Create adjoining polygons

The Autocomplete Polygon tool and Autocomplete Freehand Polygon tool create polygon features with boundaries that are coincident with adjacent features on the same layer. These tools are available in the Create Features pane with polygon feature templates.

When you use these tools, consider the following:

• If the new feature geometry spans across two or more unconnected polygon features, the first and last vertex must be inside or touch the same polygon.
• Vertices are inserted on existing features to maintain coincidence between adjacent features.
• Vertices for 3D z-aware features are assigned z-values based on the current elevation settings.

Autocomplete multisegment polygon features

The Autocomplete Polygon tool creates an adjoining multisegmented polygon feature with segment types available on the segment construction toolbar.

To create a multisegment adjoining polygon feature, complete the following steps:

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 Create .
3. In the Create Features pane, click a polygon feature template.
4. Click the Autocomplete Polygon tool.

   To override default attribute values, click the Active Template button and type them in the attributes table.

5. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   To type the coordinate location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z .

6. Move the pointer and click the map to create the first segment.

   Repeat this step until the feature is fully developed. Draw the feature with the first and last segments crossing the shared boundary in at least two places.

   To create other segment types or trace existing features, click the corresponding segment construction tool on the construction toolbar.

   

   To enter values, constrain segments, or edit geometry as you draw the feature, use the following methods:

   • Right-click the map to type a numeric value for direction, distance, or elevation, override active snap settings and snap to other features, or apply a geometric constraint.
   • To modify unfinished geometry as you draw the feature, click the Vertex Editing button on the construction toolbar and turn on vertex editing.

7. Click Finish , or press F2 to complete the feature.

   The overlapping segments are automatically trimmed and the shared boundary is automatically generated.

Autocomplete a freehand polygon feature

The Autocomplete Freehand Polygon tool creates an adjoining polygon feature with free-form segments following the movement of the pointer. When you finish the feature, the segments are converted to Bézier curves.

When you use this tool, consider the following:

• Snapping is automatically turned off until you finish the feature.
• The construction toolbar is not available with this tool.

To create a freehand adjoining polygon feature, complete the following steps:

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 Create .
3. In the Create Features pane, click a polygon feature template.
4. Click the Autocomplete Freehand Polygon tool .

   To override default attribute values, click the Active Template button and type them in the attributes table.

5. Click the map to create the first vertex.

   To enter a coordinate location, right-click and click Absolute X,Y,Z .

6. Move the pointer to create a freehand boundary following the movement of the pointer.

   Draw the feature with the first and last segments crossing the shared boundary. If the new geometry spans across two or more unconnected polygon features, the first and last vertex must be inside or touch the same polygon.

7. Click the map to finish the feature.

   The overlapping segments are automatically trimmed, the shared boundary is automatically generated, and the segments are converted to Bézier curves.