Creating a turn feature class using a geoprocessing tool

If you do not have any existing turn data from other ESRI software products to migrate for use in a network dataset, you might want to do one of the following:

• Create a new turn feature class in a geodatabase and add it to a network dataset.
• Create a new turn feature class in a shapefile workspace and create a shapefile network dataset.

Once the data participates in the network dataset, you can create turn features in it using editing tools in ArcMap.

You can create a turn feature class from the context menu in ArcCatalog, the context menu in the Catalog window of ArcMap, or a geoprocessing tool. The procedures are similar to creating a new feature class in a geodatabase.

These steps show how to create a turn feature class using a geoprocessing tool in either ArcMap or ArcCatalog.

Steps:

1. On the menu bar, click Geoprocessing > Search For Tools.

   The dockable Search window opens with the Tools category selected.

2. Click Network Analyst Tools in the list of toolboxes in the Search window.

   A list of toolsets and tools related to the ArcGIS Network Analyst extension are listed.

3. Click Turn Feature Class in the Search window.
4. Click Create Turn Feature Class.

   The Create Turn Feature Class dialog box appears.

5. Specify the parameters on the tool's dialog box.

   Learn more about the Create Turn Feature Class tool

   • To create a turn feature class for a shapefile network dataset, set Output Location to a shapefile workspace.
   • To create a turn feature class for a network dataset in a geodatabase, set Output Location to a feature dataset.

   Tip:

   When using the Create Turn Feature Class tool, if an input network dataset is specified, the turn feature class is added to it. If a network dataset is not specified during the creation of the turn feature class, you can add this turn feature class as a turn feature source to your network dataset later.

6. Click OK.
Note:

After using the Create Turn Feature Class tool, you might need to create additional fields on your new turn feature class to hold information that will be used in the network attributes, such as turn impedances (for example, this turn takes two minutes to complete) or conditional turning restrictions (for example, only trucks cannot make this turn). You can create a field on a feature class using the Add Field tool.