Join methods

This topic applies to ArcEditor and ArcInfo only.

There are two join methods to choose from on the Join Parcel dialog box when joining parcels to the fabric layer:

Join methods

• Fabric points held fixed, line points moved to lines: Using this method, parcels being joined are fitted to the surrounding fabric. This is the most commonly used method.
• Joining points held fixed at map position, line points moved to lines: Using this method, the coordinate location of the floating parcels is held fixed and the surrounding fabric is fitted to the parcels being joined.

Fabric points held fixed

Using the Fabric points held fixed method, join parcels are fitted into the surrounding parcel fabric, based on the established join lines. The join parcels are cartographically fitted to the surrounding fabric such that there are no slivers or overlaps. Any line points are automatically moved to their parcel lines.

When appending and joining parcels from parcel fabric XML files, the join process uses the parcel point coordinates in the XML file to place the parcel in the map extent. If parcels are appended from a different coordinate system or spatial reference, the placed joined parcels may not be visible in the map extent. The Bring Joining Parcel To Map Extent tool located on the Join Parcel dialog box can be clicked to place the parcels in the visible map extent.

Joining and accuracy

Because join parcels are fitted cartographically to the surrounding fabric, the join parcels may be distorted if the parcels being joined are of a higher accuracy and data quality than the surrounding fabric. When joining more accurate parcels to less accurate surrounding parcels, it is important to specify the appropriate accuracy levels on the joining parcels and the surrounding parcels. When a parcel is joined, it is initially fitted to the surrounding parcels for cartographic and visual purposes. However, if the joining parcel's accuracy is set to a higher level than the accuracy level of the surrounding parcels, a fabric least-squares adjustment will result in the surrounding parcels adjusting around the more accurate parcel and the more accurate parcel maintaining its data integrity. Parcels with a higher accuracy level have a higher weight in a fabric least-squares adjustment and will adjust less than those parcels with a lower accuracy level and lower weight.

Joining points held fixed

Using the Joining points held fixed method, the join parcels are held at a fixed position and the surrounding parcel fabric is fitted to the join parcels.

Join points held fixed

This method is useful for appending parcel data with coordinates. The point coordinates in the parcel fabric XML file are used to place the parcels in the map extent. Using the Joining points held fixed method, accurate coordinates appended from parcel fabric XML files can be preserved during the joining process.

Using this method, you can still drag joining parcels in the map extent. The coordinates in the new location will be used and held fixed in the joining process.

• If you have dragged or moved the joining parcels, you can click the Reset X And Y Coordinates To The Original Position tool on the Join Parcel dialog box to reset the joining parcels to their original coordinates.
• The Move A Point In Joining Parcel tool can be used to move vertices on the joining parcels and snap them to existing points and lines in the map extent.
• Click the Use coordinate averaging check box to calculate an average (mean) between the join parcel coordinates and corresponding fabric coordinates when the fabric is fitted to the join parcels.

Scale and rotation

The Scale And Rotate Joining Parcel tool can be used to scale and rotate the joining parcel. Using this tool, rotation and scale values can be typed in on the Join Parcel dialog box.

Rotate and scale parcel

You can also scale and rotate joining parcels using the mouse. The scale and rotation values on the Join Parcel dialog box will update as you scale and rotate the parcels.

Rotate parcel

Scale parcel

When using the mouse to scale and rotate joining parcels, you can snap joining parcel vertices to existing points and lines on the map.

Snap vertex to existing fabric point

Tip:

You can also use the Scale Joining Parcel tool to only scale the joining parcels and the Rotate Joining Parcel tool to only rotate the joining parcels.