ArcGIS ArcSketch 2.0 Tutorial IN THIS TUTORIAL

• Exercise 1: Getting started with ArcSketch • Exercise 2: Working with Symbols • Exercise 3: Working with Layers ArcSketch gives users the ability to draw or “sketch” (create and edit) features on a layer in ArcMap as easily as they would if the were drawing with a felt tip pen on tracing paper. ArcSketch provides the user with a set of easy-to-use drawing and editing tools along with a palette for managing how the features created with those tools are symbolized. The user simply selects a drawing tool and an associated symbol and then starts drawing. ArcSketch automatically manages the assignment of features to the appropriate layers and maintains the user’s geodatabase. As far as the user is concern, he or she is simply drawing features on the map. This tutorial will show you how to use many of the available tools and will give you a foundation from which you can start thinking about how to use these tools to create features and plans.

It is assumed that you have installed ArcGIS Desktop (ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo) and the ArcSketch extension before you begin this tutorial. You will access the various components of ArcSketch from the ArcSketch Main toolbar. You will select symbols from the ArcSketch Symbol Palette. You will be using a variety of tools from the ArcSketch Drawing toolbar. All the components of ArcSketch are dockable, and you can arrange them however you want in ArcMap. ArcSketch is designed to work on top of ArcGIS ArcMap, and none of its components are available in any other application. This tutorial is divided into exercises and is design to allow you to explore the ArcSketch functionality in ArcGIS at your own pace. Exercise 1: Getting started with ArcSketch

Setting up your project: (1) Open ArcMap. (2) Add at least one background layer to ArcMap. Note: ArcSketch requires at least one background layer in the

ArcMap table of contents on the Display tab. The background layer provides the spatial reference for your sketch project. It also provides a visual context for your sketching.

(3) Click on the ArcSketch dropdown menu in the ArcSketch Main

toolbar and select “Start ArcSketch Session.” ArcSketch will automatically create the appropriate feature classes and layers necessary in order to draw markers, lines, and areas.

Note: Certain options affect when and how ArcSketch creates

feature classes and layers. Read the section on ArcSketch options before changing any settings.

--- ArcMap with ArcSketch --- (4) Click on the Palette button (to the right of the ArcSketch drop-down

menu). This will display the ArcSketch feature palette. You may want to dock your palette below your table of contents window. You can dismiss the palette by clicking on this button again.

(5) Click on the Drawing Tools button (to the right of the Palette button).

This will display the ArcSketch drawing tools. You can dismiss the drawing tools by clicking on this button again.

The relationship between drawing tools and the symbol palette (1) In the Palette window click on the Tools drop-down menu, and select

“Add or Remove Symbol Sets.” You can see that it contains three types of Symbol Sets, Custom, Standard and Personal. The features in standard Symbol Sets are created from the style files that ship with ArcGIS. Their appearance is based upon those files and cannot be changed by ArcSketch. Personal symbol set reside within your documents and settings folder, and all symbols they contain can be modified. As you create new symbol sets, they will appear under the Custom menu option, and be stored in the Styles folder located in the My Documents/ArcSketch folder. Hover your mouse over the Standard feature set menu option and note that the ESRI feature set has a check mark next to it indicating it is visible. (If it does not have a check mark next to it, click on it to make it visible.) Dismiss the menu and you can see the ESRI feature set is displayed in the palette window. Click

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on the Lines tab to display the line symbols. Click on the Areas tab to display the area symbols.

--- Symbol Sets --- (2) Click on the Marker tool on the ArcSketch Drawing toolbar. Notice

that when you did this, the ESRI palette automatically switched to the Markers tab and displayed the marker symbols. Now experiment a bit by clicking on some of the other marker, line, and area drawing tools in the ArcSketch drawing toolbar and notice how the feature type always remains in sync with the drawing tool type.

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--- ESRI Symbol Set --- (3) Now select one of the marker symbols from the palette, then one of

the line symbols, and finally one of the area symbols. Notice how the drawing tool type always remains in sync with the feature type.

Drawing with markers, lines, and areas

--- Drawing Toolbar --- (1) Select the Marker tool in the drawing toolbar. Select a marker symbol

from the ESRI symbol set in the palette. Place the cursor over the map and click the left mouse button. Do this a number of times using different marker symbols. Use a marker symbol that can indicate a direction, such as an Airplane or Bolt.

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--- Sketch Features: Markers ---

(2) Select the line tool in the drawing toolbar. Select a line symbol from one of the symbol palettes. Place the cursor over the map at the beginning of the intended line and click the left mouse button, move the cursor to the end of the intended line, and click the button again. Do this a number of times while selecting different line symbols.

(3) Now do this using the tools for drawing irregular lines (Polyline,

Curved Polyline, and Stream Polyline tools).

