layers in the map to allow snapping to features in other feature layers when drawing and updating sketch features.

     Tip:

     Feature-to-feature snapping can be used with hosted feature layers and with WFS, CSV, and GeoJSON layers.

   • If the grid is enabled, click Grid options and do any of the following:
     • Under Placement, click Place to position the grid, click Move to change the origin of the grid, and click Rotate to rotate the grid on the map.
     • Enter values for Spacing (in feet), Angle (in degrees), and Cells between major lines to customize the grid layout.
     • Turn off the Dynamically scale grid based on zoom toggle button to prevent the grid from rescaling when zooming in and out.
     • Turn off the Rotate grid with map toggle button to prevent the grid from rotating when rotating the map.
     • Under Theme, choose a grid theme (dark, light, or custom) to customize the appearance of the grid on the map.

     Note:

     When overlaying a grid, distortion may affect the grid spacing. For basemap projections with high distortion, such as Web Mercator, the Spacing option will be unavailable.

3. To add a title to the sketch feature, under Feature name, type a title in the text box.

   The feature title appears when viewing the list of sketch features in the Properties pane.

4. Optionally, add pop-ups to the sketch features.
5. Close the Sketch pane when you're finished.

   The sketch layer appears in the Layers pane. A list of all features in the sketch layer appears in the Properties pane.

Tip:

To add more sketch layers to the map, click Add on the Contents toolbar and choose Create Sketch layer .

Add stamps

You can use stamps to symbolize points of interest on a map. For example, you can use special symbols to represent hospitals, evacuation points, or hiking trails.

To add a stamp, complete the following steps:

1. Create a sketch layer as described above or choose an existing sketch layer in the Layers pane.
2. From the sketch tools, choose Stamp .
3. Click a point on the map where you want to place the stamp.

   A default stamp is placed on the map.

4. Use the following options, depending on the symbol, to change the appearance of the stamp:
   • Recent point symbols—Choose a symbol from the Recent symbols list. Click Clear to clear the Recent symbols list. Symbols are saved only for the browser session.
   • Current symbol—Choose a symbol set from the Category drop-down menu and choose a symbol. Some symbols contain multiple symbol layers, allowing you to fine-tune the style of each symbol layer.

     Note:

     Vector symbols include Esri default symbols and, if configured, symbols in web styles published from ArcGIS Pro that have one or more symbol layers. Vector symbols are only supported in some apps, including ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and ArcGIS Field Maps. Instead of the vector symbols you apply to a map, a default symbol is applied when the map is used in apps that don't yet support these symbols.

     You can upload a symbol from your device to use as a stamp in a sketch. From the Category drop-down menu, click Uploaded Symbols under Added styles. You can drag a .jpg, .png, .gif, or .svg file to the file area of the Symbol style pane or click Browse to locate the file on your device, and click Done.

     Tip:

     To view the symbols within a symbol set as a list, click List view . If a symbol set contains 10 or more symbols, search for symbols by providing keywords in the search box. Click Grid view to return to the grid view.

   • Color—Choose a color from the color picker. You can also specify a custom color using RGB or hexadecimal values. Click Add to save a custom color and click Remove to remove a saved color. Colors are saved only for the browser session.
   • Transparency—Use the slider to apply transparency to the fill, or change the percent value in the input box.
   • Width—Use the slider to change the width of a line or outline, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Size—Use the slider to change the symbol size, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Rotation—Use the slider to change the rotation of the symbol, or change the degree value in the input box.

Tip:

To use style options from an existing web style, click Add styles and browse for web styles from your content, your favorites, groups to which you belong, your organization, ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, or ArcGIS Online. Check the box next to a web style and click Add to add it to the Added styles category. To remove a web style from the Added styles category, click the web style, scroll to the bottom of the grid or list, and click Remove style.

Note:

When you set the style for a sketch feature, the style and pop-up content persist for subsequently placed features of that type. Changes to the style apply to the most recently placed feature and to subsequent features.

Add lines

You can use lines to symbolize boundaries and routes.

To add a line, complete the following steps:

1. Create a sketch layer as described above or choose an existing sketch layer in the Layers pane.
2. From the sketch tools, choose Line .
3. Click a point on the map to begin drawing.

   A point appears on the map and a line extends from it, controlled by the mouse pointer.

4. Click another point on the map to join the line to that point. Continue clicking other points on the map to add more vertices and line segments.

   If you make a mistake while drawing, you can use keyboard shortcuts to undo and redo vertices.

5. Double-click or use a keyboard shortcut to place the endpoint and complete the line.

   The line is drawn on the map.

