Edit topology

Perform the following modifications with topological editing tools:

• Align a topology edge
• Edit a topological vertex
• Move a topological edge or feature
• Reshape a topology edge
• Generalize a feature

Align a topology edge

Align Edge reshapes a topology edge to match and be coincident with another topology edge that shares two common topology nodes. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane when map topology is turned on.

Complete the following steps to edit a topology edge:

1. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab, turn on Map Topology, and show the Modify Features pane.
   1. In the Manage Edits group, click the Map Topology drop-down arrow and enable map topology.

      

   2. In the Features group, click Modify .
2. In the Modify Features pane, expand Alignment and click Align Edge .

   The topology graph highlights in the map.

3. Hover over the edge you want to align until it highlights as a solid line.

   

4. Click the highlighted solid line.

   The edge reshapes and snaps to the nearby edge that shares two common topology nodes.

   

Edit a topological vertex

Edit Vertices can make simple edits to topologically connected vertices. If map topology is turned on, you can move, delete, or add a topological vertex and preserve the connectedness of shared boundaries. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

If you already have map topology enabled, skip to step 2.

1. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab, turn on Map Topology, and show the Modify Features pane.
   1. In the Manage Edits group, click the Map Topology drop-down arrow and enable map topology.

      

   2. In the Features group, click Modify .
2. In the Modify Features pane, expand Reshape and click Edit Vertices .



3. In the Edit Vertices pane, click the Edges tab.

   The topology graph highlights in the map.

4. To move or delete a vertex, click Select edge or node , and click the vertex you want to edit.

   The selection appears in the Edit Vertices pane.

   

   The editing toolbar appears on the map.

   

5. To add a vertex, click a segment, right-click it, and click Add Vertex .
6. To delete a vertex, right-click it and click Delete Vertex .
7. Click Finish or press the F2 key to apply your changes.

   

Note:

The connectedness of your changes is validated when you Finish your edits. If they break the topological graph, the message Edit operation failed appears and your changes are canceled.

Move a topological edge or feature

Move can move topological edges or features. If map topology is turned on, all features that are connected to the selected edge stretch and move to maintain connectivity. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

1. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab, turn on Map Topology, and show the Modify Features pane.
   1. In the Manage Edits group, click the Map Topology drop-down arrow and enable map topology.

      

   2. In the Features group, click Modify .
2. In the Modify Features pane, expand Alignment, and click Move .

Complete the steps in the following sections to move a topological edge or feature or a topology node.

Move a topological edge

Click the Edges tab to move a topological edge. Moving a topological edge preserves the direction and distance of the selected edge and stretches the connected edges.

Complete the following steps to move a topological edge:

1. In the Move pane, click the Edges tab.

   The topology graph highlights in the map.

2. Click Select edge or node and click the edge you want to edit.

   

3. Hover near the edge until the segment pointer appears, and drag the selected edge to the new location.
   • To use the selection anchor to snap to other feature, hover over the anchor and press Ctrl. When the vertex pointer appears, drag the anchor to the location you want to snap.
   • To preserve the general shape of the connected edges, turn on Stretch Topology on the editing toolbar.

     

   Coincident edges also move, and any edges connected to its endpoints stretch and remain connected.

4. Click Finish or press F2.

Note:

The connectedness of your changes is validated when you Finish your edits. If they break the topological graph, the message Edit operation failed appears and your changes are canceled.

Move a topological feature

Moving a topological feature preserves the shape of the selected feature and stretches connected edges.

Complete the following steps to move a topological feature:

1. In the Move pane, click the Features tab.

   The topology graph highlights in the map.

2. Click Select and click the feature you want to move.

   The topology graph appears as a highlighted layer of edges and nodes coincident with the corresponding feature geometry.

   

3. Hover near the feature until the move pointer appears, and drag the feature.
   • To use the selection anchor to snap to other feature, press Ctrl and drag the anchor to the location you want to snap.
   • To preserve the general shape of the connected edges, turn on Stretch Topology on the editing toolbar.

     

   Coincident edges also move, and any edges connected to its endpoints stretch and remain connected.

4. To apply your changes, click Finish or press F2.

Move a topology node

Move and Edit Vertices can move topology nodes. If map topology is turned on, all topology nodes and edges that are connected to the selected node stretch and move to maintain connectivity. These tools are available in the Modify Features pane.

1. In the Move pane, click the Edges tab.

   The topology graph highlights in the map.

2. Click Select edge or node , press N, and drag a selection across the nodes you want to edit.

   

3. Drag the topology node.

   Coincident edges also move and any edges connected to its endpoints stretch and remain connected.

4. On the toolbar, click Finish or press the F2 key to apply your changes.

   

Note:

The connectedness of your changes is validated when you Finish your edits. If they break the topological graph, the message Edit operation failed appears and your changes are canceled.