The Polyline and the Curved Polyline tools work in a similar manner. You single-click to start the line, click to create vertices to end one line segment and start the next, then double-click to end the line.

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--- Sketch Features: Markers and Lines ---

The Stream Polyline tool automatically creates vertices as you move the mouse. Single-click to start of the line, then move the cursor to create the line and single-click to end the line. Or you can depress the left mouse button, drag the mouse to create the line, then release the button.

(4) Irregular areas are created in much the same way as are irregular

lines. Try to draw some irregular areas using the Polygon ,

Curved Polygon , and Stream Polygon tools.

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--- Sketch Features: Markers, Lines, and Areas ---

(5) The Circle Ellipse tool can be used for drawing both circles and ellipses.

To draw a circle, move the cursor to the center of the circle, press

and hold the left mouse button, drag the mouse to create a radius of the desired length, and release the mouse button.

To draw an ellipse, move the cursor to the center of the ellipse, press

and hold the left mouse button, drag the mouse to create a radius to the desired length (as you would to draw a circle), press and hold down the Shift key and drag the mouse to form the ellipse, then release the mouse button. Once you have an ellipse of the correct size and aspect, you can change its orientation by rotating it. If you want to switch back to a circle from an ellipse, let go of the Shift key, and press the Control key, then move the mouse. The tool will switch back to circle mode.

Try drawing a number of circles and ellipses. (6) The Rotated Rectangle tool can be used for drawing both

squares and rectangles. To draw a square or rectangle that is orthogonal to the map window,

move the cursor to a corner of the square or rectangle, press and

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hold the left mouse button, drag the mouse to create the shape, and release the mouse button.

To draw a square or rectangle that is not orthogonal to the map

window, draw the shape, but before you release the mouse, press and hold down the Shift key and drag the mouse to rotate the shape.

Try drawing a number of squares and rectangles. Make some that

are orthogonal to the map window and some that are not. Using the Selection tools (1) By now, you probably have more features (markers, lines, and areas)

than needed for the next few steps of this exercise, so delete some of them, but not all of them. Leave a few markers, lines, and areas that you can use for the rest of this exercise.

Caution: If you have added multiple background layers, make sure that the Markers, Lines, and Areas layers are set as the only selectable layers in the Selection tab of the Table of Contents

Click on the Select tool in the ArcSketch drawing toolbar, and click on one of the features you created. The feature should now have a box around it with handles and appear selected. Press the Delete key on the keyboard to remove the feature.

--- Selected Feature --- With the Select tool still active, move the cursor to a point near, but

away from a group of features, press and hold the left mouse button, now drag the cursor across the group of features you want to select, and release the mouse button. The group of features should now be

selected. Click on the Delete tool or press the Delete key on the keyboard, to remove the selected features.

--- Selected Group of Features --- Note: ArcSketch displays different controls (or handles) when a

single feature is selected than when multiple features are selected. That is because more editing options are available when a single feature is selected.

(2) Click on the Select by Symbol tool in the drawing toolbar. Click

on one of the features that have the same symbol as some of the other features in the drawing. Notice that all features with the same symbol are now selected. Press the Delete key on the keyboard to remove the selected features.

--- Features Selected by Symbol ---

(3) Click on the Undo tool on the drawing toolbar to bring back the

features you just deleted. Now press the Redo tool to delete them.

(4) Click on the Identify tool on the drawing toolbar. Click on the

drop-down arrow to the right of the Layer Field and select the feature layer containing the feature you wish to identify. Now click on the feature to display its properties. Record its OBJECTID number.

--- Identify Dialog Box ---

(5) Click on the Select by Attributes tool on the drawing toolbar to bring up the Select by Attributes dialog box. Click on the drop-down arrow to the right of the Layer Field and select the feature layer containing the feature identified in the previous step. Use the equation construction tools in the dialog box to set the WHERE clause to read “[OBJECTID]={the OBJECTID number recorded in the previous step}”. Click on the OK button. The feature identified in the previous step should now be selected. Close the Identify Results window.

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--- Select by Attributes Dialog Box --- Note: This is a long way around to select a feature. The purpose of

this exercise, however, is not to show you how to select a feature you just identified but rather to show you how you can select features by their attributes.

Editing sketch features (1) Select one of the areas (polygons) you just created using the select

tool. Make sure you just have just one area selected. Caution: The editing functions will not work if multiple features are

selected. If features from other layers are selected, turn off the other layers in the ArcMap table of contents so you can select only your ArcSketch feature.

The selected area should now be bounded by a rectangle with

handles on both the boundary lines and at the corners of the boundary lines. A hand is used to represent the cursor as long as it stays within the boundary rectangle. You should also notice that the feature editing tools in the drawing toolbar are now active.