6. Do any of the following in the Sketch pane to change the line's appearance:
   • Recent line symbols—Choose a symbol from the Recent symbols list. Click Clear to clear the Recent symbols list. Symbols are saved only for the browser session.
   • Current symbol—Choose a symbol set from the Category drop-down menu and choose a symbol.
   • Symbol—Choose a symbol set from the drop-down menu, and choose a symbol. Some vector symbols contain multiple symbol layers, allowing you to fine-tune the style of each symbol layer.

     Note:

     Vector symbols include Esri default symbols and, if configured, symbols in web styles published from ArcGIS Pro that have one or more symbol layers. Vector symbols are only supported in some apps, including ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and ArcGIS Field Maps. Instead of the vector symbols you apply to a map, a default symbol is applied when the map is used in apps that don't yet support these symbols.

     Note:

     To view the symbols within a symbol set as a list, click List view . If a symbol set contains 10 or more symbols, search for symbols by providing keywords in the search box. Click Grid view to return to the grid view.

   • For the Basic line symbol, choose an option for Pattern and optionally add an arrow using the Arrow drop-down menu.
   • Color—Choose a color from the color picker. You can also specify a custom color using RGB or hexadecimal values. Click Add to save a custom color and click Remove to remove a saved color. Colors are saved only for the browser session.
   • Transparency—Use the slider to apply transparency to the fill, or change the percent value in the input box.
   • Width—Use the slider to change the width of a line or outline, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Size—Use the slider to change the symbol size, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Rotation—Use the slider to change the rotation of the symbol, or change the degree value in the input box.

Tip:

To use style options from an existing web style, click Add styles and browse for web styles from your content, your favorites, groups to which you belong, your organization, ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, or ArcGIS Online. Check the box next to a web style and click Add to add it to the Added styles category. To remove a web style from the Added styles category, click the web style, scroll to the bottom of the grid or list, and click Remove style.

Note:

When you set the style for a sketch feature, the style and pop-up content persist for subsequently placed features of that type. Changes to the style apply to the most recently placed feature and to subsequent features.

Add polygons

You can use polygons to symbolize irregularly shaped areas.

To add a polygon, complete the following steps:

1. Create a sketch layer as described above or choose an existing sketch layer in the Layers pane.
2. From the sketch tools, choose Polygon .
3. Click a point on the map to place a vertex.

   Lines are automatically drawn to join vertices as they are placed.

   If you make a mistake while drawing, you can use keyboard shortcuts to undo and redo vertices.

4. Double-click or use a keyboard shortcut to place the final vertex and complete the polygon.

   The polygon is drawn on the map.

5. Use any of the following options in the Sketch pane to change the polygon's appearance:
   • Recent polygon symbols—Choose a symbol from the Recent symbols list. Click Clear to clear the Recent symbols list. Symbols are saved only for the browser session.
   • Current symbol—Choose a symbol set from the Category drop-down menu and choose a symbol. Some vector symbols contain multiple symbol layers, allowing you to fine-tune the style of each symbol layer.

     Note:

     Vector symbols include Esri default symbols and, if configured, symbols in web styles published from ArcGIS Pro that have one or more symbol layers. Vector symbols are only supported in some apps, including ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and ArcGIS Field Maps. Instead of the vector symbols you apply to a map, a default symbol is applied when the map is used in apps that don't yet support these symbols.

     Note:

     To view the symbols within a symbol set as a list, click List view . If a symbol set contains 10 or more symbols, search for symbols by providing keywords in the search box. Click Grid view to return to the grid view.

   • Color—Choose a color from the color picker. You can also specify a custom color using RGB or hexadecimal values. Click Add to save a custom color and click Remove to remove a saved color. Colors are saved only for the browser session.
   • Transparency—Use the slider to apply transparency to the fill, or change the percent value in the input box.
   • Width—Use the slider to change the width of a line or outline, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Size—Use the slider to change the symbol size, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Rotation—Use the slider to change the rotation of the symbol, or change the degree value in the input box.
6. Optionally, for vector marker layers in vector polygon symbols, configure the Marker placement options as follows:
   • Position—Choose Fixed or Random to specify how the marker fills the polygon.
   • Randomness—If you chose Random, use the slider or type a percent value in the input box to specify the degree of randomization for the marker placement.
   • Step X—Use the slider or provide a pixel value to specify the horizontal spacing of the marker symbols.
   • Step Y—Use the slider or provide a pixel value to specify the vertical spacing of the marker symbols.
   • Optionally, check the Shift odd rows check box to stagger the rows of symbols.

Tip:

To use style options from an existing web style, click Add styles and browse for web styles from your content, your favorites, groups to which you belong, your organization, ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, or ArcGIS Online. Check the box next to a web style and click Add to add it to the Added styles category. To remove a web style from the Added styles category, click the web style, scroll to the bottom of the grid or list, and click Remove style.

