What is a schematic feature class?

A schematic feature class allows implementing a particular type of schematic feature expected in diagrams implemented by a particular schematic diagram template. It is a collection of schematic features that share the same object type (nodes, links, and so on), the same geometry type (point, line, or polygon), and the same schematic attributes for a common area.

A schematic feature class can be associated with one or several schematic diagram templates that implement schematic diagrams containing the schematic features implemented by this schematic feature class. It is assigned to one schematic dataset, although more than one schematic feature class can be defined for the same schematic dataset. Schematic feature classes always exist as physical feature classes in the schematic dataset and contain the schematic features they implement.

Schematic feature classes support parent-child relationships, allowing a child schematic feature class to inherit the parameters of its parent.

Learn more about schematic feature class inheritance

The Schematic Dataset Editor is the utility to use to create and define schematic feature classes. Schematics Components (esriSchematic.olb) can also be used to develop schematic feature class creations and define their parameters.

Learn more about schematic feature class creation

When creating a new schematic feature class, you must specify several properties that will define its structure such as its types, geometry type, spatial reference, attributes, and fields.

Type of schematic feature classes

Four types of schematic feature classes can be specified: Node, Link, Node On Link, and Sub Link.

Geometry type

Three geometry types are available to represent schematic features. This geometry type and the type of the schematic feature class are linked:

Spatial reference

Schematic feature classes also have a spatial reference that defines the coordinate system x,y domain for the schematic features. It is strongly recommended that you specify a spatial reference for each schematic feature class so Schematics can store the geometry of the schematic features in a defined coordinate system.

Unlike the standard feature classes that need to have the same spatial reference when they are regrouped in a feature dataset, the schematic feature classes that reside in a schematic dataset can have different spatial references. It's the same for schematic feature classes that are associated with a particular schematic diagram template; they may also have different spatial references and so have a spatial reference different from the one specified for the schematic diagram template itself.

Learn about specifying a spatial reference for a schematic diagram template

Schematic attributes and fields

Schematic feature classes also have common attributes and fields. Some of these attributes are physically stored in the schematic feature class as fields, while some others are in memory only; some are linked to the type of the schematic feature class. For example, there are very specific attributes for a node schematic feature class and other specific attributes for a link schematic feature class; some attributes are completely managed by Schematics, while some others can be pure applicative attributes.

Learn more about schematic attributes

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7/10/2012