Divide a polygon by a value

In the Modify Features pane, Divide contains methods for dividing a polygon feature into multiple features that have proportional or equal areas, or equal widths. The angular pitch of z-enabled segments is preserved and new vertices are assigned interpolated z-values.

Attribute values from the original feature are copied to the new features. Attributes constrained by attribute domains are determined by the domain split policy defined by the source geodatabase.

You can select an edge on the polygon or sketch a two-point line to define the angular direction of the divisions and the side from which the tool starts dividing the polygon. The optional preview setting shows the direction and divisions on-screen before you modify the feature.

Example of preview

For steps to change the default project units, see Add unit settings for editing.

Note:

This tool is restricted to processing a maximum of 100 multiple features.

Specify proportional areas

Specifying proportional areas divides the entire feature into one or more polygon divisions that are equal in area.

The methods for dividing a polygon feature appear in the pane when you select a polygon feature.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

2. Expand Divide and click Divide .

   The tool opens in the pane.

3. Click Active Select and select the single part or multipart polygon feature you want to divide.
   • If you select a multipart polygon, click the feature again and select the component part you want to divide.

   The methods for dividing a polygon feature appear in the pane.

4. If you select more than one feature, do one of the following in the pane:
   • Double-click the polygon feature item to remove all other features from the selection.
   • Right-click and use the context menu to refine your selection.

     

5. Confirm Show Preview is checked.
6. In the Method section, click Proportional Area .
7. In the Direction section, use one of the following methods to specify the angular direction of the divisions and the side from which to start dividing the polygon. You can click an edge on the polygon or sketch a two-point line.
   • Click Choose a polygon edge to set the direction and click an edge on the polygon.
   • Click Draw a line to set the direction , click the map, drag the pointer, and click the map again.
8. In the Number of parts text box, type the number of parts into which you want the polygon divided.

   Information appears below the parts text box showing the total area of the selected feature and the resulting area for each polygon division.

9. Click Divide.

Specify equal areas

Specifying equal areas divides the feature into a specified number of polygon divisions that are equal in area. You can choose to distribute the remaining area equally among the divisions or create a remainder polygon.

The methods for dividing a polygon feature appear in the pane when you select a polygon feature.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

2. Expand Divide and click Divide .

   The tool opens in the pane.

3. Click Active Select and select the single part or multipart polygon feature you want to divide.
   • If you select a multipart polygon, click the feature again and select the component part you want to divide.

   The methods for dividing a polygon feature appear in the pane.

4. If you select more than one feature, do one of the following in the pane:
   • Double-click the polygon feature item to remove all other features from the selection.
   • Right-click and use the context menu to refine your selection.

     

5. Confirm Show Preview is checked.
6. In the Method section, click Equal Area .
7. In the Direction section, use one of the following methods to specify the angular direction of the divisions and the side from which to start dividing the polygon. You can click an edge on the polygon or sketch a two-point line.
   • Click Choose a polygon edge to set the direction and click an edge on the polygon.
   • Click Draw a line to set the direction , click the map, drag the pointer, and click the map again.
   1. Click Switch to start the divisions from the opposite side of the feature.
8. In the Values section, do the following:
   1. In the Area text box, type the area you want the divisions to contain.
   2. In the Number of parts text box, type the number of divisions you want to create.

   Information appears below the parts text box showing the total area of the selected feature, the resulting sum of the areas of the polygon divisions, and the remaining polygon area.

9. Confirm Distribute remaining area equally is checked if you want the remaining area distributed equally among the divisions.
10. Click Divide.

Specify equal widths

Specifying equal widths divides the feature into one or more polygon divisions that span equally across the feature. When the remaining width is less than the specified width, you can choose to merge the last division with its adjacent division.

The methods for dividing a polygon feature appear in the pane when you select a polygon feature.

Note:

When Ground to Grid is turned on, the width values you enter are scaled for the resulting polygon widths.

To learn more, see Turn ground to grid corrections on or off.

1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

2. Expand Divide and click Divide .

   The tool opens in the pane.

3. Click Active Select and select the single part or multipart polygon feature you want to divide.
   • If you select a multipart polygon, click the feature again and select the component part you want to divide.

   The methods for dividing a polygon feature appear in the pane.

4. If you select more than one feature, do one of the following in the pane:
   • Double-click the polygon feature item to remove all other features from the selection.
   • Right-click and use the context menu to refine your selection.

     

5. Confirm Show Preview is checked.
6. In the Method section, click Equal Width .
7. In the Direction section, use one of the following methods to specify the angular direction of the divisions and the side from which to start dividing the polygon. You can click an edge on the polygon or sketch a two-point line.
   • Click Choose a polygon edge to set the direction and click an edge on the polygon.
   • Click Draw a line to set the direction , click the map, drag the pointer, and click the map again.
   1. Click Switch to start the divisions from the opposite side of the feature.
8. In the Values section, do the following:
   1. In the Width text box, type the distance you want the divisions to span.
   2. In the Number of parts text box, type the number of divisions you want to create.

   Information appears below the parts text box showing the total area of the selected feature, the resulting sum of the areas of the polygon divisions, and the remaining polygon area.

9. Confirm Merge remaining area is checked if you want the remaining width merged with its adjacent division.

   Note:

   If the remaining width is equal to or greater than the specified width, the divisions are not merged.

10. Click Divide.