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--- Selected Feature --- Place the cursor over the feature, depress the left mouse button, and

drag the feature to a new location. Release the mouse button. Place the cursor over the small green circle located above the

selected feature. The cursor changes to a circular arrow to identify the rotation point. Depress the left mouse button and drag, rotate the feature to the desired angle.

Right-click on the selected feature, select Move to bring up the Delta X-Y dialog box, type in values for both X and Y, and press the Enter key on your keyboard. The feature should move to the specified location.

--- context menu ---

To duplicate a feature, simply select the feature, right-click, and

select Duplicate. To replicate a feature, select the feature, right-click to bring up the

menu, select Replicate, and type in the number of replicates you desire and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

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(2) To move a feature vertex, select the feature, click on the Move

Vertex tool , position the cursor near the vertex you wish to move, depress the left mouse button, drag the vertex to its new location, and release the button.

--- Move Vertex --- (3) To add a vertex, select the feature, click the Add Vertex tool , move

the cursor to the line segment where you would like to add a vertex, depress the mouse button, drag the vertex to its location, and release.

--- Add Vertex --- (4) To delete a feature vertex, select the feature, click on the Delete

Vertex tool , position the cursor near the vertex you wish to delete, and click the left mouse button.

--- Delete Vertex --- (5) To split a feature, select the feature, click on the Split Feature tool

, single left-click to start the cut line, single left-click at all points along the cut line, then double-click at the end of the cut line.

--- Split Feature ---

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(6) To combine multiple features, select the features you wish to

combine, click on the Combine Features tool, select the ID of the feature whose attributes you wish to retain, and click on OK.

Comment [pb1]: I couldn’t get this tool to activate, so I couldn’t make a graphic for it.

--- Combine Features --- Note: You can only combine features with the same geometry type. Saving your work (1) To save your ArcSketch work as a layer file, right-click on the name

of the workspace group layer (by default it should be “ArcSketch – ArcSketchGDBfile”) in the TOC and select Save As Layer File. If you have made any changes, make sure to stop the ArcSketch Session and save any edits.

(2) To save the entire map document, including your ArcSketch project,

click on File in the ArcMap menu bar and select Save or Save As. Exercise 2: Working with symbols

Symbol appearance and definition As you no doubt discovered in the previous exercise, marker symbols (points) are represented by a single graphic, lines (lines) are represented by an open stroke, and areas (polygons) are represented by a closed stroke and a fill. (1) Right-click on a symbol in the palette and choose Edit > Edit Definition.

The Symbol Definition Editor dialog opens.

The Symbol Definition Editor is used to define the meaning of the selected symbol - where it should be stored, what fields the feature class that stores it should have, and what values should be in each of those fields.

Each symbol type has a definition that includes the following: Feature Class Name: This is the feature class to which any symbols of this type will be assigned. If the feature class does not exist, it will be created. This name should not contain spaces.

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Feature Class Alias: This is the display name of the feature class that will appear in the ArcMap table of contents Feature Dataset Name: This is the name of the dataset that will contain symbols of this type Fields: These are the fields that will be created in the attribute table for symbols when they are added to the feature class Label in the Table of Contents: This is the label that will appear next to this symbol in the table of contents Unique Value Renderer Fields: These are the fields that will be used to classify the symbols in ArcMap. ArcSketch supports only unique value classifications for symbols, not ranges or graduated classifications. Rotation Field: This field only applies to marker symbols. It indicates which field ArcMap should look to in order to get the rotation information for each point feature created with this symbol. Rotation Style: There are two styles of rotation, Geographic and Arithmetic. Geographic rotates the assigned symbol from North in a clockwise direction. Arithmetic rotates the assigned symbol from East in a counterclockwise direction. This allows you to select which one you wish to use. Subtype Field: This displays which field is being used as the subtype, if any. Field Properties: Shows the properties of the selected field

--- Symbol Definition Editor --- (2) Examine the symbol’s definition and note that it has a default set of

values for the definition. Click the cancel button to dismiss the Symbol Definition Editor.

Every symbol in ArcSketch starts with a default definition. This definition insures that features created with these symbols will end up in the correct feature class and layer. Marker symbols end up in the markers layer, lines in the lines layer, and areas in the areas layer. These feature classes are created in a feature dataset called CompositeSketch, and placed in a group layer called CompositeSketch. The definitions also define the basic feature class schema necessary to render features created with these symbols.

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--- ArcSketch TOC and Markers ---

The user can change a symbol’s definition, altering which feature class feature created with that symbol are placed in, adding new fields, or changing field values. Symbols that have been modified by the user indicated by having their label turn and red, and become underlined.

