Representations Tutorial

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DATA CREDITS
Tutorial Data: Austin East quad sheet, Texas Natural Resources Information System.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robert Jensen, Edith M. Punt
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iii
Contents
Exercise 1: Learning the fundamentals of representations 2
Exercise 2: Interacting with representation properties 8
Exercise 3: Performing edits with representations 18
Exercise 4: Working with free representations 24
Exercise 5: Using geoprocessing tools for representations 30
1
Representations Tutorial
In this tutorial, you will be introduced to representations, which allow you to symbolize geographic features with a set of
rules that are stored with your data in the geodatabase. Representation rules can create and draw dynamic geometry that
differs from the feature shape, allowing a complex depiction of features without impacting the spatial integrity of your data.
Representations provide greater control over the precision and defnition of the symbolization of your data.
A set of representation rules is collectively known as a feature class representation. Together, these rules defne one way to
symbolize the features of the feature class to which they belong. A feature class can support many feature class representa-
tions, thereby storing multiple ways to visualize its features for use on a variety of maps. Layers can be symbolized using
the Representation category, which will access all the representation rules of a feature class representation present on the
source feature class. An intuitive interface controls the rules in the feature class representation and the properties of each of
those rules.
The easiest way to create a set of representation rules is to convert existing layer symbology to a feature class representa-
tion. Each symbol in the layer will become a representation rule in the new feature class representation. Rules can then
be added or modifed. Alternatively, a feature class representation and its associated rules can be built from scratch on the
feature class in ArcCatalog. An integer feld is added to the feature class to link each feature to a representation rule.
Situations may arise where exceptions must be made to the rules to properly portray certain features on your map. Rather
than break a rigid structure, each property of the representation rule can be overridden in a manageable way. Overrides
are also stored with the data in the feature class, and the link to the rule is not broken. Overrides are edits that are made to
feature representations inside an edit session using a set of representation editing tools. In extreme cases, the link to the rules
can be broken altogether, and an independent free representation graphic can be created and manipulated. Although still
spatially referenced, free representations no longer follow the rule structure dictated by the feature class representation.
This tutorial is composed of fve exercises in which you will learn:
The fundamentals of symbolizing data with feature class representations
Ways to work with and modify representation rules
How to override the representation rules for individual features
How to work with free representations
How to automate mapmaking processes with representation geoprocessing tools
2 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

In this exercise, you will examine a map that needs to be
updated with new symbology. You will use feature class
representations to do this. Feature class representations give
you greater fexibility and control of your map symbology
by storing complex, rule-based symbols in the geodatabase
along with the map data. You will learn different ways to
create a feature class representation within a geodatabase
and how to convert symbolized layers into feature class rep-
resentations.
Creating and modifying feature class representations require
an ArcEditor or ArcInfo

license. You will need at least

an ArcEditor license to complete the steps of this tutorial.
You might want to begin by copying the tutorial data to
a local directory to which you have write access. These
exercises modify the databases provided to you, so you
should make backup copies of them before you begin so
you or someone else can follow the tutorial in the future.
C:\ArcGIS\ArcTutor\Representations is the default location
for tutorial data.
Creating feature class representations in ArcMap
1. Start ArcMap from the Programs list on your
Windows Start menu.
2. Open Exercise_1.mxd from C:\ArcGIS\ArcTutor\
Representation\Exercise_1.
You are looking at a topographic map of Austin, Texas.
This map contains layers that are already symbolized
for you. You will use representations to update and
improve some of the symbology.
3. Right-click the RoadL layer in the table of contents
(TOC) and click Convert Symbology to Representation.
The Convert Symbology to Representation dialog box
opens.
Exercise 1: Learning the fundamentals of representations
3 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
7. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the following layers:
RailroadL
TrailL
HydroL
BuildingA
WetlandsA
8. When you have fnished comparing the new layer to the
original layers, hold down the Ctrl key and click the six
original layers in the TOC to select them. Right-click
one of the selected layers and click Remove to delete
these layers from the map.
Only the layers symbolized by representations (with
_Rep suffxes) will remain.
4. Examine all the default settings and click Convert.
The Representation Name property is automatically
populated with the name of the feature class plus _Rep.
The RuleID Field is the name of the feld that will
store an integer value for a feature that references a
particular representation rule that dictates how it will be
symbolized. The default name for this feld is RuleID.
The Override Field is the feld that stores any overrides
to a representation rule for a feature. It is a BLOB feld
type. The default name for this feld is Override.
The Behavior When Representation Geometry Is
Edited property tells ArcGIS where to store geometry
edits made with the representation editing tools. These
changes can be stored in either the Override feld or the
Shape feld of the feature class.
The new layer (RoadL_Rep) is added to the TOC. The
original RoadL layer (symbolized with unique values)
is still in the TOC below the RoadL_Rep layer.
5. Hold down the Ctrl key and click any check box in
the TOC to turn all layers off. Check the RoadL and
RoadL_Rep layers. Toggle these two layers on and off
using the check boxes to visually compare how they are
symbolized. You may want to zoom and pan in the map
to see the differences and similarities.
6. Hold down the Ctrl key and click an empty check box
in the TOC to turn all the layers on again.
Symbolizing layers with representations in
ArcMap
1. Click the Add Data button and navigate to the
BuildingP feature class (inside Representations_1.gdb,
TopographicMap feature dataset). Click Add on the Add
Data dialog box to add the feature class to the TOC.
2. Right-click BuildingP and click Properties.
The Layer Properties dialog box opens.
4 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

