Create point features along a line

In the Create Features pane, feature templates for point layers include Points Along a Line . This tool creates single-point and multipoint features along an existing polyline feature that you select in the map. You can create features evenly spaced, or at varying distances.

When you create z-enabled 3D point features along a 3D polyline, z-values are derived from the polyline. For steps to specify z-values, see Specify an elevation for 3D features.

Number of points

To create a specified number of point features evenly spaced along a polyline feature, select the feature, click Number of Points , type the number of points, and click Create. The tool calculates the distance between each feature.

For example, if you specify three manhole point features along a 100-meter sewer line, the result is three evenly spaced manholes with 33.33 meters between each feature.

1. In the Catalog pane, do one of the following to add the layer to your map:
   • Expand Databases , expand the database containing your data, and drag the feature class onto the map.
   • To create a new data source, right-click the default database, click New, click Feature Class , type the feature class name, choose Point for the geometry type, select the coordinate system, and click Run .

   The layer is added to the current map, and a feature template with default settings is automatically created.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .

   The Create Features pane appears.

3. In the pane, click a point feature template.

   The template expands to show the tool palette.

4. Click the Active Template button .

   The tool palette and the feature attribute table for the active template appear in the pane.

5. In the attribute table, type the values you want to apply to the new feature.
   • If you are using a group template, in the Templates section, click a template to display its attribute table.
6. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, click Snapping , enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
7. Click Points Along a Line .

   The point construction tabs appear in the pane.

8. Click the Number of Points tab .
9. Click Select a Line , and select the polyline feature along which you want to create point features.

   The feature highlights in the map with arrows indicating its from-to direction.

   

10. If you select more than one feature, click Unselect feature from map next to the item to remove it from the selection.
11. Click the Line Length unit drop-down arrow and set the unit format.
12. To create a point feature at either end of the line, check one or more of the following based on its linear direction:
    • At start of line
    • At end of line
13. In the Number of Points box, type the number of point features you want created.
14. Click Create.

    The specified number of point features are generated evenly spaced along the polyline feature.

Equal distance

To create point features that are evenly spaced at a specified distance, click Equal Distance , type the distance, and click Create. The tool calculates the number of point features created.

For example, if you specify 20 meters between all manhole point features along a 100-meter sewer line, beginning at the start of the line, the result is four evenly spaced manholes.

1. In the Catalog pane, do one of the following to add the layer to your map:
   • Expand Databases , expand the database containing your data, and drag the feature class onto the map.
   • To create a new data source, right-click the default database, click New, click Feature Class , type the feature class name, choose Point for the geometry type, select the coordinate system, and click Run .

   The layer is added to the current map, and a feature template with default settings is automatically created.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .

   The Create Features pane appears.

3. In the pane, click a point feature template.

   The template expands to show the tool palette.

4. Click the Active Template button .

   The tool palette and the feature attribute table for the active template appear in the pane.

5. In the attribute table, type the values you want to apply to the new feature.
   • If you are using a group template, in the Templates section, click a template to display its attribute table.
6. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, click Snapping , enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
7. Click Points Along a Line .

   The point construction tabs appear in the pane.

8. Click the Equal Distance tab .
9. Click Select a Line , and select the polyline feature along which you want to create point features.

   The feature highlights in the map with arrows indicating its from-to direction.

   

10. If you select more than one feature, click Unselect feature from map next to the item to remove it from the selection.
11. Click the Line Length unit drop-down arrow and set the unit format.
12. To toggle the from-to direction of the line, click From Start or From End.
13. To create a point feature at either end of the line, check one or more of the following based on its linear direction:
    • At start of line
    • At end of line
14. In the Distance box, type the distance at which every feature is to be evenly spaced.
15. Click Create.

    Point features are generated, evenly spaced, along the polyline feature at the specified distance.

Varying distances

To specify varying distances between each new point feature, click Varying Distances , type the distance and the number of points to create at the specified distance, and click Create. The tool creates the points in sequential order starting with the first row.

For example, if you specify one manhole point feature at 10, 20, and 30 meters along a 100-meter sewer line, beginning at the start of the line, the result is three manholes with these distances between them, in the order they were typed in the construction table.

1. In the Catalog pane, do one of the following to add the layer to your map:
   • Expand Databases , expand the database containing your data, and drag the feature class onto the map.
   • To create a new data source, right-click the default database, click New, click Feature Class , type the feature class name, choose Point for the geometry type, select the coordinate system, and click Run .

   The layer is added to the current map, and a feature template with default settings is automatically created.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .

   The Create Features pane appears.

3. In the pane, click a point feature template.

   The template expands to show the tool palette.

4. Click the Active Template button .

   The tool palette and the feature attribute table for the active template appear in the pane.

5. In the attribute table, type the values you want to apply to the new feature.
   • If you are using a group template, in the Templates section, click a template to display its attribute table.
6. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, click Snapping , enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
7. Click Points Along a Line .

   The point construction tabs appear in the pane.

8. Click the Varying Distances tab .
9. Click Select a Line , and select the polyline feature along which you want to create point features.

   The feature highlights in the map with arrows indicating its from-to direction.

   

10. If you select more than one feature, click Unselect feature from map next to the item to remove it from the selection.
11. Click the Line Length unit drop-down arrow and set the unit format.
12. To toggle the from-to direction of the line, click From Start or From End.
13. To create a point feature at either end of the line, check one or more of the following based on its linear direction:
    • At start of line
    • At end of line
14. In the construction table, click the first available Distance field, type the distance, and press Enter.
15. Click the Number of Points field, type the number of points you want to create at this distance, and press Enter.

    The current input advances to the next row.

16. Repeat steps 14 and 15 to specify the next distance and number of points until all points you want created are entered in the table.
17. Click Create.

    Point features are created along the polyline feature.