Create polyline features

In the Create Features pane, feature construction tools for polyline feature layers create singlepart and multipart polyline features. Segment construction tools specific to the active tool are available on the construction toolbar and mini toolbar above the context menu when you right-click the map.

When you use a polyline construction tool, consider the following:

• Vertices for 3D z-aware features are assigned z-values based on your current elevation settings.
• Click the Active template button to override attributes values, and set optional tool settings.
• To resume editing an existing feature, use the Continue Feature tool .

Create multisegment polyline features

The Line tool creates straight line segments between vertices you click on the map.

To create a multisegment or densified polyline feature, complete the following steps:

1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

   Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the Create Features pane, click a polyline feature template.

   To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box and enter your search criteria. Search is not case-sensitive.

4. Click the Line tool .

   To override default attribute values or change optional tool settings, click the Active Template button and click the following tabs:

   Attributes	Type values in the attribute fields to override the source default values.
   Line	Check the Densify Lines check box to create densified line segments.

5. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   Alternatively, right-click, click Absolute X,Y,Z and type the coordinate location.

   Tip:

   After creating the first vertex, you can click the Two-Point Line tool and continue sketching a two-point line without losing the vertex.

6. Move the pointer and click the map to create the first segment. Repeat this step until the feature is fully developed.

   To create other segment types or trace existing features, click the corresponding segment construction tool on the construction toolbar.

   

   When you create segments, consider the following:

   • Right-click the map to type a numeric value for direction, distance, or elevation, override active snap settings and snap to other features, or to apply a geometric constraint.
   • To modify unfinished geometry as you draw the feature, click the Vertex Editing button on the construction toolbar and turn on vertex editing.
7. To finish the feature, click Finish , or press F2.

   Alternatively, to create another part for a multipart feature, right-click and click Finish Part .

Create two-point line features

The Two-Point Line tool creates two-point line features and automatically finishes the feature when you create the second vertex.

If the source feature class is COGO-enabled, the values you type into COGO-aware direction and distance tools are stored with the feature in the Direction and Distance attribute fields, respectively.

To create two-point line features, complete the following steps:

1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

   Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the Create Features pane, click a polyline feature template.

   To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box and enter your search criteria. Search is not case-sensitive.

4. Click the Two-Point Line tool .

   To override default attribute values or change optional tool settings, click the Active Template button and click the following tabs:

   Attributes	Type values in the attribute fields to override the source default values.
   Two-Point Line	Check the Continue Two-Point Lines check box to create a contiguous sequence of two-point lines with each new line starting at the last vertex of the previous line feature.

5. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   Alternatively, right-click, click Absolute X,Y,Z and type the coordinate location.

6. Move the pointer and click the map to create the second vertex and automatically finish the feature.

   Alternatively, right-click, click Absolute X,Y,Z and type the coordinate location.

   To create a two-point arc, click the corresponding segment construction tool on the construction toolbar.

   

Create radial two-point features

The Radial tool creates two-point line features that radiate from a common location. The first click establishes the center location from which all subsequent features radiate.

To create radial two-point line features, complete the following steps:

1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

   Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the Create Features pane, click a polyline feature template.

   To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box and enter your search criteria. Search is not case-sensitive.

4. Click the Radial tool .

   To override default attribute values, click the Active Template button and type them in the attributes table.

5. Click the map to create the common location from which all two-point line features are to radiate.

   Subsequent clicks create two-points line features with the first vertex automatically generated at this location.

   Alternatively, right-click, click Absolute X,Y,Z and type the coordinate location.

6. Move the pointer and click the map to create the first feature. Repeat this step until all radial two-point features are created.

   Alternatively, right-click, click Absolute X,Y,Z and type the coordinate location .

7. Click Finish , or press F2.

Create freehand polyline features

The Freehand tool creates free-form polyline segments following the movement of the pointer.

When you use this tool, consider the following:

• Snapping is automatically turned off until you finish the feature.
• The construction toolbar is not available with this tool.

To create a freehand polyline feature, complete the following steps:

1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

   Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, and the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing.

2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the Create Features pane, click a polyline feature template.

   To find a feature template containing a specific word or phrase, click the Search box and enter your search criteria. Search is not case-sensitive.

4. Click the Freehand tool .

   To override default attribute values, click the Active Template button and type them in the attributes table.

5. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   Alternatively, right-click, click Absolute X,Y,Z and type the coordinate location.

6. Move the pointer to create a freehand feature following the movement of the pointer.
7. Click the map to finish the feature.

   The segments are automatically converted to Bézier curves.