Project and application options for editing

Project and application options allow you to customize default settings for ArcGIS Pro. The default settings for editing feature data are available in the project Options dialog box on the Editing side tab.

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 Edit ribbon tab, in the Manage Edits group.

For quick access to options for editing, click the Editing Options dialog box launcher Launcher on the Edit ribbon 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.

Administrator settings

Administrators can manage and deploy a select number of application settings for ArcGIS Pro on behalf of a team or organization. The settings for editing that are available to administrators are noted in the following sections. If they appear locked in the Options dialog box, consult your system administrator.

Edit sessions

Application options for edit sessions allow you to either keep editing tools enabled or manually enable them on the Edit ribbon 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 or disable editing from the Edit tab

Requires editing tools to be manually enabled and disabled on the Edit ribbon tab and must be set to run multiple or single workspace edit sessions.

Turn off this option to keep editing tools enabled and allow ArcGIS Pro to automatically manage workspace edit sessions. This is the default setting.

Verified

Multiple workspace edit session

Sets the option for manually enabling editing tools to allow 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.

This setting is available when the Enable or disable editing from the Edit tab option is enabled.

Verified

Single workspace edit session

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

This setting is available when the Enable or disable editing from the Edit tab option is enabled.

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 the editing checkbox in the Contents pane for an editable layer when it is added to a map or a scene.

Verified

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.

Verified

Save edits when saving a project

Automatically saves edits when a project is saved.

Verified

Show dialog to confirm save edits

The Save Edits dialog box appears and requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when the Save Edits command is clicked.

Verified

Show dialog to confirm discard edits

The Discard Edits dialog box appears and requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when the Discard Edits command is clicked.

Verified

Deactivate an active editing tool when saving or discarding

Automatically deactivates the active editing tool and runs the Explore tool Explore Tool when edits are saved or discarded.

Attributes

Application options for editing attributes include settings to enforce attribute validation and set warning prompts for editing attributes and subtypes in the Attributes pane. 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.

Verified

Auto Apply attribute edits

Sets the default position of the Auto Apply toggle button Auto Apply in the Attributes pane.

Verified

Warn on subtype change

The Change Subtype dialog box requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when a subtype value is changed.

Uncommitted attribute edits

The Attributes dialog box requires edits to be applied or cancelled if Auto Apply is turned off and the selection is changed while a field contains uncommitted edits. It can be configured to always appear, or never appear and silently apply or discard uncommitted edits.

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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 overlapping z-aware polygons are merged 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 an edge or vertex is moved.

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 an edge or vertex is moved.

Uncommitted geometry edits

The active tool dialog box requires the results of an active sketch tool to be applied or discarded if another sketch tool is activated before a sketch is finished. It can be configured to always appear, or never appear and silently apply or discard the results of the active sketch tool.

Verified

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.

Verified

Show feature symbology in the sketch

Draws actively sketched feature geometry using the current feature symbology.

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 the vertices of an unfinished line or polygon feature to be modified while the geometry is sketched.

Show dialog to confirm deleting data

The Delete dialog box appears and requires edits to be confirmed or canceled when the Delete command is clicked.

Verified

Touch screen input for new features

If a device is touch-enabled, allows features to be created by touching the screen in addition to using the mouse and keyboard.

Show the editing toolbar on the map

The editing toolbar appears when its associated editing tool is active. You can configure its size and location.

Default tool when deactivating editing tools

Sets the default tool to either the Explore tool Explore Tool or the Select tool Active Select when an editing tool is deactivated.

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

Sets feature-linked annotation to automatically follow its associated line features.

Automatically follow linked polygon features

Sets feature-linked annotation to automatically follow its associated polygon features.

Use placement properties defined in the annotation class

Places feature-linked annotation using the placement properties defined in the source annotation feature class.

Make annotation parallel Parallel

Aligns straight annotation parallel to a feature by default. When annotation is created, this can be overridden on the toolbar and changed to perpendicular.

Make annotation perpendicular Perpendicular

Aligns straight annotation perpendicular to a feature by default.

Make annotation curved Curved

Aligns curved annotation to follow the contours of a 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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