Updating features on a Windows device

You can use the ArcGIS application on a Windows device to update the location/shape, and attributes and attachments (if applicable) for existing features. Similar to collecting new features, the editing feature workflow is streamlined and organizes the location/shape and other attributes on the same editing page as shown in the following screen shot:

Edit attributes page

NoteNote:

The location/shape, and attributes and attachments are editable on one page , but the Attachments option does not appear if your feature has no attachment support.

Updating location/shape

Depending on the type of geometry you edit, you can choose one of the following location/shape updating options:

Geometry type support for each option is shown in the following table:

Geometry updating option

Line

Polygon

Point

Re-collect

Yes

Yes

Yes

Replace a Portion

Yes

Yes

No

Delete a Portion

Yes

Yes

No

Extend from End

Yes

No

No

Extend to End

Yes

No

No

NoteNote:

Regardless of the option you choose, you can edit the location/shape using Global Positioning System (GPS)-related tools, map sketching, or by inputting a known location.

TipTip:

When you edit a feature using the Replace a portion, Delete a portion, and Extend tools options, if your stylus is close enough to the feature, the application snaps the point you draw to the feature.

To start an editing session, select a feature from the identify results list, search results list, measure feature results list, work list, or mange edit list. For example, once you've identified a feature, tap it and select Edit. When the Edit Feature page appears, tap Shape (for lines or polygons) or Location (for points), then complete the appropriate steps in the following sections.

The left pane on the Edit Attributes page lists all available location/shape collection methods. Once an editing method is selected, the left panel provides a workflow-driven process to guide you through the geometry editing. At each step, instructions are provided. Once the Apply button is enabled, tap it to complete current geometry editing.

You can tap the Cancel button to cancel the current geometry editing operation, and return to the page where a set of geometry editing operations are listed.

Re-collect geometry

On the Edit Attributes page, by default, there is an Attributes tab with location/shape and other attributes. To re-collect the location or shape, tap the Location or Shape button at the top of the attributes list. The application switches to the Map tab where a list of available location/shape editing operations are listed on the left pane.

Note that for the location (point feature class), the only available operation is re-collect the location.

Steps:
  1. Tap Re-collect.

    The left panel shows instructions on how to re-collect the current location or shape.

  2. To collect a new location, sketch on the map, or use the current GPS location by tapping the Collect using GPS Position button. For line or polygon features, you can also tap the Stream GPS Position button to use GPS streaming. Additionally, you can also tap Menu > Add X/Y Location to enter coordinates.

    • For point features, the re-collected geometry is rendered as an orange square.
    • For line features, the re-collected geometry is traced by a red line with orange vertices.
    • For polygon features, the re-collected geometry is outlined in orange.

    TipTip:

    You can modify your edits any time during re-collection of a geometry (for example, clearing the last collected location or clearing all locations) by tapping Menu on the screen and selecting the appropriate action.

    Note that the Cancel button on the left pane under each geometry editing operation cancels the current geometry editing and returns to the geometry editing page where a list of editing operations are shown on the left pane.

  3. Repeat step 2 to collect more vertices of a polyline or polygon's shape, or to change a point's location.
  4. Once a valid geometry has been collected for the current feature type, the Apply button is enabled. Tap Apply to accept the new location/shape.
  5. (Optional) Tap the Attributes tab to edit other attributes.
  6. Tap the Finish button to save the edits or tap the Cancel button to discard the edits.

Replace a Portion (polylines and polygons)

Steps:
  1. Select Replace a Portion on the Edit Attributes page.

    The Map tab appears with the existing geometry of the feature highlighted in cyan.

  2. Tap any vertex on the existing geometry to define a starting point. You can also tap the Collect using GPS Position button to select an existing vertex by snapping to the closest vertex from current GPS position.

    The selected staringt point is highlighted by an orange red box.

  3. Tap the Next button to accept the starting point.
  4. To collect a new portion, tap the Collect using GPS Position , Stream GPS Position , or sketch on the map. Additionally, you can tap Menu > Add X/Y Location to enter coordinates. Once the new portion is collected, tap the Next button to proceed.
  5. Tap any vertex on the existing geometry to define an end point. You can also tap the Collect using GPS Position button to select an existing vertex by snapping to the closest vertex from the current GPS position.

