Creating a feature template

If feature templates do not already exist in your map, they are automatically created the first time you start editing. One template is created for each symbol on the layer, and attributes used to define the symbol are automatically populated.

There are times when you may need to update attributes on the template that are not used to define the symbol. With the Feature Manager, you can select an existing template and update its attributes or create a new feature template with similar attributes. You can also create a template with the attributes of a selected feature.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. If necessary, load data in the map.
3. On the main menu, click Customize > Toolbars > Production Editing.
4. Click the Production Start Editing button on the Production Editing toolbar.
   Note:

   The Manage Features and Create Attributes, Update Attributes, or Metadata Attributes windows automatically appear when you start an edit session using the Production Start Editing tool.

   Tip:

   If the Create Attributes, Update Attributes, or Metadata Attributes window does not appear when you start an edit session, click the Show/Hide Attributes button on the Manage Features window.

5. Do one of the following to choose a template to use as the base for the stored template:

   To use a feature layer template as the base	Click the Create tab on the Manage Features window, then choose the template you want to use as the base for the stored template.
   To use a selected feature as the base	Select features in the map, then select the feature you want to use as the base on the Update tab on the Manage Features window.

6. Change the attribute values for the template as needed.
7. Click Apply on the Create Attributes or Update Attributes window.
8. Click Save Template on the Create Attributes or Update Attributes window.

   The Save Template dialog box appears.

9. Type a name for the template in the Name text box.
10. Optionally, type a description of the template in the Description text box.
    Note:

    If you choose to use an existing feature template, the name for the existing template is automatically set. If you keep the same name, the existing template will inherit the new attributes. If you change the template name, then a new template is created when you click OK.

11. Click OK.

    The new template appears on the Create tab on the Manage Features window.