Configuring the criteria for building features

This topic applies to ArcEditor and ArcInfo only.

The geometry type of the building feature is determined by the length and width or area of the feature you draw. The conditions that determine the geometry type can be customized on the Defense Mapping Properties dialog box on the Buildings tab. You can change the default values to determine the limits for the length and width to create point, line, and polygon features. Limits can be defined for either the length and width of a feature or for the area; both cannot be used to determine the building's geometry type.

The table below shows the default criteria for determining the geometry types:

Geometry type	Length	Width
Point	Less than 25 meters	Less than 25 meters
Line	Greater than 25 meters	Less than 25 meters
Polygon	Greater than 25 meters	Greater than 25 meters

Geometry types for building features

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. On the main menu, click Customize > Toolbars > Defense Mapping.
3. On the Defense Mapping toolbar, click Defense Mapping > Options.

   The Defense Mapping Properties dialog box appears.

4. Click the Buildings tab.
   
5. To change the length and width settings for a point, line, or polygon building feature, do the following:
   1. Type a new value in the Length Less Than text box.
   2. Type a new value in the Width Less Than text box.
6. To specify an area for a point, line, or polygon building feature, do the following:
   1. Choose the Area greater than option.
   2. Type a value for the building's area in the Area greater than text box in the settings area for the geometry type.
   3. If you have specified an area value for line building features in the Line Settings area, type a value in the Area less than text box.
7. If you want to create simple buildings that are automatically completed once three points are digitized, check the Create simple buildings check box.

   If this check box remains unchecked, the building is not created until you finish the sketch.

8. If you want polygon buildings to have square angles, check the Square building angles check box.
   Note:

   This option is not available if the Create simple buildings check box is not checked.

9. If you always want to create a building polygon using the feature classes defined on the Feature Classes tab on the Defense Mapping Properties dialog box, check the Always create building check box.
10. Click OK.