Change how features are displayed

Each feature has a default appearance when drawn on the map. When you use a template to create a feature in the map, that template defines the initial appearance of the feature. When you import a shapefile or a CSV file, all the features are initially assigned the same default symbol. In the case of features that reference a feature service, the initial appearance is defined by the service.

You can change the way features are drawn in the map. For features stored in a configurable layer—layers that reference a map or feature service, or that were created by importing data—you can configure how the entire layer of features is displayed, for example, by choosing a single symbol to draw all features, or drawing features based on the values of a feature attribute. For features in layers created and stored in the map, such as the default Map Notes layer, you can change how each feature is displayed on the map by altering attributes of the symbol, such as the color, size, and opacity.

TipTip:

Watch the short video about Symbolizing features

Changing the appearance of a feature stored in a configurable layer

To change the appearance of features stored in a configurable layer, open the Layers panel and click the arrow next to the layer to show the Layer Details view, then under Display click Configure.

The Configure button in the Display section of Layer Details

The Configure Display view will be shown in the left-side panel. In the top drop-down list, choose from the following options.

Single Symbol

Choose Single Symbol to display all features in the layer using the same symbol. Use this option when you want to display the features in the layer uniformly.

Click Current Symbol to see options for changing the style of symbol used to draw the features.

Learn more about changing the style of a symbol

Unique Values

Choose Unique Values to display features in the layer using different symbols for different values of an attribute, either unique values, or the same value appears multiple times. This is a suitable option for drawing a layer based on a nominal attribute, typical examples being habitat types and planning zones.

Learn more about drawing features using unique values

Classify using Color

Choose Classify using Color to display features in the layer using a different colored symbol for a specified range of values of an attribute.

Learn more about drawing features classified by value

Classify using Size

Choose Classify using Size to display features in the layer using a different size symbol for a specified range of values of an attribute.

Learn more about drawing features classified by value

When you add a service from content items in ArcGIS Online to your map, it may have feature symbology and other appearance properties already configured. You can change the configuration in the map, and you can also reset the configuration to that defined by the service item. If you are the owner of the service, you can also upload the new configuration from the map to your service item.

Learn more about uploading and resetting layer configurations

Changing the appearance of features by editing the symbol

If you want to change the appearance of a feature that is stored in a layer that cannot be configured, for example, the features in the default Map Notes layer, click on the feature in the map to select it, and click the Change Symbol button The Change Symbol button on the toolbar to display the Symbol drop-down panel. Alternatively, if the pop-up window of a feature you wish to change is open, click Edit at the bottom of the pop-up window and click Change Symbol.

The Symbol panel will show options for changing the symbol of the selected feature, which vary depending on the type of feature selected. Changing the symbol of the selected feature will leave other features in the layer unaffected.

Learn more about changing the style of a symbol

TipTip:

You can select more than one feature at once and apply the same symbol to all selected features. Use the Select Features button Select Features button, or hold down SHIFT while clicking features to add the clicked feature to the selection.

For features stored in the map, once you have adjusted the appearance of a feature, you can create more features with the same appearance by creating a new feature template based on that feature.

Learn more about creating new feature templates


3/11/2013