6. Click the BuildingP feature layer in the TOC to select
it. Click it again to highlight the name. Rename it by
typing BuildingP_Rep to indicate to yourself that it is
symbolized with representations.
7. Right-click the BuildingP_Rep feature layer and click
Open Attribute Table.
8. Scroll right, if necessary, to see the Angle feld.
The Angle feld contains values that defne the angles
of the buildings as they appear on the ground, relative
to either geographic or arithmetic orientation. Although
buildings are typically captured and modeled as simple
point locations for topographic maps at this scale
(1:24,000), it is cartographically desirable to portray
them at their true orientation. You will use the values in
this feld to orient building symbols later in exercise 2
of this tutorial.
9. Close the attribute table of the BuildingP_Rep dialog
box.
Preparing a feature class for a new representation
in ArcCatalog
When working in ArcCatalog, you may want to create
new representations for a feature class using existing sym-
bology that you are familiar with. In ArcMap, the Layer
Properties dialog box provides this information, whereas
in ArcCatalog, the information about symbology is derived
from a layer fle. You can create layer fles for your feature
classes with symbology of your choosing for those times
when you choose to create representations in ArcCatalog. In
ArcCatalog, you can accomplish this through
3. Click the Symbology tab.
You will see that the default renderer for newly added
features in ArcMap is the Categories option. You
will also see that there is a Representations option.
This option is only available when a feature class has
representations.
4. Click Representations in the Show list on the dialog
box. You will see a list of the available feature class
representations for BuildingP_Rep.
There is one representation rule for BuildingP_Rep and
it is shown with its properties.
5. Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box.
The buildings on the map are symbolized with the black
square defned in the BuildingP_Rep representation.
5 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
7. Check the box to Assign rules to the features that
match the layer fle.
This option is only available when the layer fle you
are importing rules from has the same source as the
current feature class. Checking this option will assign
representation rules to individual features.
Your dialog box should look like the one below.
ModelBuilder, at the command line, with a script, with
the Add Representation tool, or through the Feature Class
Properties dialog box.
Create a feature class representation in
ArcCatalog
1. Exit ArcMap and start ArcCatalog.
2. Right-click the feature class RoadP (inside the
TopographicMap feature dataset, in Representations_1.
gdb) in the Catalog tree and choose Properties.
3. Click the Representations tab on the Feature Class
Properties dialog box.
The list is empty because the RoadP feature class does
not have any feature class representations. You will add
one now.
4. Click New.
The New Representation wizard opens. Note the
similarities between this dialog box and the Convert
Symbology to Representation dialog box in ArcMap
you used earlier in this exercise.
5. Keep the default name RoadP_Rep and the default feld
names RuleID and Override.
6. Check the box to import representation rules from
a layer fle. Navigate to the RoadP layer.lyr in the
Exercise_1 folder.
You can import rules from any layer fle. Checking this
box allows you to choose where your representation
rules come from.
8. Click Finish.
The new RoadP_Rep feature class representation
appears on the Representations tab of the Feature Class
Properties dialog box.
6 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

