Create point and multipoint features

In the Create Features pane, feature templates for point layers include Point and Point At End of Line . These tools create single-point and multipoint features at locations you specify, or at the end of a temporary construction line you create on the map.

When you create z-enabled 3D point features, they are assigned the current z-coordinate elevation setting. For steps to specify z-values, see Specify an elevation for 3D features.

Point

To create a single-point or multipoint feature, click Point and click the map, or right-click and specify the x,y,z coordinate location.

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. Next to the tool palette, click the forward arrow .

   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 Point .
8. Create one or more point features using one of the following methods:
   • Click the map.
   • Right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press the F6 key, type the values in the dialog box, and press Enter.
9. If you are creating a multipoint feature and you are finished adding points, right-click and click Finish , or press the F2 key.

Point At End of Line

To generate a point feature at the end of a temporary construction line you create on the map, click Point At End of Line , create the temporary construction line, and click Finish .

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. Next to the tool palette, click the forward arrow .

   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 Point At End of Line .
8. Create a temporary construction line using one or more of the following methods:
   • Click the map.
   • Right-click and use the context menu to specify x,y,z coordinate locations, or distance and direction.
9. Click Finish , or press the F2 key.

   The point feature is created.

Note:

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

• Point features identify specific x,y,z coordinate locations on a map. You can create objects or data points that don't require lines or areas to store information or convey meaning. Examples include site addresses, water hydrants, and trees.
• Multipoint features store collections of point features as a single point feature with one set of attributes. For example, lidar point clusters are often stored as multipoint features to simplify their manageability and improve read-write performance. Multipoint features can only be stored in a multipoint feature class.