Move, rotate, or scale a feature

The Move tool Move, Rotate tool Rotate, and Scale tool Scale manipulate selected features interactively with the pointer or to a specified value. These tools are available in the Modify Features pane.

When you move, rotate, or scale a feature, consider the following:

Move a feature

To move a feature, select and drag it with the pointer. The selection anchor snaps the selected features to another feature. When you select multiple features, you can right-click and align or distribute the features.

  1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work effectively with your data and workflow.

  2. On the Edit ribbon tab, click the topology drop-down arrow in the Manage Edits group, and choose No Topology No Topology.
  3. On the Edit ribbon tab, click Modify Modify Features in the Features group.

    The Modify Features pane appears.

  4. Click the Move tool Move in the Modify Features pane.

    To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Move in the Search text box.

    The Move tool appears in the pane.

  5. Click the Select one or more features tool Active Select, and select the features.

    If features are currently selected, the selection tool displays Change the selection.

    To refine the selection in the selection view, right-click a feature and click Unselect Clear Selected or Only Select This List By Selection.

    A selection anchor appears at the center (centroid) of the envelope for the entire selection set.

  6. To move the selection anchor, press Ctrl, hover the pointer over the anchor and drag it when the pointer changes to the directional cursor Directional cursor.

    The selection anchor snaps to other features using the current snap settings.

  7. Hover the pointer over the selected features until the pointer changes to the move cursor, and drag the features to the new location.

    To move a 3D feature in a scene, drag the selection along the x-, y-, or z-axis handle.

  8. Click Finish Finish on the toolbar or press F2.

Keyboard shortcuts for Move

Keyboard shortcutActionComment

Ctrl and click

Relocate the anchor.

Relocate the selection anchor to the clicked location. You can zoom in to a feature without the current location of the anchor being visible in the active view.

Ctrl and drag

Move the anchor.

Move the selection anchor.

Keyboard shortcuts for the Move tool

Rotate a feature

To rotate a feature, select and drag it, or press A and type an angle. The selection anchor locates the center of rotation. To rotate and snap the selected features to another feature, press S and use the auxiliary anchor. By default, it appears near the pointer.

  1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work effectively with your data and workflow.

  2. On the Edit ribbon tab, click the topology drop-down arrow in the Manage Edits group, and choose No Topology No Topology.
  3. Click the Rotate tool Rotate in the Modify Features pane.

    To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Rotate in the Search text box.

  4. Click the Select one or more features tool Active Select, and select the features.

    If features are currently selected, the selection tool displays Change the selection.

    To refine the selection in the selection view, right-click a feature and click Unselect Clear Selected or Only Select This List By Selection.

    A selection anchor appears at the center (centroid) of the envelope for the entire selection set.

  5. To snap rotated features to other features, press S and use the auxiliary anchor. By default, it appears near the pointer.

    To move the selection anchor or auxiliary anchor, press Ctrl, hover the pointer over the anchor and drag it when the pointer changes to the directional cursor Directional cursor.

    The selection anchor and auxiliary anchor snap to other features using the current snap settings.

  6. Hover over the selected features. When the pointer changes to the rotation cursor, drag the features to rotate them.

    Alternatively, press A and type an angle. A positive value rotates the selection counterclockwise. A negative value rotates the selection clockwise.

    When on-screen constraints is on, press the Tab key, type a rotation angle, and press Enter

  7. Click Finish Finish on the toolbar or press F2.

Keyboard shortcuts for Rotate

Keyboard shortcutActionComment

A

Specify the angle.

Open the Angle dialog box.

Ctrl and click

Relocate the anchor.

Relocate the selection anchor to the clicked location. You can zoom in to a feature without the current location of the anchor being visible in the active view.

Ctrl and drag

Move the anchor.

Move the selection anchor.

S

Access the secondary anchor.

Turn the secondary anchor on and off. When it is turned on, the anchor is positioned at the pointer location.

Keyboard shortcuts for the Rotate tool

Scale a feature

To scale a feature, select the feature and drag a control handle, or press F and type a scale factor. The selection anchor locates the center of scaling. To scale and snap the selected features to another feature, press S and use the auxiliary anchor. By default, it appears near the pointer.

  1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

    Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work effectively with your data and workflow.

  2. On the Edit ribbon tab, click the topology drop-down arrow in the Manage Edits group, and choose No Topology No Topology.
  3. Click the Scale tool Scale in the Modify Features pane.

    To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Scale in the Search text box.

  4. Click the Select one or more features tool Active Select, and select the features.

    If features are currently selected, the selection tool displays Change the selection.

    To refine the selection in the selection view, right-click a feature and click Unselect Clear Selected or Only Select This List By Selection.

    A selection anchor appears at the center (centroid) of the envelope for the entire selection set.

  5. To snap scaled features to other features, press S and use the auxiliary anchor. By default, it appears near the pointer.

    To move the selection or auxiliary anchor, press Ctrl, hover over the anchor and drag it when the pointer changes to the directional cursor Directional cursor.

    The selection anchor and auxiliary anchor snap to other features using the current snap settings.

  6. Hover over the selected features. When the pointer changes to the scale cursor, drag a control handle to scale them.

    Alternatively, press F and type a scale factor.

    To scale a 3D feature in a scene, drag the selection along the x-, y-, or z-axis handle.

  7. Click Finish Finish on the toolbar or press F2.

Keyboard shortcuts for Scale

Keyboard shortcutActionComment

F

Apply a scale factor.

Open the Scale dialog box.

Ctrl and click

Relocate the anchor.

Relocate the selection anchor to the clicked location. You can zoom in to a feature without the current location of the anchor being visible in the active view.

Ctrl and drag

Move the anchor.

Move the selection anchor.

S

Access the secondary anchor.

Turn the secondary anchor on and off. When it is turned on, the anchor is positioned at the pointer location.

Keyboard shortcuts for the Scale tool

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