Examining feature class representation properties
in ArcCatalog
1. With the Feature Class Properties dialog box still open,
click RoadP_Rep on the window to select it, then click
Properties.
The Feature Class Representation Properties dialog box
opens.
2. Click the General tab if necessary.
The General tab shows the name of the feature class
representation and the two feld names, as well as the
geometry editing behavior setting. This setting and the
name of the feature class representation can be changed
from this pane, but for this exercise, leave them as is.
You can use the button at the top of the dialog box
to click any item on this menu to learn more about the
components of feature class representations.
3. Click the Representation tab.
This tab lists the representation rules that are part of
the RoadP_Rep feature class representation, which
currently has only one representation rule, Rule_1.
Note: You will notice that the symbol size is now
2.72 points instead of 4 points as before the conversion.
Before conversion, the symbol was a character marker
symbol. These symbols are stored as glyphs in a
font. The envelope of the glyph is 4 points in size,
whereas the symbol inside the envelope is actually
2.72 points. The symbol has converted correctly into a
representation, even if the numbers seem unexpected.
When you are in ArcMap, you can switch back and
forth from the Representation renderer to the Features
renderer to see that the new and old symbols are the
same size.
4. Click the name of the representation rule, Rule_1. Once
the text is selected, type Road Caps to rename the
representation rule.
5. Click OK to close the Feature Class Representation
Properties dialog box.
6. Click OK to close the Feature Class Properties dialog
box.
7. With the RoadP feature class still selected in the
Catalog tree, click the Preview tab and choose Table
from the pull-down menu.
8. Examine the attribute table to see the two new columns
that have been added: RuleID and Override. The
RuleID feld stores the numeric values associated
with representation rules, in this case, representation
rule 1. The Override feld will store any feature-level
7 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
exceptions you make to the representation rules during
editing.
9. Exit ArcCatalog.
10. If you want to proceed to the next exercise, leave
ArcMap open.
Congratulations, youve completed exercise 1.
Things created and accomplished in this exercise
Created a feature class representation in ArcCatalog
Added a new representation
Symbolized a layer with a representation in ArcMap
Renamed a representation in symbology
Converted symbology to representation in ArcMap
8 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

In this exercise, you will work in ArcMap to understand
how to interact with feature class representations and how
representation rules drive the way features are displayed on
a map. You will start by learning how to add a representa-
tion rule to one of the feature class representations you cre-
ated in exercise 1. You will learn to interact with marker,
stroke, and fll symbology as defned by representation
rules. You will learn how to modify representation rules by
adding and modifying symbol layers and geometric effects.
As you work on this exercise, keep in mind that parameter
values cannot be changed on the Layer Properties dialog
box when an edit session is open. Parameter values can be
set by the user or mapped to an explicit feld.
Examining representation rules
1. Start ArcMap if necessary.
2. Continue with the map document from exercise 1 or
open Exercise_2.mxd.
3. Ensure that the Editor and Representation toolbars are
visible. If not, click the View menu, point to Toolbars,
then check Editor and Representation.
4. Double-click RoadL_Rep in the TOC to open the Layer
Properties dialog box.
5. Click the Symbology tab.
6. The RoadL_Rep layer is symbolized with the RoadL
_Rep feature class representation, which contains four
representation rules.
These four rules have been translated from the four
symbol categories present in the original symbolized
layer from which the feature class representation was
derived.
7. Click the third representation rule, Class 2, in the list.
The right side of the dialog box shows the properties of
that representation rule.
The Class 2 representation rule consists of three stroke
symbol layers, indicated by the three stacked tabs
showing a stroke squiggle.
8. Click the frst (topmost) stroke tab in the list of symbol
layers.
This symbol layer includes the Dashes geometric effect
to place red solid lines in alternating intervals along the
linear geometry of the feature. This symbol layer is at
the top of the symbol layer stack for this rule, so it is
the last to draw and therefore appears above the other
two symbol layers.
Exercise 2: Interacting with representation properties
9 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
The New Buildings representation rule consists
of a single marker symbol layer with a default
representation marker (a 5-pt black square). You are
going to change this to a 2-pt red square instead.
6. Inside the marker symbol layer, click the black square
representation marker.
9. Click the second, then the third stroke symbol layer tabs
in this representation rule.
Neither of these symbol layers includes a geometric
effect. The bottommost symbol layer is a solid, thick
black line and is the frst to draw. The second symbol
layer is a slightly thinner, white line. Together they give
the appearance of a cased line symbol.
10. Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box.
11. Repeat steps 4 through 10, if desired, to see how other
symbol categories were translated into representation
rules when you created feature class representations in
exercise 1.
Adding new representation rules
1. Click Bookmarks>1) Buildings.
2. Double-click BuildingP_Rep in the TOC to open the
Layer Properties dialog box.
3. Click the Create New Rule button to add a new
representation rule to the BuildingP_Rep feature class
representation.
4. Click the Layer Options button and point to Units.
Choose Points as the unit of measurement for the
symbols.
5. Click the name of the new rule, Rule_2, to select it.
Type New Buildings to rename it.
10 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

