Creating a simple polyline

The line is created based on the coordinates you define on the Input tab in the Coordinates area on the Feature Builder window and can be used as part of a more complex geometry or to create a new geometry.

Example of the input and output for the Polyline (Simple) function
Steps:
  1. Start ArcMap.
  2. On the menu bar, click Customize > Toolbars > Production Feature Builder.
  3. Click the Launch Feature Builder button Launch Feature Builder on the Production Feature Builder toolbar.

    The Feature Builder window appears in ArcMap.

    The Feature Builder window
    The Feature Builder window

    TipTip:

    The Feature Builder window can be placed anywhere in ArcMap, or in the TOC, with the aid of the arrows showing the possible placement positions.

  4. Choose Polyline (Simple) in the list on the Functions tab.

    Feature Builder window with the Polyline (Simple) function selected

  5. Define a coordinate for the start point of the polyline by doing one of the following:
    • Clicking the Pinprick button Pinprick on the Production Feature Builder toolbar, then clicking on the map
    • Typing the coordinates in the cells on the Input tab in the Coordinates area
    TipTip:

    To view the input coordinates on the map, double-click the row headers for each coordinate.

  6. Click the row header for the second row in the coordinates list.
    NoteNote:

    Press the right or down arrow key on your keyboard to move the cursor to the next row or add a new row.

  7. Repeat steps 5–6 for the remaining coordinates you want to include in the polygon.
    NoteNote:

    To delete a row in the coordinates list, you can press SHIFT + DELETE.

  8. Press the W key and click the header row for the last coordinate you want to define.
  9. Repeat step 5 to define the coordinate for the endpoint of the polygon.
  10. Click the drop-down arrow next to Densify and choose an option for determining the amount of space that can be allowed between vertices in the line.
    • Great Circle—The shortest distance between two points on a sphere
    • Linear—A cartesian plane
    • None—Has no densification
    • Rhumbline—A line of constant bearing
  11. If necessary, click the drop-down arrow next to Reverse draw direction and choose True for drawing the polygon across the line of 180° longitude.

    This is the direction in which the line will draw with respect to the line of 180° longitude in the projected coordinate system.

  12. Click the Execute button Execute.

A polyline appears on the map.

TipTip:

If the polyline geometry does not appear, click the Add Scratch Data Layers button Add scratch data layers at the top of the Feature Builder window.


7/31/2012