Create ellipses

You can create ellipses interactively or from known coordinates.

Create ellipses interactively

To interactively create an ellipse by clicking on the map, complete the following steps:

  1. On the ribbon, click the Insert tab.
  2. In the Measurements group, click Distance and Direction Distance and Direction.
  3. In the Distance and Direction pane, click the Ellipse tab.
  4. Click Map Point Tool Map Point Tool.
  5. Click a location on the map to designate the center point of the ellipse.
  6. Click a location on the map to designate the vertex of the major axis.

    Note:
    The direction you move the pointer from the center point to the vertex of the major axis designates the ellipse orientation.

  7. Click a location on the map to designate the vertex of the minor axis.

    An ellipse is created and added to the map.

Create ellipses from known values

To create an ellipse using known coordinates, complete the following steps:

  1. In the Distance and Direction pane, click the Ellipse tab.
  2. Type or paste a coordinate in the Center Point text box.
  3. Type a value in the Major text box.
  4. Type a value in the Minor text box.
  5. Type a value in the Angle text box.
  6. Press Enter or click Create Ellipse.

    An ellipse is created and added to the map.

Change tool units

You can change the units the tool uses to display and label outputs. Use the Units drop-down list to change the units of measure.

Ellipse type

The Ellipse Type drop-down list provides the following ellipse measuring options:

OptionDescription

Semi

The ellipse is drawn and measured using the supplied values as one half of the major axis and one half of the minor axis.

Full

The ellipse is drawn and measured using the supplied values as the full major axis and the full minor axis.