Create squares and rectangles

The Rectangle tool creates rectangular single-part and multipart features. It is available with line and polygon feature templates. Vertices for z-enabled features are assigned z-values based on the current elevation input mode.

Use only the pointer

To use only the pointer to create a rectangle, click to place the first corner, drag and click to set the rotation angle, and click again to create the diagonal corner. To constrain the aspect ratio to a square, press and hold Shift.

1. If the current map does not contain a line or 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 line or 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, in the Snapping group, enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
3. Show the Create Features pane and choose a line or a polygon feature template.
   1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
   2. In the pane, click a line or polygon feature template.
   3. To modify attributes, click the Active template button .
4. Click the Rectangle tool and click the map to create the first corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6.
5. Set the rotation angle.
   • To set the angle with the pointer, move the pointer and click the map.
   • To type an angular value, right-click and click Direction or press A.
   • To constrain the pointer horizontal, click and turn on Horizontal / Grid Aligned on the construction toolbar.

     This setting is also available on the context menu when you right-click the map.

     

     Note:

     When the reference grid is turned on, the pointer is constrained to the reference grid rotation angle.

6. To constrain the aspect ratio to a square, click Square on the construction toolbar.

   This setting is also available on the context menu when you right-click the map.

   

   Tip:

   To temporally constrain the shape to a square while you drag the pointer, press and hold Shift.

7. Move the pointer and click the map to create the opposite corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , press F6.

Specify values for width and length

To specify values for width and length, sketch two points to create the first corner and rotation angle, and right-click to specify values for the remaining sides.

1. If the current map does not contain a line or 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 line or 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, in the Snapping group, enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
3. Show the Create Features pane and choose a line or a polygon feature template.
   1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
   2. In the pane, click a line or polygon feature template.
   3. To modify attributes, click the Active template button .
4. Click the Rectangle tool and click the map to create the first corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6.
5. Set the rotation angle.
   • To set the angle with the pointer, move the pointer and click the map.
   • To type an angular value, right-click and click Direction or press A.
   • To constrain the pointer horizontal, click and turn on Horizontal / Grid Aligned on the construction toolbar.

     This setting is also available on the context menu when you right-click the map.

     

     Note:

     When the reference grid is turned on, the pointer is constrained to the reference grid rotation angle.

6. Specify the width and height.
   1. Right-click, click Width , type the value, and press Enter.
   2. Right-click, click Height , type the value, and press Enter.

      

Specify values for direction and size

To specify values for direction and size, sketch one point to create the first corner, and right-click to specify values for the rotation angle and remaining sides.

1. If the current map does not contain a line or 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 line or 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, in the Snapping group, enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
3. Show the Create Features pane and choose a line or a polygon feature template.
   1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
   2. In the pane, click a line or polygon feature template.
   3. To modify attributes, click the Active template button .
4. Click the Rectangle tool and click the map to create the first corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6.
5. Right-click, click Direction/Size, type the values, and press Enter.

   

Keyboard shortcuts

Create a rectangle

Keyboard shortcuts for the Rectangle construction tool

Keyboard shortcut	Action	Comment
F6	Specify absolute X,Y,Z .	Open the Absolute X,Y,Z dialog box.
A	Specify the direction .	Open the Direction dialog box.
Shift+drag	Make the shape a square.	Constrain the shape to a square. Create the first point of the rectangle, press the keyboard shortcut, and drag.
Tab	Turns Horizontal / Grid Aligned on or off.	When turned on, the rectangle is constrained vertical or horizontal at 90-degree angles.