    The selected end point is highlighted by an orange red box.

  6. Tap Apply to accept the changes.
  7. (Optional) Tap the Attributes tab to edit other attributes.
  8. Tap the Finish button to save the edits, or tap the Cancel button to discard the edits.

Delete a Portion (polylines and polygons)

Steps:
  1. Select Delete a Portion on the Edit Attributes page.

    The Map tab appears with the existing geometry of the feature highlighted in cyan.

  2. Tap any vertex on the existing geometry to define a starting point. You can also tap the Collect using GPS Position button to select an existing vertex by snapping to the closest vertex from the current GPS position.

    The selected starting point is highlighted by an orange red box.

  3. Tap the Next button to accept the starting point.
  4. Tap any vertex on the existing geometry to define an end point. You can also tap the Collect using GPS Position button to select an existing vertex by snapping to the closest vertex from the current GPS position.

    The selected end point is highlighted by an orange red box.

  5. Tap Apply to accept the changes.
  6. (Optional) Tap the Attributes tab to edit other attributes.
  7. Tap the Finish button to save the edits, or tap the Cancel button to discard the edits.

Extend from End (polylines)

The Extend from End option allows you to select an existing end point from the polyline, and extend it by collecting new locations.

Steps:
  1. Select Extend from End on the Edit Attributes page.

    The Map tab appears with the existing geometry of the feature highlighted in cyan.

  2. Tap an end point of the line feature to set it as the starting point for the extension, then tap Next to accept.
  3. To collect an extended portion, tap Collect using GPS Position, Stream GPS Position, or sketch on the map. Additionally, you can tap Menu > Add X/Y Location to enter coordinates.
  4. Tap Apply to accept the changes.

    The existing polyline is extended to include the newly collected portion.

  5. (Optional) Tap the Attributes tab to edit other attributes.
  6. Tap the Finish button to save the edits, or tap the Cancel button to discard the edits.

Extend to End (polylines)

The Extend to End option allows you to first collect a new portion and connect it to an existing end point from the polyline.

Steps:
  1. Select Extend to End on the Edit Attributes page.

    The Map tab appears with the existing geometry of the feature highlighted in cyan.

  2. To collect an extended portion, tap Collect using GPS Position, Stream GPS Position, or sketch on the map. Additionally, you can tap Menu > Add X/Y Location to enter coordinates. Tap Next to proceed.
  3. Tap an end point of the line feature to set it as the end point for the extension and tap Apply to accept the changes.

    The newly collected portion is connected to the existing polyline.

  4. (Optional) Tap the Attributes tab to edit other attributes.
  5. Tap the Finish button to save the edits, or tap the Cancel button to discard the edits.

Updating attributes and attachments

You can update attributes and attachments on the Attributes tab. Note that attachments always show at the bottom of the page (if this feature type supports attachments and is enabled through Mobile Project Center).

The way to update attributes is no different from updating the attributes in the data collection workflow. Read Collecting features using Windows device for details.

For more information about editing attributes, see Collecting features using a Windows device.

Add attachments via built-in or an external camera

To add attachments via built-in or an external camera, follow the steps below:

Steps:
  1. If you want to take a photo and attach it to a current feature, your Windows device needs to support a camera ( built-in or external). On the right of the Attachments section, tap the Take Photo button.
  2. Once the photo is taken, the application automatically attaches it to the current feature, and adds a new attachment button under the Attachments section. If the button is tapped, the attachment opens in an external application that's registered to open this file type in the registry table.

Add attachments from local storage

To add attachments from local storage, follow the steps below:

Steps:
  1. On the right of the Attachments section, tap the Add File button.
  2. On the dialog box that appears, browse to the folder where the attachment is located. Select the file and tap OK.
  3. The application automatically attaches the selected file to the current feature as a new attachment, and adds a new attachment button under the Attachments section. If the button is tapped, the attachment opens in an external application that's registered to open this file type in the registry table.

Delete existing attachments

To delete existing attachments, follow the steps below:

Steps:
  1. Tap the Menu > Delete Attachments menu.
  2. On the Delete Attachments page, choose any attachment you want to delete, then tap the Delete button.
1/7/2015