To rotate a feature in ArcMap, you typically use the Rotate tool found on the Editor toolbar. This tool allows you to change the orientation of selected features within your map document.
Steps to Rotate Features in ArcMap
Rotating features is a common editing task. The process involves selecting the features you want to rotate and then using the dedicated Rotate tool.
Here is the standard procedure:
- Start an Edit Session: Ensure you are in an editing session. This is done by clicking the Editor toolbar dropdown and selecting "Start Editing".
- Select Feature(s): Use the Edit tool (the black arrow on the Editor toolbar) to select the feature(s) you wish to rotate. Selected features will have handles or outlines indicating their selection.
- Activate the Rotate Tool: On the Editor toolbar, locate and click the Rotate tool.
- Perform Rotation:
- Interactive Rotation: Click anywhere on the map and drag the pointer to rotate the feature to the desired orientation. The features will rotate around their centroid or another specified origin if you've set one.
- Specify Exact Angle: To define the rotation precisely, press the A key while the Rotate tool is active. A dialog box will appear where you can type the number of degrees for the rotation. The angle you enter is applied relative to the current orientation of the selected feature(s). A positive value rotates counter-clockwise, and a negative value rotates clockwise.
Understanding Rotation Angles
When you type an angle after pressing the 'A' key, ArcMap applies that rotation based on the feature's current position.
- Example: If a feature is currently oriented at 45 degrees and you type '90' after pressing 'A', the feature will be rotated an additional 90 degrees counter-clockwise, ending up at 135 degrees relative to the original horizontal axis.
Key Points for Feature Rotation
- You must be in an editing session to use the Rotate tool.
- The tool rotates selected features.
- Rotation can be done interactively by dragging or precisely by typing an angle.
- The angle specified via the 'A' key is relative to the feature's current orientation.
- The Editor toolbar contains many tools essential for modifying geographic data.
Using the Rotate tool from the Editor toolbar is the direct method within an editing session to adjust the orientation of your individual geographic features.