The Representation Marker Selector dialog box opens.
A representation marker is made up of symbol layers
and geometric effects just as representation rules are.
This representation marker consists of a single fll
symbol layer, flling the square with solid black.
7. Click Properties.
The Marker Editor opens with the black representation
marker flling the canvas.
8. Use the Select Part tool to select the representation
marker.
9. Click the swatch next to the Color property in the fll
symbol layer and choose a red from the palette that
opens.
The representation marker turns red.
10. Click OK to close the Marker Editor, then click OK to
close the Representation Marker Selector dialog box.
11. Click the Size property text box. Type 2 and press
Enter.
The New Buildings representation rule is now
symbolized with a marker symbol layer containing a
2-pt red square.
11 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
Applying new representation rules to features
1. Right-click the BuildingP_Rep layer in the TOC, point
to Selection, then click Make This The Only Selectable
Layer.
12. Click OK. A Warning dialog box appears. This warning
is to let you know that the changes you are making to a
rule will be stored in your database.
2. Start editing.
3. Select some of the buildings in the current view using
the Select tool located on the Representation toolbar.
4. Open the Representation Properties dialog box using
the button on the Representation toolbar.
Click OK and view the results. Notice that the points
are still symbolized with the default symbol. They are
symbolized this way because their values in the RuleID
feld are all set to 1.
12 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

5. Click the Representation rule pull-down list and choose
New Buildings to apply to all the selected buildings.
Now you will learn how to set unique angle values for
each building.
11. Click the Display feld overrides button. This will make
the Angle parameter fnd its values from within the
database.
6. Close the Representation Properties dialog box, save
your edits, then stop editing.
7. Open the layer properties of BuildingP_Rep.
8. Choose the New Buildings representation rule.
9. On the dialog box for Angle, type 45 for the angle
value.
10. Click Apply and move the dialog box to see the
changes.
Note that all buildings following this representation rule
are now angled 45 degrees from horizontal.
13 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
12. Choose the Angle feld from the pull-down list to be the
explicit feld for the angle parameter.
more control over the way your features are symbolized.
1. Click Bookmarks>2) Trail and Swamp.
Adding geometric effects to representation rules
According to new specifcations for the map, the symbol for
trails must change to a double dashed line instead of the sin-
gle black line as found in the old map. To accomplish this
task, you will add some geometric effects to the representa-
tion rules. Adding geometric effects does not alter the un-
derlying geometry of your features; rather, they allow you
2. Make TrailL_Rep your only selectable layer.
3. Open the layer properties for TrailL_Rep.
4. Click the representation rule named Trail and click the
stroke symbol layer.
13. Click OK.
Note that the buildings are now angled according to the
values stored in the Angle attribute feld of the data.
14 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

5. Click the (+) button to see the Geometric Effects dialog
box.
below. Notice that a new layer is added to the rule.
6. Click Line input, then click Offset.
Note that the newly added stroke layer has a line width
of 1. This is the default value for new stroke layers.
10. Type 0.5 in the Width text box.
11. You will now add a Line to Line Offset effect to this
new stroke layer, just as you did before in steps 5 and 6.
12. For this stroke layer, however, type -0.5 in the Offset
text box.
13. Click Apply to see the result on the map.
7. Click OK on the Geometric Effects dialog box to add
a new dialog box to the stroke symbol layer, labeled
Offset, as shown above.
8. In the Offset text box, type 0.5 for the value.
9. Add a new stroke layer to this representation rule by
clicking the Add New Stroke Layer button as shown
15 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
Notice that global effects override individual layer
effects.
18. Click OK to see the result.
15. Click the (+) button on the right side of the dialog box
to open the Geometric Effects dialog box.
Geometric effects can be added to an individual symbol
layer in a representation rule as you have just seen
above. They can, however, be applied to all layers as
well. To apply a geometric effect to all the symbol
layers in a representation rule, it must be added as a
global effect. You will learn how to make this happen.
14. Click the top-level tab to open the Global Effects dialog
box. You will see a message indicating that there are no
global effects at this time.
16. Choose the Dashes geometric effect from the Line input
section and click OK.
values provided for dash pattern symbology.
17. To change the values, type 3 1 in the Pattern text box.
Be sure to include a space between the two numbers.
A new dialog box will be added to the Global Effects
section of the representation rule. Note the default
16 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

