Edit the geometry of a feature

You can edit the geometry of features in editable layers to move it, modify its shape, or in the case of text features, its text.

To edit a feature, click the Edit Features button The Edit Features button on the toolbar to display the editing toolbar. Alternatively, if a pop-up window is open for the feature you want to edit, click Edit in the pop-up window, then click Edit Shape.

Pop-up window showing the Edit Shape link

You can also go directly to edit mode by holding the CTRL key on your keyboard when clicking a feature; in this case, the pop-up window will not be displayed and the feature will be shown with edit handles instead.

When the editing toolbar is shown, you can edit the selected feature, or click another feature to edit. You can see which feature is selected as it will be shown with editing handles. These operations only apply to a single feature, and if you have multiple features selected, the features will be shown highlighted but you will not see the editing handles.

Feature editing handles

When you are done editing features, click the Done button to close the editing toolbar. If you make a mistake, you can undo an edit by clicking the Undo button Undo button at the top left of the screen.

NoteNote:

If the Edit link is not shown in a pop-up window, then that feature is not part of an editable layer and cannot be edited. Additionally, only templates for editable layers are shown in the Add Features panel.

How to edit the geometry of a point, line or area feature

To edit a point, line or area feature, if the editing toolbar is not already active, click the Edit Features button The Edit Features button on the toolbar to display the editing toolbar. Click a feature to select it and display editing handles for the feature.

Animation of using the Edit Shape link to show the edit handles for a feature

Now edit the geometry of the feature using one of the alternatives below.

Move a feature

While the editing handles are displayed, click on the feature and drag it to a new location.

Animation of using the edit handles to move a feature

Resize, stretch or rotate a feature

You can use the editing handles to resize, stretch or rotate the feature's shape.

Reshape a feature

You can reshape a line or area feature by using the Reshape tool. Click the Reshape button on the toolbar, and then choose whether you want to use a line (the default) or a freehand line to reshape the feature.

The Reshape button on the editing toolbar

Line feature buttons on the editing toolbar

If using a line, click the mouse on two or more positions on the map and a line will draw. Double-click the last vertex you want to enter to finish the line. If using a freehand line, click and hold your mouse down and trace out the shape for the line.

Note that when reshaping an area feature, the larger portion of the resulting geometry is retained.

Animation of using the Reshape tool

Alternatively you can reshape a feature by editing its individual vertices, which is described below.

Edit the verticies of a feature

To edit the individual vertices of a feature, click the Edit Vertices button on the editing toolbar to change the editing handles from the resize and rotate handles to individual vertex editing handles instead. Alternatively, if the resize and rotate editing handles of a feature are visible, click the feature again to change to vertex editing handles.

The Edit Vertices button on the toolbar

You can move one of the existing vertices by clicking and dragging it.

Animation of using the edit handles to move a vertex

To add a new vertex, click the small circle displayed mid-point along the segment of the shape you want to add the new vertex to and drag it to the desired location.

Animation of using the edit handles to add a vertex

When you are finished editing the points of the shape, click the feature again to show the resize and rotate handles, or click anywhere on the map to unselect the feature.

Split a feature

You can split a single line or area feature into two features using the Split tool. Click the Split button on the editing toolbar, and then choose whether you want to use a line (the default) or a freehand line to split the feature with.

The Split button on the editing toolbar

Line feature buttons on the editing toolbar

If using a line, click the mouse on two or more positions on the map and a line will draw. Double-click the last vertex you want to enter to finish the line. If using a freehand line, click and hold your mouse down and trace out the shape for the line.

Animation of using the Split tool

How to edit a text feature

To edit a text feature, selected it by clicking it on the map. You can move the text by clicking and dragging it. Click the feature again to edit the text.

Animation of editing a text feature

You can also duplicate an existing feature, or delete a feature entirely.

Learn more about duplicate or deleting a feature


3/11/2013