Edit control points

The Edit Vertices tool Edit Vertices edits control points when control points are enabled. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

When you use this tool to modify control points, consider the following:

  • Enable control points to display and edit control points.
  • Press the T key to display a square viewer that follows the pointer and highlights vertices and control points that are within the pointer snapping tolerance

Add or delete a control point

To add a control point, right-click a segment and click Add Control Point Add Control Point. To delete a control point, hover over the control point, right-click, and click Delete Control Point Delete Control Point.

  1. Add your data, and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

    To ensure that the pointer snaps to an edge, turn on snapping, and enable the Edge snap agent Edge.

  2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify Modify Features.
  3. Click Edit Vertices Edit Vertices in the Modify Features pane.

    To find the tool, expand Reshape, or type Vertices in the Search text box.

  4. Click the Change the selection tool Active Select in the tool pane and select a polyline or polygon feature.

    If you select more than one feature, reselect the feature. Alternatively, click the feature in the pane selection view to flash it in the map, right-click, and click Only Select This List By Selection.

    Note:

    If Map Topology is enabled, click the Features tab to show the feature selection tool.

    The Features and Edges tabs are not required to complete this workflow. These tabs are available only when map topology or a geodatabase topology is enabled so that you can switch between editing feature control points and topological edges and nodes.

    Features and Edges tabs

    The selected feature appears highlighted in the map with control point handles. By default, project settings symbolize the first control point green and the last control point red.

  5. Hover the pointer over the segment.
  6. Right-click the segment when the pointer changes to the segment cursor Segment cursor and click Add Control Point Add Control Point.

    Alternatively, press the A key and click the segment.

  7. To delete a control point, right-click and click Delete Control Point Delete Control Point.

    Alternatively, click the control point and press the Delete key, or press the D key and click the control point.

  8. To finish the feature, click Finish Finish, or press the F2 key.

Select and move a control point

To select and move a control point, drag it with the pointer. To select multiple control points and move them together, press Ctrl+Shift and click to select them.

  1. Add your data, and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

  2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify Modify Features.
  3. Click Edit Vertices Edit Vertices in the Modify Features pane.

    To find the tool, expand Reshape, or type Vertices in the Search text box.

  4. Click the Change the selection tool Active Select in the tool pane and select a polyline or polygon feature.

    If you select more than one feature, reselect the feature. Alternatively, click the feature in the pane selection view to flash it in the map, right-click and click Only Select This List By Selection.

    Note:

    If Map Topology is enabled, click the Features tab to show the feature selection tool.

    The Features and Edges tabs are not required to complete this workflow. These tabs are available only when map topology or a geodatabase topology is enabled so that you can switch between editing feature control points and topological edges and nodes.

    Features and Edges tabs

    The selected feature appears highlighted in the map with control point and control point handles. By default, project settings symbolize the first control point green and the last control point red.

  5. Hover the pointer over the control point.
  6. Drag the control point when the pointer changes to the directional cursor Directional cursor.

    To select and move multiple control points at the same time, press Ctrl+Shift and click to select them.

    To select coincident control points, use the Select By Lasso tool Select By Lasso on the toolbar.

    Select control points

  7. To finish the feature, click Finish Finish, or press the F2 key.

Convert a vertex or control point

To convert a control point to a vertex or a vertex to a control point, right-click the control point or vertex and click the corresponding command.

  1. Add your data, and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

  2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify Modify Features.
  3. Click Edit Vertices Edit Vertices in the Modify Features pane.

    To find the tool, expand Reshape, or type Vertices in the Search text box.

  4. Click the Change the selection tool Active Select in the tool pane and select a polyline or polygon feature.

    If you select more than one feature, reselect the feature. Alternatively, click the feature in the pane selection view to flash it in the map, right-click and click Only Select This List By Selection.

    Note:

    If Map Topology is enabled, click the Features tab to show the feature selection tool.

    The Features and Edges tabs are not required to complete this workflow. These tabs are available only when map topology or a geodatabase topology is enabled so that you can switch between editing feature vertices and topological edges and nodes.

    Features and Edges tabs

    The selected feature appears highlighted in the map with vertex handles. By default, project settings symbolize the first vertex green and the last vertex red.

  5. Hover over the vertex or control point.
  6. Right-click the vertex or control point when the pointer changes to the directional cursor Directional cursor and click one of the following commands:

    Convert Vertex to Control Point Convert Vertex to Control Point

    Available when you right-click a vertex.

    Convert Control Point to Vertex Convert Control Point to Vertex

    Available when you right-click a control point.

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