An overview of the editing process

The following is a general overview of how to use ArcPad, the Edit toolbar, and the Command bar to edit your data. Each of the following steps is outlined in detail in this section or other sections in this user guide:

1. Start ArcPad.
2. Create a new map, browse for data, or open an existing map.
3. Add data to your map.

4. Select the shapefile or ArcPad AXF layers that you want to edit. You can only select one layer of each feature type (point, line, or polygon) for editing at a time. Alternatively, the Graphics layer can be selected for editing. The Start/Stop Editing tool displays a menu of the layers that are available for editing.

5. Display the Edit toolbar and the Command bar

   The buttons on the Edit toolbar and the Command bar will only be enabled if a layer has been selected for editing. The GPS buttons will only be enabled if the GPS has been activated.

6. Select the feature that you want to edit or select a feature type to create a new feature.

   The GPS buttons will only be enabled if the GPS has been activated and the selected feature type is point, polyline, or polygon. You can activate the GPS whenever you want to use the GPS coordinates for creating or modifying features.

7. Create or modify features and their attributes.
8. Commit geometry changes or undo changes made to a feature.

   The Command bar is also displayed at the bottom of the screen when a polyline or polygon layer is selected for editing. Once a change has been made, it enables you to commit geometry changes, capture attribute information for a new feature, and undo and cancel edits to a recently edited feature.

   There is no need to save your edits; all edits are made directly on the original or source shapefile or ArcPad AXF file. Once you have commited your changes, there is no undo function. Your edits have been made. Prior to committing your changes, you can still undo changes step by step with the Undo tool or all at once with the Cancel tool.