Create polygon features

In the Create Features pane, feature templates for polygon layers include construction tools for creating single-part and multipart polygon features. Additional tools appear on the construction toolbar for tools that can create contiguous arcs and curves.

Vertices for z-enabled features are assigned z-values based on the current elevation input mode setting. To learn more, see Specify an elevation for 3D features.

For steps to create circular or square polygon features see the following topics:

• Create circles and ellipses
• Create squares and rectangles

Tip:

To modify the sketch geometry, right-click a vertex or segment.

Polygon

The Polygon tool creates polygons with multiple segments. You can create segments with the pointer or right-click and type direction and distance values, and use the tools on the construction toolbar to create straight and curved segments.

1. If the current map does not contain a polygon feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a polygon feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Create Features pane.
   1. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.
   2. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the pane, choose a polygon feature template, and click Polygon .
   • To override the default attributes by typing values, click the Active template button .

     Note:

     For group templates, click a template icon to display its attribute table.

4. Create the polygon feature using one or more of the following methods:
   • Click the map, move the pointer, and click the map again.
   • Right-click and use the context menu to specify x,y,z coordinate locations, distance, and direction.
   • Use the tools on the construction toolbar to include other segments in a series of connected arcs, curves, or straight lines.

     

5. To finish a component part of a multipart feature, right-click and click Finish Part , and repeat step 8 to create the next component feature.
6. To finish the feature, right-click and click Finish , or press the F2 key.

Regular polygon

The Regular Polygon tool creates equilateral polygons at a specified center point and a specified radial circumscribed distance. You can create them with the pointer or right-click and type direction and distance values. The number of segments is a property of the tool.

1. If the current map does not contain a polygon feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a polygon feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Create Features pane.
   1. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.
   2. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the pane, choose a polygon feature template, and click Regular Polygon .
   • To change the number of sides the tool creates, click the Active template button , click the Regular Polygon tool icon , and type the numeric value.
4. Create the polygon.
   1. Click the map to create the center point.
   2. Move the pointer to specify the size and rotation angle.

      To type the direction and distance, right-click the map.

5. Press Esc to exit the tool and hide the construction toolbar.

Freehand

The Freehand tool creates a free-form polygon with the pointer. When you finish the sketch, all segments are converted to Bézier curves.

1. If the current map does not contain a polygon feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane , and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a polygon feature class, right-click the database, click New and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Create Features pane.
   1. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.
   2. In the Features group, click Create .
3. In the pane, choose a polygon feature template, and click Freehand .

   If snapping is turned on, it is temporarily disabled until you finish the feature.

   • To override the default attributes by typing values, click the Active template button .

     Note:

     For group templates, click a template icon to display its attribute table.

4. Click the map, drag the pointer, and create the feature.
5. To finish the feature, click the map.

   Finish runs automatically and segments are converted to Bézier curves.

Note:

Polygon feature classes contain the vector geometry of a feature and its descriptive attributes. When you create new polygon features, consider the following:

• Polygon features are fully enclosed areas bound by straight line segments, circular arcs, elliptical arcs, and Bézier curves created between vertices. You can create objects that have closed planar regions. Examples include lakes, vegetation boundaries, and building footprints.
• Multipart polygon features are used to store one or more polygons as a single polygon feature with one set of attributes. For example, you can create a series of noncontiguous island polygons and store them as one island feature. You can create single part and multipart features on the same layer.