--- ArcSketch TOC and Symbol, Lake with custom definition ---

Creating a new symbol palette (1) In the palette window, select Tools > New Symbol Set. Name the

Symbol Set ArcSketchQuickTutorial, and click ok. Make sure the Areas tab is selected as the active symbol type. To create a new symbol, choose Symbol > New.

(2) Right click on the newly created symbol and select Edit > Edit Graphic.

The Symbol Property Editor dialog box opens. (3) Change the color and edit some of the properties to design the graphic

representation of your new symbol and click OK when you are done.

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--- Symbol Property Editor --- (3) Double click on the new symbol. The Symbol Definition Properties

dialog box will appear.

(4) Change the default values provided by ArcSketch for the symbol definition. Change the Feature Class Name to QStart, and the Feature Class Alias to Quick Start, then click OK. Notice that the name of the symbol is now underlined and red in the palette.

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Editing a symbol in the Symbol Palette (1) Select the new symbol which you have just created on the symbol

palette, then draw two or more features with that symbol.

--- Symbol and Features --- (2) In the symbol palette, right click on the selected symbol, choose Edit

> Edit Graphic, and use the Symbol Property Editor to change the symbol’s graphic representation. Click OK. Notice how the features originally created with this symbol (before it was edited) have changed and are now rendered with the new graphics.

Note: This procedure only updates the feature’s graphics. It does not update the definitions of the feature.

--- Edited Symbol in Map ---

Changing a symbols definition

(1) Make the ESRI palette the active palette.

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Note: The active palette is indicated by a darker colored title bar. (Depending on your windows settings it could be dark blue, or dark grey.) You may have to scroll up or down in the palette window in order to see the ESRI palette.

(2) Select the 100 Year Flood Overlay symbol (or any other symbol you wish to define), then right click on it, go to the edit sub-menu and select definition. Examine the symbol’s definition, not that it has a default set of values for the definition.

(3) Change the Feature Class Name to Floodzones, the Feature Class Alias to Floodzones, and then Feature Dataset Name to Hydrology. From the fields table, select and remove the SymbolName,and Stylename fields. Add a new field, name it Type, and set its Type to String. Change the value shown for Type to 100Year. Now change the TOC Label to 100 Year Flood Overlay. Click OK to finish editing the symbol’s definition.

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--- 100 Year Flood Overlay Symbol Definition ---

(3) Now create a feature using this symbol (the one you just defined) and you should see it and its feature class listed in the sketch project workspace in the ArcMap table of contents.

Note: ArcSketch might prompt you to Save Edits, or ask you if you really want to create a new feature class and layers, say yes.

Importing symbols from a layer (1) Select the symbol set you wish to serve as the container for your new

symbols. Click on the type tab at the top of the symbol set (Markers, Lines, or Areas) that matches the type of the symbols you wish to import.

(2) In the table of contents select the layer you want to import symbols

from. The layer must be classified using a unique value renderer. You can see if this is the case by right-clicking on the layer and selecting Properties. In the Layer Properties dialog, click on the Symbology tab. In the Show list, either “Unique values” or “Unique values, many fields” must be selected under Categories.

(3) In the symbol palette, choose Tools > Import From > Layer. ArcSketch

will create a set of symbols based upon the unique value renderer of the target layer.

(4) Click on one of these new symbols, and note ArcSketch automatically

creates a new feature class in the current target workspace, and a new layer for that symbol. Right click on the same symbol and choose Edit > Edit Definition. Review the definition ArcSketch created from the target layer.

Exercise 3: Working with layers

Ordering layers in the TOC

The order in which layers are listed in the ArcMap table of contents affects the order in which the layers are displayed in the map.

(1) Experiment with changing the display order by dragging layers in the table of contents.. Ordering features in a layer You can specify the drawing order of features within a layer based on how they are symbolized.

(1) Right-click on the name of the layer and select Properties from the menu. The Layer Properties dialog opens.

(2) Select the Symbology tab and choose Advanced > Symbol Levels.

--- Activating Symbol Levels --- (2) Check the box at the top labeled “Draw this layer using the symbol

levels specified below.”

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--- Symbol Draw Order --- (3) Use the arrow buttons to the right of the symbols table to move the

symbol to its preferred position in the list. The symbols on the bottom of the list will be drawn first and will thus appear to be behind the symbols on the top of the list.

(4) Click OK and click OK again to close the dialogs.

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Copyright © 2008 ESRI. All Rights Reserved. Created, ESRI Redlands Portions of this work are the intellectual property of Divelements Limited and are used herein under license. Copyright © 2003-2007 Divelements Limited. All rights reserved. The information contained in this document is the exclusive property of Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. and its licensor(s). This work is protected under United States copyright law and other international copyright treaties and conventions. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as expressly permitted in writing by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. All requests should be sent to Attention: Contracts Manager, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373 USA.

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. ArcSketch is a trademark of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.