Note:

When you set the style for a sketch feature, the style and pop-up content persist for subsequently placed features of that type. Changes to the style apply to the most recently placed feature and to subsequent features.

Add rectangles and circles

You can use rectangles and circles to symbolize regularly shaped areas.

To add a rectangle or a circle, complete the following steps:

1. Create a sketch layer as described above or choose an existing sketch layer in the Layers pane.
2. From the sketch tools, choose Rectangle or Circle .
3. Drag to begin drawing a shape on the map where you want the feature to be placed.
4. Release the mouse button to complete the feature and place it on the map.
5. Optionally, do any of the following in the Sketch pane to change the feature's appearance:
   • Recent polygon symbols—Choose a symbol from the Recent symbols list. Click Clear to clear the Recent symbols list. Symbols are saved only for the browser session.
   • Current symbol—Choose a symbol set from the Category drop-down menu and choose a symbol. Some vector symbols contain multiple symbol layers, allowing you to fine-tune the style of each symbol layer.

     Note:

     Vector symbols include Esri default symbols and, if configured, symbols in web styles published from ArcGIS Pro that have one or more symbol layers. Vector symbols are only supported in some apps, including ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS StoryMaps, and ArcGIS Field Maps. Instead of the vector symbols you apply to a map, a default symbol is applied when the map is used in apps that don't yet support these symbols.

     Note:

     To view the symbols within a symbol set as a list, click List view . If a symbol set contains 10 or more symbols, search for symbols by providing keywords in the search box. Click Grid view to return to the grid view.

   • For the Basic line symbol, choose an option for Pattern and optionally add an arrow using the Arrow drop-down menu.
   • Color—Choose a color from the color picker. You can also specify a custom color using RGB or hexadecimal values. Click Add to save a custom color and click Remove to remove a saved color. Colors are saved only for the browser session.
   • Transparency—Use the slider to apply transparency to the fill, or change the percent value in the input box.
   • Width—Use the slider to change the width of a line or outline, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Size—Use the slider to change the symbol size, or change the pixel value in the input box.
   • Rotation—Use the slider to change the rotation of the symbol, or change the degree value in the input box.
6. Optionally, for vector marker layers in vector polygon symbols, configure the Marker placement options as follows:
   • Position—Choose Fixed or Random to specify how the marker fills the polygon.
   • Randomness—If you chose Random, use the slider or type a percent value in the input box to specify the degree of randomization for the marker placement.
   • Step X—Use the slider or provide a pixel value to specify the horizontal spacing of the marker symbols.
   • Step Y—Use the slider or provide a pixel value to specify the vertical spacing of the marker symbols.
   • Optionally, check the Shift odd rows check box to stagger the rows of symbols.

Tip:

To use style options from an existing web style, click Add styles and browse for web styles from your content, your favorites, groups to which you belong, your organization, ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, or ArcGIS Online. Check the box next to a web style and click Add to add it to the Added styles category. To remove a web style from the Added styles category, click the web style, scroll to the bottom of the grid or list, and click Remove style.

Note:

When you set the style for a sketch feature, the style and pop-up content persist for subsequently placed features of that type. Changes to the style apply to the most recently placed feature and to subsequent features.

Add text

You can use text to label or provide information about anything on the map.

To add text, complete the following steps:

1. Create a sketch layer as described above or choose an existing sketch layer in the Layers pane.
2. From the sketch tools, choose Text .
3. Click the point on the map where you want to place the text.
4. Type the text in the Content text box in the Sketch pane.
5. Optionally, style the text by doing the following:
   • Recent text symbols—Choose a symbol from the Recent symbols list. Click Clear to clear the Recent symbols list. Symbols are saved only for the browser session.
   • Click the Font drop-down menu, then click Map fonts and select a font being used in the map. Alternatively, click All fonts and select any font.

     Note:

     Fonts available in the Map fonts list are fonts that are being used by layers in the web map and are provided by ArcGIS Online. Layer fonts that are not provided by ArcGIS Online will not appear in the list.

   • Change the value in the Size input box, or use the arrows to increase or decrease the size.
   • Choose a color from the color picker or type an RGB or hexadecimal value in the input box.
   • Turn the Halo toggle button on or off and set the color and size.
   • Turn the Background toggle button on or off and set the background color and transparency, outline color and transparency, and outline width.

Note:

When you set the style for a sketch feature, the style and pop-up content persist for subsequently placed features of that type. Changes to the style apply to the most recently placed feature and to subsequent features.

Add a pop-up to a sketch feature

You can add a pop-up to a sketch feature to provide more information about the location.

