Rotating feature representations

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

You can rotate the geometry of feature representations interactively by spinning them, specifying an exact rotation angle, or orienting them to a common direction.

Some representation rule properties can be rotated using the Rotate tool or oriented to a common direction using the Orient tool . The Orient tool is on a submenu of the Rotate tool . Click the arrow next to the Rotate tool to access it.

Rotating representation geometry

You can rotate feature representation geometry with the Select tool or the Rotate tool.

Using the Select tool , you can select any combination of whole feature representations. A rectangular bounding box is drawn around the limits of the selection. You can interactively spin the bounding box to rotate the selected feature representations inside.

With the Rotate tool , you can only rotate one category of feature at a time—that is, they must all share the same representation rule—but you can rotate geometry and representation symbology simultaneously. You can specify an exact rotation angle or rotate interactively. If multiple feature representations are selected, you can choose between rotating from the anchor point (which is at the center of the entire selection by default) or spinning each feature representation individually around its own center.

How to rotate representation geometry

1. In an edit session, select one or more feature representations with the Select tool or the Lasso Select tool on the Representation toolbar. A rectangular bounding box is drawn around the selection.
2. Move the pointer over one of the corner handles of the bounding box until it changes to a curved arrow: .
3. Click and drag to rotate the bounding box to rotate the selected feature representations.

Rotating and orienting representation properties

Representation rules can include geometric effects and marker placement styles, which may have properties that can be interactively angled, rotated, or oriented with the Rotate tool or the Orient tool . A check box will appear next to these properties on the Tools tab of the Representation Properties window.

Dive-in:

The Rotate tool adjusts angles by relative amounts. That is, geometry and certain representation properties can be rotated a certain number of degrees relative to the original position. The Orient tool adjusts angles by absolute amounts. That is, it aligns angle representation properties to a common orientation. The Orient tool works on representation properties only. Geometry cannot be oriented.

How to rotate representation properties

1. In an edit session, select one or more feature representations.
2. Click the Rotate tool on the Representation toolbar.
3. Click the Tools tab on the Representation Properties window to see a list of representation rule properties of the selected feature representations that can be rotated with the Rotate tool.
4. Check the properties you want to rotate.
5. Click and drag to spin the selection.

Tip:

• By clicking the Geometry check box in step 4 above, you can also rotate the shape of the selected feature, creating a geometry override.
• Selected feature representations must share the same representation rule to be rotated simultaneously.
• The effects of the Rotate tool will operate on the entire feature representation, regardless of the selection state of individual vertices.
• You can rotate feature representations by a specific angle by right-clicking with the Rotate tool and choosing Angle. Enter the angle in degrees, and choose a rotate direction.
• When multiple feature representations are selected, you can rotate them as a group from the anchor point or spin each feature representation individually from its own center. Right-click with the Rotate tool and check Use Individual Anchors to spin each feature representation individually. Check this setting to rotate the selection as a whole. The selection will rotate around the anchor point. You can move the location of the anchor point by pausing the pointer on it until the pointer changes to a four-way move anchor , then click and drag to move the anchor point to a new location.
• Press the R key to activate the Rotate tool . Press the R key again to open the Angle dialog box.

How to orient representation properties

1. In an edit session, select one or more feature representations.
2. Click the Orient tool on the submenu of the Rotate tool on the Representation toolbar.
3. Click the Tools tab on the Representation Properties window to see a list of representation rule properties of the selected feature representations that can be aligned with the Orient tool .
4. Check the properties you want to orient to a common angle.
5. Click and drag in the direction you want to align the representation properties.

Tip:

• Selected feature representations must share the same representation rule to be oriented simultaneously.
• The default orient action is to align representation properties parallel to the direction you indicate with the mouse. Right-click and click Perpendicular to align representation properties perpendicularly to the direction you indicate instead. You can also press the TAB key to toggle between these choices.
• Right-click and click Angle to specify an exact orientation angle in degrees.