Adding markers to polygon symbology
1. Open the layer properties for WetlandsA_Rep.
2. Choose the swamp representation rule.
In the original map, swamps are symbolized simply
with the color Sodalite Blue. You will add a marker
symbol layer to the representation rule to make the
swamp symbology more user-friendly.
3. Click the Add new marker layer button.
Notice that a default symbol has been provided.
4. Click the square marker as shown above to open the
Marker Selector dialog box.
5. Click the Swamp symbol from the Representation
Marker Selector dialog box.
6. Click OK to close the Representation Marker Selector
dialog box.
7. Type 3 in the Size text box to change the size.
Notice that there is a Polygon center label in the marker
layer. This is the default marker placement location. In
this case, there would only be one marker added to the
polygon. Instead, you will need to change the marker
placement to something that puts a series of markers
across the polygon.
8. Open the Marker Placements dialog box by clicking the
arrow next to the placement label.
17 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
11. Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box.
You can now see that there is a pattern of random swamp
symbols.
12. If you want to proceed to the next exercise, leave
ArcMap open.
13. If you want to return to this tutorial later, save this map
document as Exercise_two.mxd and exit ArcMap.
Congratulations, youve completed exercise 2.
Things created and accomplished in this exercise
Adding a new rule to a feature class representation
Setting only one selectable layer
Editing representation properties
Choosing the type of unit measurement
Interacting with the Representation Properties dialog box
Mapping representation rules to explicit felds
Adding a new marker layer to a representation rule
Interacting with the Marker Placements dialog box
Using the Marker Editor & Marker Selector dialog boxes
Changing properties of a marker layer
Adding a new stroke layer to a representation rule
Changing properties of a stroke layer
Interacting with the Geometric Effects dialog box
Adding the Offset geometric effect & Dashes geometric
effect
Changing properties of geometric effects
Adding global effects
9. Locate the Polygon input category and choose
Randomly inside polygon.
10. Click OK to close the Marker Placements dialog box.
18 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

Note the rectangular selection box around it.
Exercise 3 is about the editing experience. By editing fea-
ture representations, you will learn the impacts of modify-
ing shapes and representation parameters and how they be-
come overrides to the representation rules. You will interact
with the selection and editing tools and see how both the
appearance and properties of representations are changed.
In this exercise, you will be working with geometry and
symbology overrides. The premise of the exercise is to
show how edits can be made to representations without
changing the underlying geometry of the features involved.
You will note that when performing edits with Representa-
tion tools, there is What you see is what you get feed-
back. You can see what your edit will become before you
release the mouse button.
Note: The results from your edits do not need to perfectly
match the results pictured in the graphics of this tutorial.
The goal is for you to get used to the expected behavior of
the Representation editing tools. Practice with all the tools
until you feel comfortable.
Editing feature representations
1. Continue with your current map document from
exercise 2 or open Exercise_3.mxd found in the
Exercise 3 folder.
2. Add the Representation toolbar and the Editor toolbar if
they are not already present.
Exercise 3: Performing edits with representations
3. Click Bookmarks>3) Area Building.
4. Make BuildingA_Rep your only selectable layer.
5. Start editing.
6. Using the Select tool on the Representation toolbar,
select the new building.
19 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
Notice how the selection rectangle is no longer visible
but the vertices defning the outline of the building are
all selected. Hint: You can tell by the solid blue fll
present in all the vertices.
7. Rest the mouse pointer on any corner handle and when
the cursor becomes an arrow, click and drag the arrow
to resize the building.
Note: When resting the mouse pointer, the corner is
very sensitive; you may see the tool change from an
arrow symbol to a rotate symbol.
8. Once again, rest the pointer above a corner handle until
the cursor becomes a curved arrow. Click and drag to
rotate the building.
9. Click the Direct Select tool on the Representation
toolbar.
There is a difference between the two selection tools
found on the Representation toolbar. The Select tool is
used to select whole features and provides options to
perform edits on the selected feature or features. The
Direct Select tool (white tool) is used to select a part or
parts of features and provides options to perform edits
on the selected part or parts of the selected feature or
features.
10. Select one vertex by drawing a box around the vertex
with the Direct Select tool. In this step, the graphic will
depict the selection of a vertex in the upper left-hand
corner of the polygon. You can select any vertex you
like.
When you have done this, you will notice that only
your selected vertex has a solid blue fll, while the
other vertices have a white fll. This is designed to be
a helpful visual clue to assist you when you are in an
editing session.
20 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