To add a pop-up to a sketch feature, complete the following steps:

1. Select a feature on the map by doing one of the following:
   • In the Sketch pane, choose Select and click a sketch feature on the map.
   • In the Properties pane, click Edit next to the preview of the sketch feature you want to edit.

   The feature is selected on the map.

2. In the Sketch pane, click Pop-up.
3. Turn on the Enable pop-up toggle button.
4. Expand the Title section and type a name in the text box.
5. Click the default Text element and type additional information about the feature in the text box.
6. Click Add content to add new text or image elements.
7. Click Options to delete or duplicate an element.
8. Click the back arrow when you're finished to return to the Sketch pane.

Note:

When you set the style for a sketch feature, the style and pop-up content persist for subsequently placed features of that type. Changes to the style apply to the most recently placed feature and to subsequent features.

Edit a sketch feature

You can change the style, shape, size, or position of a sketch feature after it has been drawn on the map.

To edit a sketch feature, complete the following steps:

1. Select a feature on the map by doing one of the following:
   • In the Sketch pane, choose Select and click a sketch feature on the map.
   • In the Properties pane, click Edit next to the preview of the sketch feature you want to edit.

   The feature is selected on the map.

2. Optionally, drag the feature to a new location.
3. Optionally, drag a feature's handles to resize or rotate it.
4. Optionally, reshape a line, polygon, rectangle, or circle:
   1. Click the selected feature.

      The shape's vertices appear in orange and the midpoints of the line segments appear in white.

   2. Drag a vertex or midpoint to a new location.
   3. Click a midpoint to add vertices.

      The midpoint becomes a vertex and two new midpoints are added on either side.

5. Optionally, set editing constraints while updating a point, line, or polygon feature:

   Note:

   Tooltips must be enabled to set editing constraints when editing features. Editing constraints allow you to type coordinates for points, and direction and distance values for line and polygon segments.

   To enable tooltips, in the Sketch pane, click Settings and turn on the Enable tooltips toggle button.

   1. Click a point feature or click a vertex of a line or polygon feature.
   2. Press Tab, then enter a value in the input field.
   3. Press Enter to set the editing constraints for that point or vertex.
   4. Press Tab to navigate between input fields.
   5. When you have finished entering input values, press Enter to place the point or vertex on the map.
6. To duplicate a feature, click Duplicate in the Sketch pane.
7. To delete a feature, click Delete in the Sketch pane.
8. Close the Sketch pane to confirm your changes and clear the selection.

Edit multiple sketch features

You can work with and manage more than one feature at a time after they have been drawn on the map.

To edit multiple sketch features, complete the following steps:

1. If necessary, open the Sketch pane by doing the following:
   1. On the Settings (light) toolbar, click Sketch .

      The Sketch pane appears and the sketch tools appear on the map.

   2. If there are multiple sketch layers on the map, select a sketch layer from the layer selector in the Sketch pane.

Note:

You can also open the Sketch pane by clicking Layers on the Contents (dark) toolbar. Select the sketch layer, or click Options on the layer and choose Sketch.

2. From the sketch tools, do one of the following:
   • Choose Select by rectangle to select features by drawing a rectangle.
   • Choose Select by lasso to select features by drawing a shape.
3. Drag to draw a shape over the map and select features.

   The features are grouped into one selection on the map.

Note:

You can also select and manage multiple sketch features in the Properties pane. On the Contents (dark) toolbar, click Layers, then select a sketch layer from the layers list. In the Properties pane, under Sketch features, check the box next to each sketch feature to make a selection. Choose any option from the Actions list to manage the selected sketch features, or click Edit next to a sketch feature to manage that feature.
4. Optionally, drag the selection to a new location.
5. Optionally, change the color, transparency, size, and rotation of the selected features.
6. To add a title to the selected sketch features, click Edit and type a title in the text box.
7. To add a pop-up to the selected features, click Pop-up then follow steps 3 through 8 of Add a pop-up to a sketch feature. Click Apply changes to apply your changes.
8. Click Duplicate in the Sketch pane to duplicate the selected features.
9. Click Copy to new Sketch layer in the Sketch pane to copy the selected features to a new sketch layer.

   The new sketch layer is added to the Layers pane.

10. Click Delete in the Sketch pane to delete the selected features.
11. Close the Sketch pane to confirm your changes and clear the selection.

Sketch shortcuts

You can use keyboard shortcuts to help you draw sketch features, such as lines or polygons.

In the Sketch pane, click Sketch shortcuts to see the available shortcuts.

The following table describes the available shortcuts:

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl	Press while drawing to disable snapping. Snapping provides visual guides that help you draw at right angles and draw straight lines, and allows you to place features directly on the edges and vertices of other sketch features.
Enter	Complete drawing.
Z	Undo the last vertex.
R	Redo the last vertex.
Esc	Cancel drawing.