Create squares and rectangles

The Rectangle tool creates rectangular single-part features. It is available with line and polygon feature templates. Vertices for z-enabled features are assigned z-values based on the current elevation input mode.

Use only the pointer

To use only the pointer to create a rectangle, click to place the first corner, drag and click to set the rotation angle, and click again to create the diagonal corner. To constrain the aspect ratio to a square, press and hold Shift.

1. If the current map does not contain a line or polygon feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a line or polygon feature class, right-click the database, click New, and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
3. Show the Create Features pane and choose a line or a polygon feature template.
   1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
   2. In the pane, click a line or polygon feature template.
   3. To modify attributes, click the Active template button .
4. Click the Rectangle tool and click the map to create the first corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6.
5. Set the rotation angle.
   • To set the angle with the pointer, move the pointer and click the map.
   • To type an angular value, right-click and click Direction or press A.
   • To constrain the feature orthogonal to the map or to the reference grid when it is turned on, click and turn on Horizontal / Grid Aligned on the construction toolbar or press Tab.

     

     This setting is also available on the context menu when you right-click the map.

6. To constrain the aspect ratio to a square, click Square on the construction toolbar or press Shift to turn this mode on or off.
   • To create a square without changing the drawing mode, press and hold Shift as you drag the pointer.

   

   This setting is also available on the context menu when you right-click the map.

7. Move the pointer and click the map to create the opposite corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , and press F6.

   This setting is also available on the context menu when you right-click the map.

Specify values for length and width

To specify values for width and length, sketch two points to create the first corner and rotation angle, and right-click to specify values for the remaining sides.

1. If the current map does not contain a line or polygon feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a line or polygon feature class, right-click the database, click New, and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
3. Show the Create Features pane and choose a line or a polygon feature template.
   1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
   2. In the pane, click a line or polygon feature template.
   3. To modify attributes, click the Active template button .
4. Click the Rectangle tool and click the map to create the first corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6.
5. Set the rotation angle.
   • To set the angle with the pointer, move the pointer and click the map.
   • To type an angular value, right-click and click Direction or press A.
   • To constrain the feature orthogonal to the map or to the reference grid when it is turned on, click and turn on Horizontal / Grid Aligned on the construction toolbar or press Tab.

     

     This setting is also available on the context menu when you right-click the map.

6. Specify the length and width.
   1. Right-click, click Length or press L, type the value, and press Enter.
   2. Right-click, click Width or press W, type the value, and press Enter.

   

Specify values for direction and size

To specify values for direction and size, sketch one point to create the first corner, and right-click to specify values for the rotation angle and remaining sides.

1. If the current map does not contain a line or polygon feature layer, add it.
   1. On the View tab, click Catalog Pane and expand Databases .
   2. Expand the default database or the database containing your data.

      To create a line or polygon feature class, right-click the database, click New, and click Feature Class.

   3. Drag the feature class onto the map.

      A feature template with default settings is autogenerated for the new layer.

2. On the Edit tab, in the Snapping group, enable your snapping preferences, and move the pointer back to the map.
3. Show the Create Features pane and choose a line or a polygon feature template.
   1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Create .
   2. In the pane, click a line or polygon feature template.
   3. To modify attributes, click the Active template button .
4. Click the Rectangle tool and click the map to create the first corner.
   • To type the location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z , or press F6.
5. Right-click, click Direction/Size or press A, type the values, and press Enter.

   

Keyboard shortcuts

Create a rectangle

Keyboard shortcuts for the Rectangle construction tool

Keyboard shortcut	Action	Comment
Tab	Turn Horizontal / Grid Aligned on or off.	When turned on, constrains the feature vertical or horizontal at 90-degree angles.
A	Specify a direction .	Open the Direction dialog box.
L	Specify a length .	Open the Length dialog box.
W	Specify a width .	Open the Width dialog box.
F6	Specify absolute X,Y,Z .	Open the Absolute X,Y,Z dialog box.
Shift+drag	Make the shape a square.	Constrain the shape to a square. Create the first point of the rectangle, press the keyboard shortcut, and drag.
Shift	Turn Square on or off.	When turned on, constrains the shape to a square.