When edit mode is enabled, superselected area and line features are shown with yellow squares representing the vertices and nodes.
An existing feature object can be edited when edit mode is enabled. The Edit Mode command is used to enable edit mode. Features can be edited directly on several vector formats, such as HOB, Shapefile, GML, KML, MapInfo, SQLite, GeoPackage and database connection layers.
Editing a feature can include changes to the spatial representation of the object or changes to the attribute values of the object. For a line or area object, changing the shape of the feature is done by adding, moving, or otherwise modifying vertices. Refer to Attributes Window for information on attribute values.
When edit mode is enabled, superselected area and line features are shown with yellow squares representing the vertices and nodes.
Point features have a single yellow vertex, representing the actual position of the point.
A node is the point where two edges meet. A node is represented as a large yellow square. When a node or vertex is selected, it turns red. You can select single or multiple vertices.
When you edit a feature, it is locked to prevent other users from editing it at the same time. The feature remains locked until you save it, reload the workspace, or end the current session.
If you try to edit a feature that is locked by another user, a message informs you that the feature is not available for editing. You will have to wait until the feature is available.
Some features share some of their geometry with other features. To apply changes to all features that share the geometry, the Shared Edit command must be active. If editing would result in invalid geometry or if the changes could not be shared unambiguously, the shared features might not be edited. |
The following edits can be performed on a feature object:
You can also use the Coordinates window to move vertices and point features. See Coordinates Window.
Keyboard Shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts can be used when editing features:
Key | Purpose | Mode |
|---|---|---|
Ctrl+Click | Add a vertex on an edge if the cursor is over the edge segment. | Edit |
Ctrl+Z | Undo the most recent action. | Edit |
Enter | Process a change to an edge (for example, when redigitizing an edge segment). | Edit |
Ctrl+E | For an existing and selected digitized feature, enter or exit editing mode. | Edit |
Delete | Delete a vertex. | Edit |
F | Filter selected vertices. | Edit |
M | Merge an edge at a selected vertex. | Edit |
O | Smooth an edge. | Edit |
P | Spatial split at a selected vertex. | Edit |
R | Redigitize selected vertices. | Edit |
S | If manual snapping is enabled, pressing <S> snaps the cursor to the nearest node. To cycle through the multiple vertices, if applicable, press <Space>. | Digitize Edit |
Space | Toggle between vertices when using snapping. | Edit |
The following keyboard shortcuts can be used to select vertices.
Key | Description |
|---|---|
Home | Select the first vertex in a line. |
End | Select the last vertex in a line. |
Shift+Home | Select all vertices from the selected vertex to the start of the line. |
Shift+End | Select all vertices from the selected vertex to the last vertex. |
Down Arrow/Right Arrow | Move the selection forward one vertex. |
Up Arrow/Left Arrow | Move the selection back one vertex. |
Shift+Down Arrow/Right Arrow | Move the selection forward one vertex adding to the selection. |
Shift+Up Arrow/Left Arrow | Move the selection back one vertex adding to the selection. |
General procedure
1. Superselect a feature.
2. Select the Edit Mode command.
Menu | Edit > Edit Mode |
Tool |
|
Key | <Ctrl+E> |
The vertices of the feature are displayed.
3. Edit the feature or adjust attribute values.
4. Select the Edit Mode command again.
The changes are applied to the feature.
To view the changes, select the Refresh command.
To commit the changes, select the Save command.