5. Click the Color box below Solid color pattern. Choose
any green color you like.
All other swamps in the map still follow the original
rule, but this particular swamp has a color override. All
other properties of the rule are still followed.
12. Stop editing and save your edits.
13. Add the BuildingA feature class from the location
where you have Exercise_2.gdb stored and use the
default symbology that appears (your default color
may be different). Note that the original shape has not
changed even though the representation was edited.
11. Drag the selected vertex away from the others to
reshape the feature.
Representation Properties dialog box: Drawing tab
You will now work with the main tab on the Representation
Properties dialog box, the Drawing tab. This tab looks just
like the Layer Properties dialog box in that it lists the pa-
rameters of the representation rule for the selected feature.
This dialog box provides an interface for changing the pa-
rameter values for your selected feature. The symbol layers
in the representation rule for the selected feature cannot be
changed.
1. Click Bookmarks>2) Trail and Swamp.
2. Make WetlandsA_Rep your only selectable layer.
3. Start editing and select a swamp polygon using the
Select tool.
4. Open the Representation Properties dialog box to
examine your selected feature. You will now create an
override of the background color of the swamp.
14. Remove the newly added BuildingA feature class.
21 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
6. Click the paintbrush icon. It disappears and the
background color of the swamp returns to blue. The
override has been removed.
A paintbrush icon appears to the right of the Color
box to indicate that this property has an override.
7. With the swamp still selected, choose the Bog
representation rule from the drop-down list. The feature
representation now follows the representation rule for a
bog and is symbolized accordingly.
8. Click the Representation rule drop-down arrow again
and choose Swamp to return the symbol to the original
rule.
Keep the Swamp feature selected and the
Representation Properties dialog box open as you
proceed to the next step.
Representation Properties dialog box: Tools tab
You will now work with the other tab on the Representation
Properties dialog box, the Tools tab. This tab lists geom-
etry and other drawing properties of the selected feature or
features that can be modifed with the use of the currently
selected representation edit tool. Any combination of geom-
etry and drawing properties can be modifed simultaneously
using the current tool simply by checking the properties you
want on and off.
The list of available properties varies with the representa-
tion edit tool that is currently selected. Any modifcations to
drawing properties made in this way will become overrides
for the representation. Modifcations to the geometry will
be stored either in the Override feld of the feature class if
the representation was created with that option (as it was for
this exercise) or in the Shape feld if that option was chosen
when the representation was created.
As you can see below, when features are selected, the Tools
tab will indicate which representation edit tool is currently
selected. When there is no representation edit tool selected,
the Tools tab will appear as it does below left. For example,
when the representation Resize tool is selected, the Tools
tab will appear as it does below right.
Once you have completed this section of the exercise, you
can return to the Tools tab, if you want, and try different
combinations of the check boxes. In this section, you will
be working with the Resize tool, and the goal is to change
the appearance of the pattern symbology used in the Swamp
22 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

After:
3. Click and drag the Resize tool anywhere near (or on)
the swamp. As you drag the mouse pointer, you will see
a line to guide your change and see the swamp symbol
dynamically change. When you are satisfed with the
changes you have made, release the mouse button.
Note: Your result may vary dramatically from the one
depicted in this exercisethis is OK and should be
expected. The movement you make with your mouse
will be refected on screen. Keep in mind that even a
little bit of movement can make larger than expected
changes on screen.
For the swamp feature representation, you will see that
the parameters for Size, X step, and Y step are selected
by default. Leave these as they are and make sure the
Geometry option is unchecked.
Before:
representation rule.
The X step and Y step properties determine the pattern of
the marker symbols as they appear within a polygon, where-
as the Size property determines the size of the marker sym-
bol. The Geometry property determines whether the shape
of the feature is adjusted. Keep in mind that changes to the
underlying geometry of the feature will only occur if your
representations were created with that option. Otherwise,
changes to the shape will be stored in the Override feld.
1. Click the Tools tab on the Representation Properties
dialog box.
2. Click the Resize tool on the Representation toolbar.
This way, you will only resize the markers and not the
polygon.
23 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
The pattern of swamp symbols will become more or
less dense, depending on the direction you dragged.
The density is based on the X step and Y step parameter
values. The size of the swamp symbol will be different
after you have fnished dragging the Resize tool. The
Size parameter value is the basis for the size of a
symbol.
4. Click the Drawing tab on the Representation Properties
dialog box to see the overrides that youve just created.
Note that the X step and Y step parameters have
the paintbrush icon adjacent to them, indicating an
override.
Note: Your results may vary and do not have to match.
ArcMap open.
7. If you want to return to this tutorial later, save the map
document as Exercise_three.mxd and exit ArcMap.
Congratulations, youve completed exercise 3.
Things created and accomplished in this exercise
Resizing features using the Select tool
Rotating features using the Select tool
Reshaping features using the Select tool
Reshaping features using the Direct Select tool
Using the Drawing tab on the Representation Properties
dialog box
Using the Tools tab on the Representation Properties
dialog box
Creating an override
Removing an override
Using the Resize tool
5. Save your edits, then stop editing.
6. If you want to proceed to the next exercise, leave
24 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

