Polyline and polygon construction tools

In the Create Features pane, polyline and polygon feature template construction tools create single part and multipart features using predefined methods. Choosing a tool shows its ancillary tools on the construction toolbar.

To apply geometric constraints or specify values for direction, distance, and elevation, right-click the map. To modify sketch geometry, right-click a vertex or segment.

Polygon feature tools

ToolDescription

Polygon Polygon

Creates irregular polygon features. Feature geometry can comprise straight and curvilinear segments using the segment tools that appear on the construction toolbar.

Regular Polygon Regular Polygon Tool

Creates equilateral polygon features at a specified center point with a specified circumscribed radial distance. The number of segments is a property of the tool.

Freehand Freehand

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

AutoComplete Polygon Auto-Complete Polygon

Creates polygon features adjoined to existing polygon features on the same layer. Coincident segments are automatically generated along any traceable segments between the first and last vertices sketched across or touching existing polygon features.

AutoComplete Freehand Polygon Auto-Complete Polygon

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

Rectangle Rectangle

Creates square and rectangular polygon features using a specified length, width, and rotation angle.

Circle Circle

Creates circular polygon features using a center point and a radius or two points that define the circumference and a specified radius.

Three Point CircleThree-Point Circle

Create circular polygons feature using three points you sketch along a specified circumference.

Ellipse Ellipse

Creates elliptical polygon features from four sketched points. The first two points define the center and angle of the ellipse. The third and fourth points specify the total length of the major and minor axes, respectively.

Right Angle PolygonRight Angle Segment

Creates geometry segments with straight line segments constrained to 90-degrees from each previous segment.

Trace Trace

Creates continuous segments that follow the geometry of other features on layers with snapping turned on.

StreamingStreaming

Creates a free-form sketch by automatically creating vertices at constant intervals as you drag the pointer. It is available on the construction toolbar and context menu when you create a polyline or a polygon feature.

Polyline feature tools

ToolDescription

Line Polygon

Creates polyline features. Feature geometry can comprise straight and curvilinear segments using the segment tools that appear on the construction toolbar.

Two-point Line 2-Point Line

Creates two-point single part line features. The sketch is automatically finished when you create the second vertex. You can click the arc tools on the construction toolbar and create two-point arcs.

Radial Spider

Creates a series of two-point radial lines originating from the same location. The first click establishes the origin, and subsequent clicks create the endpoints for each line and finish the current sketch.

Freehand Freehand

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

Right Angle PolygonRight Angle Segment

Creates geometry segments with straight line segments constrained to 90-degrees from each previous segment.

Split Split

Creates a polyline feature across an existing line feature on the same layer and splits both lines where they intersect.

Rectangle Rectangle

Creates square and rectangular polyline features using a specified length, width, and rotation angle.

Circle Circle

Creates circular polyline features using a center point and a radius or two points that define the circumference and a specified radius.

Three Point CircleThree-Point Circle

Create circular polyline feature using three points you sketch along a specified circumference.

Ellipse Ellipse

Creates elliptical polyline features from four sketched points. The first two points define the center and angle of the ellipse. The third and fourth points specify the total length of the major and minor axes, respectively.

Trace Trace

Creates continuous segments that follow the geometry of other features on layers with snapping turned on.

StreamingStreaming

Creates a free-form sketch by automatically creating vertices at constant intervals as you drag the pointer. It is available on the construction toolbar and context menu when you create a polyline or a polygon feature.

Segment construction tools

The following segment tools are available on the construction toolbar with an active polygon and polyline feature tool. The intersection tools tools solve basic analytic geometry problems such as placing a vertex at the intersection of two distances between two coordinate locations.

Segment construction toolbar

ToolDescription

Arc Segment Arc Segment

Creates circular arcs using three points in the following order: a start point, a point through which the arc passes that defines the radius, and the endpoint. To specify a numeric radius value press R.

Endpoint Arc Segment Arc Segment

creates circular arcs using three points in the following order: a start point, an endpoint, and a point through which the arc passes that defines the radius.

Tangent Curve Segment Tangent Arc

Creates circular arcs that are tangent to the previous segment using two points.

Bezier Curve Segment Bezier Curve

Creates nonlinear curves using control points and handles to shape the angle and height of the curve.

Right Angle PolygonRight Angle Segment

Creates geometry segments with straight line segments constrained to 90-degrees from each previous segment.