Create and delete features

When you add a feature, you draw or place the feature on the map and add attribute values.

Features can be created in layers that are editable. A layer is editable if you own the layer, are an administrator for the ArcGIS organization, or the layer has been shared with you and has editing enabled.

Note:

When you create features in a z-aware layer, the z-value is assigned the default value if available, or assigned a value of 0. You can edit the z-value using the editing constraints when you create a feature.

When you create features in an m-aware dataset, the m-value is assigned a value of 0.

Learn more about data access requirements

Create point features

Complete the following steps to create point features:

1. Open a map in Web Editor.
2. On the editing toolbar, click Create features .

   The tools for creating features appear on the editing toolbar and the Create features pane appears.

   If the web map includes more than one editable layer, the template for the layer listed at the top of the Create features pane will be selected by default. The templates are listed in the Create features pane based on the drawing order for the web map.

3. In the Create features pane, choose a different template to edit if necessary.

   Note:

   If the Create features pane is not open, click Create on the editing toolbar to open it.

4. Update the snapping options if necessary.

   Learn more about snapping

5. To add a point to the map, do one of the following:
   • Click the map to add a point feature.
   • Press C on your keyboard and enter the coordinates for the point location.
6. If the Create features pane appears, do the following:
   1. Enter the attributes for the new feature.
   2. Click Create.

   Note:

   The Create features pane appears by default when geometry for a new feature is added. You can configure Web Editor so the Create features pane does not appear after a feature is added to the map in the Settings pane. If the Create features pane does not appear, you can update the field values for a selected feature by clicking Attributes on the editing toolbar to open the Attributes pane.

   Learn more about configuring settings

7. Repeat the previous two steps to create additional features in the same layer, or open the Create features pane to add features in a different layer if necessary.
8. On the editing toolbar, click Finished .

Create multipoint features

Complete the following steps to create multipoint features:

1. Open a map in Web Editor.
2. On the editing toolbar, click Create features .

   The tools for creating features appear on the editing toolbar and the Create features pane appears.

   If the web map includes more than one editable layer, the template for the layer listed at the top of the Create features pane will be selected by default. The templates are listed in the Create features pane based on the drawing order for the web map.

3. In the Create features pane, choose a different template to edit if necessary.

   Note:

   If the Create features pane is not open, click Create on the editing toolbar to open it.

4. Update the snapping options if necessary.

   Learn more about snapping

5. To add a point to the map, do one of the following:
   • Click the map to add a point feature.
   • Press C on your keyboard and enter the coordinates for the point location.
6. Repeat the previous step to add more points to the multipoint feature.
7. To finish drawing the multipoint features, do one of the following:
   • If the final vertex has already been placed, click the Complete button on the editing toolbar to apply the changes. To discard the changes without creating the feature, click the Cancel button .
   • Double-click the map to add the final vertex and apply the changes.
8. If the Create features pane appears, do the following:
   1. Enter the attributes for the new feature.
   2. Click Create.

   Note:

   The Create features pane appears by default when geometry for a new feature is added. You can configure Web Editor so the Create features pane does not appear after a feature is added to the map in the Settings pane. If the Create features pane does not appear, you can update the field values for a selected feature by clicking Attributes on the editing toolbar to open the Attributes pane.

   Learn more about configuring settings

9. Repeat steps 5 to 8 to create additional features in the same layer, or open the Create features pane to add features in a different layer if necessary.
10. On the editing toolbar, click Finished .

Create line or polygon features

Complete the following steps to create line or polygon features:

1. Open a map in Web Editor.
2. On the editing toolbar, click Create features .

   The tools for creating features appear on the editing toolbar and the Create features pane appears.

   If the web map includes more than one editable layer, the template for the layer listed at the top of the Create features pane will be selected by default. The templates are listed in the Create features pane based on the drawing order for the web map.

3. In the Create features pane, choose a different template to edit if necessary.

   Note:

   If the Create features pane is not open, click Create on the editing toolbar to open it.

4. Update the snapping options if necessary.

   Learn more about snapping

5. On the editing toolbar, select a drawing tool. Drawing tools include Line (default), Right angle , and Freehand .

   Learn more about drawing tools

6. Click the map to add the start point and vertices for line or polygon features, using the editing constraints if necessary.
7. To finish drawing the line or polygon features, do one of the following:
   • If the final vertex has already been placed, click the Complete button on the editing toolbar to apply the changes. To discard the changes without creating the feature, click the Cancel button .
   • Double-click the map to add the final vertex and apply the changes.
8. If the Create features pane appears, do the following:
   1. Enter the attributes for the new feature.
   2. Click Create.

   Note:

   The Create features pane appears by default when geometry for a new feature is added. You can configure Web Editor so the Create features pane does not appear after a feature is added to the map in the Settings pane. If the Create features pane does not appear, you can update the field values for a selected feature by clicking Attributes on the editing toolbar to open the Attributes pane.

   Learn more about configuring settings

9. Repeat steps 5 to 8 to create additional features in the same layer, or open the Create features pane to add features in a different layer if necessary.
10. On the editing toolbar, click Finished .

Delete features

You can permanently delete selected features from a layer. Deleting features cannot be undone.

Note:

Deleting a multipoint feature deletes all vertices in the feature. To delete a vertex within a multipoint feature, use the Vertices or Reshape tool.

Complete the following steps to delete features:

1. Follow the steps to select one or more features.

   Bulk feature editing is not available when more than 200 features are selected.

2. Do one of the following:
   • On the editing toolbar, click Delete .
   • Use the Delete shortcut on your keyboard.

   The Delete features window appears showing the number of features that will be deleted.

   If you do not want to see the message again, check the check box. You can also turn the prompt on or off in the Settings pane.

3. Click Delete features.

Troubleshooting

If the new features disappear after they're created, it may mean a definition expression or filter is applied to the layer. Update or remove the definition expression or filter for the layer in Map Viewer to verify the features were created correctly.