Constrain distance for a segment

On the context menu for editing, Distance locks the length of a new line segment to a specified distance. This command is available when you create or resume editing a polyline or polygon feature.

Note:

When Ground to Grid is turned on, the distance values you enter are scaled for the resulting geometry. When you create two-point COGO enabled lines, the distance values you enter are stored with the feature in the Distance attribute field.

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

Distance

You can constrain the distance of a new segment before or after specifying a direction using units defined for your project. Unit options appear in the drop-down list. To remove the constraint, press Esc.

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

   The Create Features pane appears.

2. Click a polyline or polygon feature template.

   The template expands and displays feature construction tools.

3. Click Line or Polygon .
4. Create the first vertex using one of the following methods:
   • Click the map.
   • Right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6, type the values on the dialog box, and press Enter.
5. Press D, or right-click and click Distance .

   The Distance dialog box appears.

   

6. Type the distance constraint in the format that's correct for the selected units, and press Enter.

   The distance of the new segment locks to the specified value.

7. To remove the constraint, press Esc.
8. Create the segment using one of the following methods:
   • Drag the pointer and click the map.
   • Right-click and click Direction .
9. To finish the feature, right-click and click Finish or press F2.

Dynamic constraints

As an alternative to using a dialog box, you can turn on Dynamic Constraints and use on-screen controls to constrain the distance of a new segment. You can set the direction or distance constraint to appear with the initial focus as you work.

To learn more, see Turn dynamic constraints on or off.

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

   The Create Features pane appears.

2. Click a polyline or polygon feature template.

   The template expands and displays feature construction tools.

3. Click Line or Polygon .
4. Create the first vertex using one of the following methods:
   • Click the map.
   • Right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6, type the values on the dialog box, and press Enter.
5. On the status bar at the bottom of the current map view, click Dynamic Constraints and turn it on.

   Dynamic on-screen controls appear on the map and update as you drag the pointer.

   

   Note:

   Dynamic constraints use the default project units. You can change them on the Options dialog box. To learn more, see Add units of measure for editing.

6. Press the Tab key and cycle through the controls until the distance constraint appears highlighted.
7. Type the distance value and press Enter.

   The distance of the new segment locks to the specified value.

8. Create the segment using one of the following methods:
   • Drag the pointer and click the map.
   • Press the Tab key, cycle through the controls until the direction constraint appears highlighted, and specify a direction.
9. To finish the feature, right-click and click Finish or press F2.