Resizing feature representations

This topic applies to ArcEditor and ArcInfo only.

You can resize the geometry of feature representations by stretching them interactively or specifying an exact scaling ratio. Representation symbology will be dynamically reapplied to feature representations after they are resized.

Many representation rule properties can be resized using the Resize tool Resize Tool.

Resizing representation geometry

You can resize feature representation geometry using either the Select tool Select Tool or the Resize tool Resize Tool.

Using the Select tool, you can select any combination of whole feature representations. A rectangular bounding box is drawn around the limits of the selection. You can interactively drag the bounding box handles to enlarge or reduce the selected feature representations within the box.

The Resize tool will only let you interact with one category of feature at a time—that is, they must all share the same representation rule—but this tool has some benefits over simply stretching with the Select tool. You can resize geometry and representation symbology simultaneously, and it also provides you with an option to scale geometry and representation properties by an exact ratio rather than interactively. If multiple feature representations are selected, you can choose between resizing the entire selection from the anchor point Anchor point (which is at the center of the entire selection by default) or resizing each feature individually from its own center.

CautionCaution:

Since point geometry has no dimensions, resizing point feature representation geometry actually moves points relative to each other instead of changing their size.

How to resize representation geometry

  1. In an edit session, select one or more feature representations with the Select tool Select Tool or the Lasso Select tool Lasso Select Tool on the Representation toolbar.
  2. Move the pointer over one of the handles on the perimeter of the bounding box until it changes to a two-way arrowhead: Horizontal two-way arrowhead or Diagonal two-way arrowhead.
  3. Click and drag a handle to resize the bounding box. The selected feature representations are proportionally resized as well.
TipTip:

  • Drag a side handle to stretch the rectangle in just one dimension, or use a corner handle to change both dimensions at once.
  • Press and hold the SHIFT key while you drag from a corner handle to resize the horizontal and vertical dimensions proportionally.
  • Press and hold the ALT key while dragging to resize the bounding box from its center.
  • Press and hold SHIFT+ALT to resize the bounding box proportionally from the center.

Resizing representation properties

Representation rules can contain properties that can be interactively resized with the Resize tool Resize Tool. A check box will appear next to these properties on the Tools tab of the Representation Properties window when the Resize tool Resize Tool is active.

How to resize representation properties

  1. In an edit session, select one or more feature representations using the Select tool Select Tool or the Lasso Select tool Lasso Select Tool on the Representation toolbar.
  2. Click the Resize tool Resize Tool.
  3. Click the Tools tab on the Representation Properties window to see a list of representation rule properties of the selected feature representations that can be resized with the Resize tool Resize Tool.
  4. Check the properties and/or geometry that you want to resize.
  5. Click and drag to resize the checked properties and/or geometry.
TipTip:

  • By clicking the Geometry checkbox in step 4 above, you can also resize the shape of the selected feature, creating a geometry override.
  • Selected feature representations must share the same representation rule to be resized simultaneously.
  • The effects of the Resize tool Resize Tool will operate on the entire feature representation, regardless of the selection state of individual vertices.
  • You can scale feature representations by a specific ratio by right-clicking with the Resize tool Resize Tool and clicking Ratio. Enter the resize amount as a percentage. Values less than 100 percent will make the selection smaller; values greater than 100 percent will make it larger.
  • When multiple feature representations are selected, you can choose to resize them as a group with resizing originating from the anchor point or resize each feature representation individually from its own center point. Right-click with the Resize tool Resize Tool and check Use Individual Anchors to resize each feature representation from its own origin. Uncheck this setting to resize from the anchor point. You can also press the TAB key to toggle between these settings. You can move the location of the anchor point Anchor point by pausing the pointer on it until the pointer changes to a move anchor point icon Move anchor point, then click and drag to move the anchor point to a new location.

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5/2/2011