Constructing polygons from the shapes of other features

This topic applies to ArcEditor and ArcInfo only.

Note:

You can use Construct Polygons regardless of whether you have a geodatabase or map topology. You need an ArcEditor or ArcInfo license, though.

You can use topology tools to make new features from existing ones. Construct Polygons on the Topology toolbar can create new polygons from selected lines or other polygons. For example, you might need to create a new parcel feature from some parcel boundary lines.

Parcel lot lines used to create new polygons

New polygons created from the selected lines

Steps:

1. Click the Edit tool on the Editor toolbar.
2. Select the features you want to use to construct new polygons.
3. Click Construct Polygons on the Topology toolbar.
4. Choose the target in which the new feature will be created.
   • If you have feature templates for the layers in your map, click the Template button and click the template to use to create the new feature. You can also double-click the preview of the template to choose a different template.
   • If you do not have feature templates, click the layer in which to create the feature.
5. Optionally, type a cluster tolerance. You should use the default cluster tolerance or match the cluster tolerance of the geodatabase topology, if you are using one.
6. Optionally, check Use existing features in target to create new polygons considering the boundaries of existing polygons as input geometry.
7. Click OK. The new features are created in the target feature class.