Polyline and polygon construction tools—ArcGIS Pro

The Polyline and polygon construction tools listed in following tables are available in the Create Features pane with editing templates that create polyline and polygon features. Some tools include optional settings that are available in the Active Template view.

Activating a construction tool displays the construction toolbar that contains intersection tools, and segment construction tools for creating linear and curvilinear segments such as arcs. The toolbar is also available above the context menu when you right-click the map.

Additionally, the construction toolbar includes settings that you can use to edit unfinished vertices or preserve the proportionality of segments when you drag a vertex.

When you use polyline or polygon construction tools, consider the following:

To apply a specific geometric constraint, right-click an existing feature.
To type a numeric value for direction, distance, or elevation, right-click the map.
To create three-dimensional (3D) features, for example, 3D buildings or vertical polygons, use the multipatch construction tools.

Polygon tools

Polygon feature construction tools are described in the following table:


Tool	Description	Settings in the Active Template view
Polygon	Create irregular polygon features. Feature geometry can comprise straight and curvilinear segments using the segment tools that appear on the construction toolbar.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Regular Polygon	Create equilateral polygon features at a specified center point with a specified circumscribed radial distance. The number of segments is a property of the tool.	Sides—Specifies the number of sides. Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Freehand	Create a free-form polygon with the pointer. When you finish the sketch, all segments are converted to Bézier curves.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
AutoComplete Polygon	Create polygon features adjoined to existing polygon features on the same layer. Coincident segments are automatically generated along any traceable segments between the first and last vertices that are sketched across or touching existing polygon features.
AutoComplete Freehand Polygon	Create a free-form polygon with the pointer. When you finish the sketch, all segments are converted to Bézier curves.
Rectangle	Create planar rectangular or square features using the pointer or numeric values.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Circle	Create planar circular features using the pointer or numeric values to specify a center and a radius.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Three Point Circle	Create planar circular features using the pointer or numeric values to specify three points defining the circumference.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Ellipse	Create planar ellipse features using the pointer or numeric values.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Right Angle Polygon	Create geometry segments with straight line segments constrained to 90 degrees from each previous segment.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Trace	Create continuous segments that follow the geometry of other features on layers with snapping enabled.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.
Streaming	Create a free-form sketch by automatically creating vertices at constant intervals as you drag the pointer. This tool is available on the construction toolbar and context menu when you create a polyline or a polygon feature.	Modify existing polygons to prevent overlapping—Automatically clips existing polygons on the same layer if they overlap the new feature.

Polyline tools

Polyline feature construction tools are described in the following table:


Tool	Description	Settings in the Active Template view
Line	Create polyline features comprising multiple straight and curvilinear segments.	Densify Lines—Creates densified line segments. Sample Distance—Specifies the distance between each vertex for densified segments.
Two-point Line	Create two-point line features. The feature is automatically finished when you create the second vertex.	Continue Two-Point Lines—Creates a continuous sequence of two-point lines with each new line starting at the last vertex of the previous line feature.
Radial	Create a series of two-point line features that radiate from a common location.
Freehand	Create a free-form polyline feature that follows the pointer. Clicking the map a second time finishes the feature and automatically converts the segments to a series of Bézier curves.
Right Angle Polygon	Create straight segments constrained to 90 degrees from each previous segment.
Split	Create a polyline feature across an existing line feature on the same layer and split both lines where they intersect.
Rectangle	Create planar rectangular or square features using the pointer or numeric values.
Regular Polygon	Create equilateral polygon features at a specified center point with a specified circumscribed radial distance. The number of segments is a property of the tool.	Sides—Specifies the number of sides.
Circle	Create planar circular features using the pointer or numeric values to specify a center and a radius.
Three Point Circle	Create planar circular features using the pointer or numeric values to specify three points defining the circumference.
Ellipse	Create planar ellipse features using the pointer or numeric values.
Trace	Create continuous segments that follow the geometry of other features on layers with snapping enabled.
Streaming	Create a free-form sketch by automatically creating vertices at constant intervals as you drag the pointer. This tool is available on the construction toolbar and context menu when you create a polyline or a polygon feature.

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