Setting feature template properties

Feature templates define all the information required to create a new feature: the layer where a feature will be stored, the attributes a new feature will be created with, and the default tool used to create that feature. Templates also have a name, description, and tags that can help you find and organize them. You can specify and review these and other settings on the Template Properties dialog box.

Template Properties dialog box
Steps:
  1. Double-click a template in the Create Features window.

    You can also right-click a template in the Create Features window and click Properties or use the template organizer to open the Template Properties dialog box.

  2. Type a name for the template.
  3. Type a description, which is used when searching for templates and also appears as a text pop-up when you rest your pointer over a template in the Create Features window.
  4. Type tags about the template, separating each entry with a semicolon. A tag is generally a short keyword, metadata item, or any other term to identify the template that will help when searching for templates. A tag for the type of layer (point, line, polygon, and so on) is listed automatically.
  5. Click the Default Tool drop-down arrow and click a tool for the template. The default tool is the construction tool that automatically becomes activated as soon as you choose a template in the Create Features window.
    NoteNote:

    The list of construction tools is filtered to show only the Line tool when working with line templates for layers with COGO attributes, layers participating in geometric networks, or turn feature classes in network datasets. This is because the other construction tools create closed ring shapes that are invalid geometries in those layer types.

  6. Preview the symbol used to display the new features created using this template.
  7. Review the target layer, which is the one that will store the new features created with this template.
  8. Click OK.

Related Topics


5/6/2011