Project and application options for editing

Project and application options allow you to customize default settings for editing tools and other preferences for editing features. To set default options, click the Options dialog box launcher Launcher on the ribbon Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group.

When you customize options for editing, consider the following:

  • Project options apply only to the currently opened project. If there is no open project, they are not enabled.
  • Application options apply to all new projects. They affect the active project and existing projects when you reopen them.
  • To set preferences for field mapping, snapping, the reference grid, and constraint modes, click Editor Settings Configure tool feedback options on the ribbon Edit tab, in the Manage Edits group.

Units

Project unit options define the units of measurement that are available to editing tools in a map or a scene. They allow you to edit or digitize data using units that are different than the source feature data. These settings are available on the Options dialog box on the Units tab.

Versioning

Application options for versioning allow you to set the versioning type and conflict resolution method for workflows that edit isolated versions of data and merge the changes back to a published version. These settings are available on the Options dialog box on the Versioning tab.

Selections

Application options for selections set the default behavior for interactive selection tools. These settings are available on the Options dialog box on the Versioning tab.

For a quick reference for setting selection options used most when editing feature data, see Set selection options for editing.

System administrator settings

System administrator settings are a subset of application options that administrators can set, lock, and deploy across multiple installations of ArcGIS Pro. System administrator settings for editing are noted in the following tables.

Edit sessions

Application options for edit sessions allow you to either keep editing tools enabled or manually enable them on the ribbon Edit tab and run a Multiple workspace edit session or a Single workspace edit session. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Enable and disable editing from the Edit tab

Manually enables and disables editing tools on the ribbon Edit tab and configure this setting to run automatic or Single workspace edit session.

Verified

Multiple workspace edit session

Allows ArcGIS Pro to select a workspace and automatically start an edit session when data is created or modified. The edit session automatically stops when edits are saved or discarded.

Verified

Single workspace edit session

Requires workspaces to be manually selected with the Choose Workspace dialog box each time editing tools are enabled on the ribbon Edit tab. An edit session starts immediately when the workspace is selected and stops when the editing tools are disabled.

Verified

Layer editability

Application options for editing layers allow you to automatically enable or disable layer editability in the Contents pane when you add a layer to a map or a scene. This setting is listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Make newly added layers editable by default

Automatically enables editing for an editable layer when you add it to a map or a scene.

Saving edits

Application options for saving edits include warning prompts for saving and discarding edits, tool deactivation, and initial layer editability when you add a layer to a map or a scene. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Automatically save edits

Automatically saves edits at recurring intervals specified as minutes or number of operations.

Save edits when saving a project

Automatically saves edits when you save a project.

Show dialog to confirm save edits

Shows the Save Edits prompt and requires you to confirm saving unsaved edits each time you click Saved Edits.

Show dialog to confirm discard edits

Shows the Discard Edits prompt and requires you to confirm discarding unsaved edits each time you click Discard Edits.

Deactivate an active editing tool when saving or discarding

Automatically deactivates the active editing tool when you save or discard edits and runs the Explore tool Explore Tool.

Attributes

Application options for editing attributes include settings to enforce attribute validation and set warning prompts for editing attributes and subtypes. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Enforce Attribute validation

Restricts edits to values that satisfy the validation criteria defined for a field.

Warn on subtype change

Shows the Change Subtype prompt and requires you to confirm edits each time a subtype value is changed.

Uncommitted attribute edits

Shows the Attributes prompt and requires you to confirm edits each time an attribute value is changed.

Geometry

Application options for editing geometry include default settings for the stretch button on the editing toolbar and warning prompts when editing geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Merge z-aware polygons and allow non-planar geometry

Allows nonplanar geometry to be created when you merge overlapping z-aware polygons with edges at different elevations.

Stretch geometry proportionately when moving vertex

Preserves the general shape of a feature by scaling the relative lengths of its segments when you move an edge or a vertex.

Stretch topology proportionately when moving a topology element

Preserves the general shape of connected topological elements by scaling the relative lengths of its edges when you move an edge or an endpoint.

Uncommitted geometry edits

Shows the geometry prompt if an active sketch is not finished and you change the active tool.

Productivity

Application options for productivity set default behavior for a variety of tools including the move tool, double-clicking to finish geometry, prompting when deleting features, touch screen input, and the default editing tool. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Activate Move tool after all paste operations

Automatically runs the Move tool Move after pasting features and enables the active move tool option.