Free representations are a powerful and fexible way to
display complex features, but they need to be approached
carefully. In exercise 4, you will learn how to make and
modify a free representation to accommodate a complex
cartographic challenge that cannot be accomplished using
existing representation rules. A free representation is for
a feature or a complex symbol that only appears once on
a map. As such, it does not warrant an entire rule to itself.
The choice to use free representations is made after you
have answered no to the following questions:
Does standard ArcMap symbology achieve the result I
want?
Does a representation rule help achieve the result I want?
Do geometric effects help achieve the result I want?
Do overrides help achieve the result I want?
For example: You want to change the shape and color of a
single dash in a linear symbol.
ArcMap symbology will make the dashed line symbol, but
you have very limited control over the dash pattern itself
and no ability to change an individual component of a dash
pattern.
A representation rule gives you control over a line with
geometric effects that dynamically change the geometry of
the line. Geometric effects provide you with control over
the size of the dash pattern at any point along a line but no
control over an individual dash.
Overrides provide further control over the representation
property values of a single feature, but you still do not have
control over the behavior of an individual dash.
As a representation rule, a dashed line is really a single line
that is dynamically dashed. A free representation allows
you to take control of the dynamic parts of the symbol by
converting each dash into a unique geometry. You now have
complete control over individual dashes.
The choice to create a free representation should not be tak-
en lightly. You need to determine what you want from your
symbology before creating a free representation.
In this exercise, you will work through two examples in
which the creation of a free representation is benefcial to
the symbology of the map. The frst example will guide you
through the dashed line scenario discussed here, and the
second example will guide you through a scenario in which
a new feature is created without being added as a new fea-
ture in the database. You will also learn how to use the Free
Representation Editor.
Free representationsExample
In this example, you will learn how to interact with indi-
vidual components of a symbol.
1. Continue with your current map document from
exercise 1, 2, or 3 or open Exercise_4.mxd from the
Exercise 4 folder.
2. Add the Representation toolbar and the Editor toolbar if
they are not already present.
3. Click Bookmarks>4) Hiking Path.
4. Open the layer properties for TrailL_Rep.
5. On the Symbology tab, click the rule, Hiking Path.
You will notice that the rule is composed of a single
Exercise 4: Working with free representations
25 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
4. Open the Representation Properties dialog box and click
the Drawing tab to see how a free representation is
described in detail.
stroke symbol layer with one geometric effect, Dashes.
6. Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box.
Creating free representations
1. Set TrailL_Rep as the only selectable layer.
2. Start editing and select a section of the Hiking Path
with the Select tool.
3. From the drop-down menu on the Representation
toolbar, click Free Representation and click Convert to
Free Representation.
26 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

Examine the contents of the Drawing tab. The feature
still has a representation rule only now it is a rule
that is independent of the feature layer. Since it is an
independent rule, your only access point to the rule is
through the Representation Properties dialog box. The
interface options are all the same as shown on the Layer
Properties dialog box, but the rule you work with is
only applied to the selected feature.
To begin working with individual components of a
dashed line, you will need to convert the rule into
separately editable pieces.
5. Close the Representation Properties dialog box.
6. From the drop-down menu on the Representation
toolbar, click Free Representation and click Convert
Effect to Geometry.
This will convert the dynamic dashes from the
geometric effect to actual geometry that you can edit.
7. From the drop-down menu on the Representation
toolbar, click Free Representation and click Ungroup
Elements.
8. Zoom in to the topmost section of the selected feature.
9. Clear the selected features and select a new segment
with the Select tool.
10. Open the Representation Properties dialog box.
Note that the entire line has been selected. This
is a result of the Select tool acting as designed by
selecting the multipart geometry of the line. As a
representation rule, the line geometry was dynamically
dashed but remained a single-line geometry. As a free
representation, you have converted the single line into
a multipart line and ungrouped the multipart line to
27 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
interact with individual dashes.
11. Clear the selected feature and select a segment with the
Direct Select tool.
12. Move the segment you have selected.
The Representation Properties dialog box now shows
the selected segment. Each segment is treated as a
separate rule.
13. Use the Direct Select tool to select two vertices of a
new segment.
14. Use the Direct Select tool to move the selected vertices.
28 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

