Work with the geodatabase topology

When a parcel fabric is created, a geodatabase topology is also created. The geodatabase topology includes a set of default, predefined topology rules that define the spatial relationships between parcel features. You can define additional topology rules and attribute rules to enforce data quality standards in your organization.

Parcel type behavior can also be defined by additional geodatabase topology rules and attribute rules. For example, certain parcel types, such as easement parcels, can be allowed to overlap, whereas other parcel types are not allowed to overlap.

When a parcel fabric is created and parcel types are added, parcel fabric feature classes are added to the topology and the default topology rules are applied.

Tip:
Run the Disable Parcel Topology geoprocessing tool to remove topology rules from the parcel fabric feature classes. Run the Enable Parcel Topology geoprocessing tool to reenable the parcel fabric topology. When disabling the parcel topology, user-added rules are not disabled.

Predefined topology rules

The parcel fabric is validated using the following default set of geodatabase topology rules:

  • Lines - Endpoint Must Be Covered By - Points
  • Lines - Must Not Have Dangles
  • Lines - Must Not Self-Overlap
  • Lines - Must Not Self-Intersect
  • Lines - Must Be Covered By Boundary Of - Polygons
  • Polygon - Boundary Must Be Covered By - Lines

Learn more about geodatabase topology rules for point, line, and polygon features.

Validate the topology

The parcel fabric geodatabase topology is validated using the Error Inspector. On the Quality tab in the Evalutation group, click Error Inspector Error Inspector to open the Error Inspector. Ensure that the parcel fabric geodatabase topology is set for Source and click Validate Validate Extent.

After validation, rule errors are displayed as a rows in the Error Inspector table. Select a row to preview, see details, and fix methods for the error. You can also right-click a row to zoom to the error, and see more details about the error and options to fix it.

Rule errors are symbolized on the map by their participating features, for example, line errors, point errors, and polygon errors. Ensure that the parcel fabric layer as well as the topology error sublayers are turned on in the Contents pane to see rule errors symbolized on the map.

Learn more about validating the topology

Fix errors

To fix a topology error, select the error in the Error Inspector pane and click the Fix tab on the preview window to display available fixes. Use the Fix Error tool Fix Error to fix errors in the map with a predefined fix.

If parcels are not built, the following errors may appear:

  • Lines - Must Be Covered By Boundary Of - Polygons
  • Polygon - Boundary Must Be Covered By - Lines
  • Lines - Endpoint Must Be Covered By - Points

These errors can be fixed by building parcels. When parcels are built, missing parcel features (points, lines, or polygons) are created.

If topology errors occur because existing parcel features are not topologically aligned with each other, you can use parcel alignment and editing alignment tools to align the parcel features.