Configure settings for editing

Before you edit a feature layer, there are several map, layer, and editing settings to consider that can make your editing experience easier and more successful. Map and layer settings are available in the Contents pane. Editing settings are available on the ribbon Edit tab.

The following sections are structured as a checklist to which you can refer when you create or modify features. They are not comprehensive steps you must complete from start to finish.

Tip:

On the ribbon View tab, click the Reset Panes drop-down arrow in the Windows group , and choose Reset Panes for Editing to open a predefined set of editing panes.

Add feature data

A feature layer references feature data that is stored in a geodatabase or a service. To edit features on a layer, add the feature data in the Catalog pane to the active map. If the data doesn’t exist create the feature class.

To add feature data from the Catalog pane, complete the following steps:

1. On the ribbon View tab, click Catalog pane in the Windows group.

   The Contents pane appears.

2. Click the Project tab.
3. Expand the Databases folder and find your data.
4. Drag the feature class to the active map.

   Alternatively, right-click the feature class, and click Add to Current map .

   Note:

   Basic feature templates are automatically generated with the default setting for each feature layer you add to a map.

Review the coordinate system

When you create or modify features, all edits occur in the coordinate system that is assigned to the current map. If the data source is stored in a different coordinate system, the data is synchronously projected on the fly to the map coordinate system.

For most editing operations and most coordinate system transformations, the integrity and accuracy of your edits are maintained. However, depending on the coordinate systems being used, certain editing operations may produce unexpected alignment or accuracy errors.

For best results, specify a coordinate system for the current map that matches the coordinate system of the layer or layers you are editing.

To view the coordinate system assigned to the current map, complete the following steps:

1. On the ribbon View tab, click Contents in the Windows group.

   The Contents pane appears.

2. Right-click the map name, and click Properties.
3. Click the Coordinate Systems tab.
4. Click OK to save the settings and close the dialog box.

Set the layer display field

When you select features for editing, they are listed in tool pane selection trees by their display field layer property setting. By default, it is set to the first available string field in the feature layer containing the word name in the field name. If the field is null, the FID field value is shown.

You can change the display field on the Layer Properties dialog box or write a custom display expression for easier identification. This property setting is also used by the selection chip, MapTips, Pop-ups, published map services, and other areas of ArcGIS Pro that identify a feature layer.

Review permissions and warnings

Before editing feature data, review the editing permissions, warnings, and version status for the maps, layers, and related data in your map.

To view this information, complete the following steps:

1. On the ribbon Edit tab, click Status in the Manage Edits group.

   The Editing Status dialog box appears.

2. Click and expand Noneditable or Editable with warnings , drill down to a workspace, and view information about its data source.

   To open related help, click Tell me about this error next to a status message.

3. Click Close.

Set the source layer selectable and editable

To create or modify features, the source layer must be set to selectable and editable on their respective tabs in the Contents pane.

To enable these settings, perform the following steps:

1. On the ribbon View tab, click Contents in the Windows group.

   The Contents pane appears.

2. Click the List By Selection tab , and check the layer check box for the layer you are editing.
3. Click the List By Editing tab , and check the layer check box for the layer you are editing.

Enable snap agents

Snapping controls the accuracy of the pointer when you hover near a vertex, an endpoint, or other geometric element. Turn on snapping and enable a combination of snap agents that help you work efficiently and accurately.

Tip:

Press the Spacebar to temporarily turn snapping off while you create or modify features.

To enable snap agents, complete the following steps:

1. Click Snapping on the status bar to turn Snapping on and off.

   

   Alternatively, on the ribbon, click the Edit tab. Click Snapping in the Snapping group.

2. Hover over Snapping on the status bar and enable or disable snap agents.

   

   Alternatively, on the ribbon, click the Edit tab. Click the Snapping drop-down arrow in the Snapping group.

Turn map topology on or off

Map topology is an editing mode that maintains coincident boundaries with adjacent features. To avoid unexpected results, the best practice is to enable map topology only when you are actively making topological edits.

Note:

Some tools include Features and Edges tabs only when map topology or a geodatabase topology is enabled. These tabs allow you to quickly switch between editing feature geometry and topological edges and nodes.

Editor tracking

Editor tracking is an optional setting that you can use to track who edits features and when edits are made to a feature class or table. Once you enable editor tracking, each time an edit is made, information about the editor is automatically recorded in the designated fields.

Tip:

To enable editor tracking for multiple feature classes in a batch process, add the Enable Editor Tracking geoprocessing tool to a model in ModelBuilder and use an iterator to cycle through datasets, feature classes or tables.