Show feature symbology in the sketch

Displays layer symbology for feature geometry as you draw a feature.

Enable double-click as a shortcut for the Finish button

Runs the Finish command Finish when you double-click a map while drawing a feature with the pointer.

Enable vertex editing while sketching

Allows you to modify unfinished vertices as you draw polyline and polygon feature geometry.

Show dialog to confirm deleting data

Shows the delete prompt each time an operation is going to delete features.

Touch screen input for new features

If your device is touch-enabled, this setting allows you to create features by touching the screen in addition to using the mouse and keyboard.

Show the editing toolbar on the map

Shows the editing toolbar each time you create or modify features using interactive editing tools. You can configure its size and location.

Default tool when deactivating editing tools

Sets the default tool when you deactivate an editing tool to either the Explore tool Explore Tool or the Select tool Active Select.

Follow feature annotation

Application options for follow feature annotation include default settings for placement, orientation, and curved annotation that follows the contours of a feature. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Automatically follow linked line features

Feature-linked annotation automatically follows the contours of its related line features.

Automatically follow linked polygon features

Feature-linked annotation automatically follows the contours of its related polygon features.

Use placement properties defined in the annotation class

Feature-linked annotation is placed based on the properties defined in the annotation feature class.

Make annotation parallel Parallel

Creates straight annotation that is aligned parallel to the feature. As you create new annotation, you can switch this to perpendicular on the toolbar.

Make annotation perpendicular Perpendicular

Creates straight annotation that is aligned perpendicular to the feature.

Make annotation curved Curved

Creates curved annotation that follows the contours of the feature. This setting disables Parallel/Perpendicular Parallel Perpendicular that appears on the toolbar.

Constrain Placement Side cursor is on Cursor side

Dynamically constrains annotation to follow the pointer as you hover to either side of a segment. This setting disables Left/Right Switch side that appears on the toolbar.

Constrain placement Left Left side

Constrains annotation to the left side of the feature based on the direction of the segment.

Constrain placement Right Right side

Constrains annotation to the right side of the feature based on the direction of the segment.

Constrain placement On Line On the line

Constrains annotation centered on the feature segment. This setting disables Left/Right Switch side that appears on the toolbar.

Vertex symbology

Application options for vertex symbology define the symbols used to display unfinished feature vertices as you draw feature geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Vertex unselected Form

Marker symbol

Vertex unselected Color

Marker symbol fill color

Vertex unselected Outline color

Marker symbol outline color

Vertex unselected Outline width

Marker symbol outline width

Vertex unselected Size

Marker symbol size

Vertex unselected Angle

Marker symbol angle

Vertex selected Form

Marker symbol

Vertex selected Color

Marker symbol fill color

Vertex selected Outline color

Marker symbol outline color

Vertex selected Outline width

Marker symbol outline width

Vertex selected Size

Marker symbol size

Vertex selected Angle

Marker symbol angle

Current vertex unselected Form

Marker symbol

Current vertex unselected Color

Marker symbol fill color

Current vertex unselected Outline color

Marker symbol outline color

Current vertex unselected Outline width

Marker symbol outline width

Current vertex unselected Size

Marker symbol size

Current vertex unselected Angle

Marker symbol angle

Current vertex selected Form

Marker symbol

Current vertex selected Color

Marker symbol fill color

Current vertex selected Outline color

Marker symbol outline color

Current vertex selected Outline width

Marker symbol outline width

Current vertex selected Size

Marker symbol size

Current vertex selected Angle

Marker symbol angle

Control point symbology

Application options for point symbology define the symbols used to display unfinished feature control points as you draw feature geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Control point unselected Form

Marker symbol

Control point unselected Color

Marker symbol fill color

Control point unselected Outline color

Marker symbol outline color

Control point unselected Outline width

Marker symbol outline width

Control point unselected Size

Marker symbol size

Control point unselected Angle

Marker symbol angle

Control point selected Form

Marker symbol

Control point selected Color

Marker symbol fill color

Control point selected Outline color

Marker symbol outline color

Control point selected Outline width

Marker symbol outline width

Control point selected Size

Marker symbol size

Control point selected Angle

Marker symbol angle

Segments symbology

Application options for segment symbology define the symbols used to display unfinished feature line segments as you draw feature geometry. These settings are listed in the following table:

SettingDescriptionAdministrator setting

Segments primary color

Fill color

Segments secondary color

Marker symbol fill color

Segments width

Marker symbol outline color

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