Edit feature segments

The Edit Vertices tool Edit Vertices moves, adds, and deletes the vertices and segments that comprise a polyline or polygon feature. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

You can drag a segment to a new location; change a segment to a line, an arc, or a Bezier curve; edit the radius of an arc; and reshape a Bezier curve. To edit topological edges, turn on map topology.

Drag a segment

To move a segment by dragging it, click the selection tool on the edit vertices toolbar, and hover over the segment until the segment pointer appears.

  1. On the Edit tab, turn off topology, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Modify Features pane.
    1. In the Manage Edits group, click the topology arrow and choose No Topology No Topology.
    2. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu List By Snapping and enable your snapping preferences.

      To temporarily turn snapping off while you edit a feature, press and hold the Spacebar.

    3. In the Features group, click Modify Modify Features.
  2. Expand Reshape and click Vertices Edit Vertices.
  3. In the pane, click Select Active Select, and select a polyline or polygon feature.
    • To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the tree view, and click Unselect Clear Selected or Only Select This List By Selection.
      Context menu
  4. Click the selection tool on the edit vertices toolbar.

    Vertices toolbar

  5. Hover over the segment until the segment pointer appears.
  6. Drag the segment to the new location.
  7. To finish the feature, right-click and click Finish Finish, or press the F2 key.

Change a segment

To convert a segment's geometry to a straight segment, an arc, or Bezier curve, right-click the segment and click Change Segment.

  1. On the Edit tab, turn off topology, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Modify Features pane.
    1. In the Manage Edits group, click the topology arrow and choose No Topology No Topology.
    2. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu List By Snapping and enable your snapping preferences.

      To temporarily turn snapping off while you edit a feature, press and hold the Spacebar.

    3. In the Features group, click Modify Modify Features.
  2. Expand Reshape and click Vertices Edit Vertices.
  3. In the pane, click Select Active Select, and select a polyline or polygon feature.
    • To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the tree view, and click Unselect Clear Selected or Only Select This List By Selection.
      Context menu
  4. Hover over the vertex until the vertex pointer appears.
  5. Right-click the vertex, and click one of the following commands:

    Add Vertex Add

    Adds a vertex at the right-clicked location.

    Change Segment

    Changes the right-clicked segment to a line, an arc, or a Bezier curve.

    Reverse Direction Reverse Direction

    Changes the direction of a sketch. The first vertex in the sketch becomes the last vertex.

    Note:

    This command is available only with polyline features. If a COGO direction exists, it is reversed by adding 180 degrees to the attribute value.

    Change Length Trim to Length

    Changes the total length of a sketched line to the specified value.

    • A positive value preserves the location of the first vertex.
    • A negative value preserves the location of the last vertex.

    Note:

    This command is available only with polyline features.

  6. To finish the feature, right-click and click Finish Finish, or press the F2 key.

Edit the radius of an arc

To edit the radius of an arc, drag the arc segment or press R and specify a radius value.

  1. On the Edit tab, turn off topology, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Modify Features pane.
    1. In the Manage Edits group, click the topology arrow and choose No Topology No Topology.
    2. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu List By Snapping and enable your snapping preferences.

      To temporarily turn snapping off while you edit a feature, press and hold the Spacebar.

    3. In the Features group, click Modify Modify Features.
  2. Expand Reshape and click Vertices Edit Vertices.
  3. In the pane, click Select Active Select, and select a polyline or polygon feature.
    • To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the tree view, and click Unselect Clear Selected or Only Select This List By Selection.
      Context menu
  4. Hover over the segment until the segment pointer appears.
  5. Drag the arc segment or press R, type the radius, and press Enter.
  6. To finish the feature, right-click and click Finish Finish, or press the F2 key.

Reshape a Bézier curve

To reshape the curved linear transitions between vertices of a Bezier curve, drag one of the associated control handles that extends outward from a vertex.

  1. On the Edit tab, turn off topology, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Modify Features pane.
    1. In the Manage Edits group, click the topology arrow and choose No Topology No Topology.
    2. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu List By Snapping and enable your snapping preferences.

      To temporarily turn snapping off while you edit a feature, press and hold the Spacebar.

    3. In the Features group, click Modify Modify Features.
  2. Expand Reshape and click Vertices Edit Vertices.
  3. In the pane, click Select Active Select, and select a polyline or polygon feature.
    • To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the tree view, and click Unselect Clear Selected or Only Select This List By Selection.
      Context menu
  4. To change the shape and height of a curve, hover over one of the associated control handles that extends outward from a vertex. When the vertex pointer appears, drag the handle.
    • To drag a control handle that is coincident with a vertex, press and hold Ctrl while dragging.
  5. To finish the feature, right-click and click Finish Finish, or press the F2 key.

Keyboard shortcuts

Edit vertices

Keyboard shortcutActionComment

T+hover

Show vertices within the snapping tolerance.

Flash a square at vertices that are within the current snapping tolerance of the pointer.

Ctrl+Shift+Click

Select multiple vertices.

Drag multiple segments in unison between the selected vertices.

A+click

Add a vertex Add Vertex.

Create a vertex where you click a segment.

D+click

Delete a vertex Delete Vertex.

Delete the clicked vertex.

H+drag

Edit the elevation.

Move a z-enabled vertex vertically and preserve its x,y coordinates. Hover over a control handle until the pointer becomes a vertex and drag the vertex. This shortcut is available in 3D scenes.

Ctrl+drag

Move a Bézier curve.

Move a Bézier curve and preserve its shape. Hover over a curve until the pointer becomes a segment, and drag the curve.

Ctrl+drag

Move a Bézier handle.

Move a Bézier control handle that can't otherwise be selected when it is coincident with another vertex. Hover over a control handle until the pointer becomes a vertex and drag the handle.

Ctrl+H

Move the z-value to the pointer.

Move the z-value for the selected vertex to the elevation of the pointer. The x- and y-values are preserved.

This is available only when stereoscopic mode is enabled.

Ctrl+G

Move the pointer z-value.

Move the pointer z-value to the elevation of the selected vertex.

This is available only when stereoscopic mode is enabled.

Keyboard shortcuts for the Edit Vertices tool

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