Configure a feature template

Feature templates are customized in Template Properties. After a template is created, you can edit the name, add or remove searchable tags, override geodatabase default values, and configure the tool palette.

Adding a feature layer to a map or scene automatically generates a feature template with default settings. You can also create a feature template manually. The layer symbol that appears with the template name is derived from the source layer symbology.

Tabs appear dynamically for specific feature types.

• Annotation—This tab is available only with annotation feature templates.
• Dimension—This tab is available only with dimension feature templates.
• Relationship—This tab is available only when the source feature layer participates in a relationship class as the origin with a destination standalone table in the map.
• Containment—This tab is available only when the source utility network feature layer participates in a containment association.

Tip:

Use the Duplicate command if you need to create several feature templates for the same source layer and configure them with different attributes values.

Show template properties

The manage templates pane

Use the Manage Templates pane to show all templates defined for the current project.

1. On the Edit tab in the Features group, click the Manage Templates dialog box launcher .
2. In the pane, expand Map layers .
3. Click the source layer for the template you want to configure.

   Feature templates defined for the layer appear in the template view.

4. In the template view, click the template.
5. Show Template Properties using one of the following methods:
   • On the toolbar, click Properties .
   • Right-click the template and click Properties .

The create features pane

Use the Create Features pane to show all templates defined for the current map.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
2. Show Template Properties using one of the following methods:
   • Right-click the template and click Properties .
   • Click the forward arrow , click Active Template Options , and click Properties .

Configure the tool palette

On the Tools tab, choose which tool runs automatically when a template is clicked and show or hide the other tools that appear on the tool palette. The construction tools that are available to a template depend on the template type and the feature type it creates.

1. Click Tools.
2. To set the default construction tool, click and enable Click to set as default tool.

   The default tool runs automatically when the template is selected

3. To show a tool in the tool palette, check Toggle tool visibility.

Set attribute values

On the Attributes tab, type attributes values in the applicable fields to override the default geodatabase values and apply them to features the template creates.

This tab is not available with annotation or dimension feature templates.

1. Click Attributes.
2. To show all hidden attribute fields, check Show nonvisible fields.
3. In the feature attribute table, type the attribute values you want applied to new features.
   • To view a default geodatabase value, hover over the field name.
   • For attributes that symbolize the layer with coded domain values, click Add All Values and choose a symbol class when the layer is symbolized with a unique value renderer.
4. To display a field in the Create Features pane below the tool palette, check Prompt for attribute value.

   Tip:

   Use prompting to streamline a workflow that otherwise requires clicking the Active Template forward arrow and typing an attribute value each time a feature is created.

5. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Field color codes

Fields that perform specific functions are highlighted with a color. The color codes are described in the following table:

Attribute field color codes

Field color	Description
Orange	Subtype field.
Purple	Symbolizes the layer.
Yellow	The field Highlight property is enabled in the attribute table Fields view.

Add a table template

The Relationship tab is available only when the source feature layer participates in a relationship class as the origin with a table in the map as the destination. Adding a table template adds a new record (row) to the destination table for each feature the template creates.

A common practice is to set a feature template attribute to store or prompt for an origin primary key value. When you create a feature, a new record is generated in the destination table with the associated foreign key and the attribute values you specified with the table template.

Tip:

Use table templates to streamline a workflow that routinely uses Add New To Relationship to edit feature relationships in the Attributes pane.

1. Click Relationships.
2. Click Add , click the drop-down arrow, click a table template, and click Add.
   • To remove the template, hover over the template name and click Delete .
   • To replace the template, hover over the template name, click Edit , choose another table template, and click Apply.

   If only one table template exists in the map for the source feature, it is automatically added to the template.

3. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Add a containment template

The Containment tab is available only when the source utility network feature layer participates in a containment association. Add a containment template to include associated nonspatial objects with each feature the template creates.

The steps are the same as adding a table template.

Tip:

Use containment templates to streamline a workflow that routinely uses Add New To Container to add nonspatial objects in the Attributes pane.

Configure annotation properties

The Annotation tab is available only with annotation feature templates. You can specify a default text string, text symbol, formatting options, and annotation class subtype.

To learn more, see Manage annotation feature class properties.

1. Click Annotation.
2. In the text box, type the default text string you want to apply to new annotation features.
3. To change the font type, style, or size of the text, click the designated tool.
4. Set the annotation feature class and symbol.

   When an annotation feature class has more than one annotation class, the annotation classes appear as subtypes.

   1. Click the AnnotationClassID field and set the annotation class subtype.
   2. Click the SymbolID field and set the symbol number.
   3. To display a field in the Create Features pane below the tool palette, check Prompt for attribute value.
5. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.

Configure dimension properties

The Dimensions tab is available only with dimension feature templates. You can customize the dimension text value, angular orientation, and override display settings for dimensions lines and other symbol properties.

To learn more, see Modify a dimension.

1. On the Template Properties dialog box, click Dimension.
2. Do one or more of the following to customize the dimension:
   • Expand Text to modify or restore the text value, orientation angle, or placement.
   • Expand Dimension Lines to draw or hide dimension lines, or change the arrowhead symbology.
   • Expand Extension Lines to change the dimension line, and draw or hide extension lines.
3. Click OK.

   Your settings are saved and the dialog box closes.