Reshape a topology edge

Reshape can reshape shared topological boundaries. If map topology is turned on, the linear shape you draw across an edge replaces existing topology edges where the first and last segment cross or touch one or more topologically connected features. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

When multiple features are selected, you can refine the selection in the pane and choose the features to be modified. If your edits break the topology graph, an error message appears in the pane and your changes are canceled.

If you already have map topology enabled, skip to step 2.

1. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab, turn on Map Topology, and show the Modify Features pane.
   1. In the Manage Edits group, click the Map Topology drop-down arrow and enable map topology.

      

   2. In the Features group, click Modify .
2. In the Modify Features pane, expand Reshape and click Reshape .
3. In the Reshape pane, click the Edges tab.

   The topology graph highlights in the map.

4. Click Select one or more edges and click the edge you want to reshape.



The selection appears in the pane and is highlighted in the map. The editing toolbar appears with construction tools.

5. Draw the new boundary across the existing edge so that it crosses or touches the edge in at least two places.

   

   Note:

   The first and last segment must cross or touch one or more contiguous features.

6. Click Finish or press the F2 key to apply your changes.

Note:

The connectedness of your changes is validated when you Finish your edits. If they break the topological graph, the message Edit operation failed appears and your changes are canceled.

Generalize a feature

The Generalize tool simplifies line and polygon features while preserving their essential shape. You can choose from methods that simplify, smooth, or densify selected features. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

Simplify a feature

The Simplify method removes relatively extraneous vertices from a feature while preserving its essential shape. Type a maximum allowable tolerance to limit how far the resulting geometry differs from the original feature.

Tip:

If you need to preserve the original feature, consider using the Simplify Line or Simplify Polygon geoprocessing tools.

To simplify a feature, complete the following steps:

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 efficiently and accurately.

   To maintain coincident boundaries with adjacent features, turn on map topology.

2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

3. Click the Generalize tool .

   To find the tool, expand Reshape, or type Generalize in the Search text box.

4. Check the Show Preview check box to preview your edits before generalizing the feature.

   Uncheck this setting to disable the preview.

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

   Tip:

   To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the pane selection tree, and click Unselect or Only Select This .

6. Click Simplify in the Method section.
7. Click the Maximum Allowable Offset box, and type a distance in map units to limit how far the resulting geometry differs from the original feature.

   

   Values greater than zero (0) simplify curved segments along the curve using the Douglas-Peucker simplification algorithm.

8. Click Generalize.

Smooth a feature

The Smooth method converts straight edges and angular corners into Bézier curves. Type a maximum allowable tolerance to limit how far the resulting geometry differs from the original feature.

Tip:

If you need to preserve the original feature, consider using the Smooth Line or Smooth Polygon geoprocessing tools.

To smooth a feature, complete the following steps:

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 efficiently and accurately.

   To maintain coincident boundaries with adjacent features, turn on map topology.

2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

3. Click the Generalize tool .

   To find the tool, expand Reshape, or type Generalize in the Search text box.

4. Check the Show Preview check box to preview your edits before generalizing the feature.

   Uncheck this setting to disable the preview.

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

   Tip:

   To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the pane selection tree, and click Unselect or Only Select This .

6. Click Smooth in the Method section.
7. Click the Maximum Allowable Offset box, and type a distance in map units to limit how far the resulting geometry differs from the original feature.

   

   • Zero (0) converts each segment to a Bézier curve.
   • Values greater than zero (0) first generalize the feature using the Douglas-Peucker simplification algorithm and Bézier curves replace the remaining segments.
8. Click Generalize.

Densify a feature

The Densify method converts a feature into a series of line segments at a specified constant interval. Type a maximum distance, or offset, or angle tolerance to limit how far the resulting geometry differs from the original feature.

Tip:

This method is also available as a Densify geoprocessing tool.

To densify a feature, complete the following steps:

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 efficiently and accurately.

   To maintain coincident boundaries with adjacent features, turn on map topology.

2. On the ribbon, click the Edit tab. In the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

3. Click the Generalize tool .

   To find the tool, expand Reshape, or type Generalize in the Search text box.

4. Check the Show Preview check box to preview your edits before generalizing the feature.

   Uncheck this setting to disable the preview.

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

   Tip:

   To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the pane selection tree, and click Unselect or Only Select This .

6. Click Densify in the Method section.
7. Choose distance, offset, or angle in the Value section, click inside the text box and type a maximum allowable tolerance.

   Distance	Replace the entire feature with line segments at constant intervals whose lengths do not exceed the specified linear distance. If the distance is zero (0), no vertices are added. If the distance is negative, the system default value is applied.
   Offset	Replace curves with line segments whose vertices do not extend beyond the specified maximum offset.
   Angle	Replace curves with line segments whose deflection angles do not exceed the specified angle.

   

8. Click Generalize.