15. Select another segment with the Direct Select tool. 17. Select another segment with the Direct Select tool.
16. Type 2 in the Width text box to resize the segment.
18. Click the color palette to choose a new color for the
segment.
29 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
19. Clear your selected features.
You can now see that with a free representation, you
can edit individual components of a single feature. It
can be time consuming though, so free representations
should be carefully considered before you incorporate
them into your work. The reasons that you make the
type of editing sessions detailed above will be your
own and will vary from case to case. The key factor
to remember is that you have the ability to make these
types of changes.
Things created and accomplished in this exercise
Converting features to free representations
Converting effects to geometry
Ungrouping elements
Selecting segments with the Direct Select tool
Editing segments
20. Save your edits, then stop editing.
21. If you want to proceed to the next exercise, leave
ArcMap open.
Congratulations, youve completed exercise 4.
30 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

In exercise 5, you will learn how to use the geoprocessing
tools for representations and gain insight into what tasks
each of the tools can perform. The geoprocessing tools are
used for the automation of tasks that would normally be
performed manually. For this exercise, the tools will be run
from an ArcCatalog session. Although the tools perform the
same tasks in ArcMap, there are two key differences.
The frst is the type of inputs accepted by the tool. In
ArcCatalog, the geoprocessing tools for representations re-
quire a layer fle as the input type, whereas in ArcMap, the
tools accept either layer fles or feature layers. The distinc-
tion is the location where the tool derives information about
symbology. In ArcMap, the layer properties provide this
information; in ArcCatalog, a layer fle is used to provide
that information.
The second difference is the spatial reference parameters
required by the geoprocessing tools to complete, namely,
the coordinate system and reference scale. In ArcMap,
these inputs are derived from the data frame, whereas in
ArcCatalog, these inputs are derived from the Cartography
Settings on the ArcToolbox Environment Settings dialog
box.
This exercise simulates a hypothetical workfow used in a
map production environment. You will use the geoprocess-
ing tools to add representations to selected feature classes,
set the type of line caps for road features, add control points
to roads and rivers to control their dash patterns, align
buildings to roads, create bridges and tunnels, and deter-
mine where features are graphically overlapping each other.
The tools may take some time to complete depending on the
processing speed of your computer.
Using geoprocessing tools for representations
1. Start ArcCatalog and navigate to the Exercise_5 folder.
You need to create layer fles for some feature classes
to use the geoprocessing tools: Right-click each feature
class and choose Create Layer. Accept the default name
and location for the layer fle. This will be $:\ArcGIS\
ArcTutor\Representations\Exercise_5.
BuildingP (in the TopographicMap feature dataset)
HydroL (in the Hydrography feature dataset)
RoadL (in the TopographicMap feature dataset)
RailroadL (in the TopographicMap feature dataset)
2. After each layer fle has been created, open the
properties of the layer fle and set the renderer on the
Symbology tab to Representations.
Next, you will establish some settings to assist in your
use of geoprocessing tools. These settings will control
how your data is processed and the location where the
results are saved.
3. Start ArcToolbox, right-click ArcToolbox, then click
Environments.
4. Click Cartography Settings.
5. Choose Same as Input for the Cartographic Coordinate
Exercise 5: Using geoprocessing tools for representations
31 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
System parameter.
6. Type 24000 for the Reference Scale parameter.
2. Choose RoadL layer.lyr for the Input Features With
Representations parameter.
3. Choose BUTT for the Cap Type parameter.
4. Choose TRUE_DANGLE for the Dangle Option
parameter.
7. Click General Settings.
8. For the location of the Current Workspace, navigate
to the location where you stored Exercise_5 and
choose the TopographicMap feature dataset inside the
Representations_5 geodatabase. This will be used as
the default location for the output from geoprocessing
tools.
9. Click OK to close the Environment Settings dialog box.
Geoprocessing tools for symbology enhancement
You will start by using some geoprocessing tools that are
located in the Cartography Tools toolbox.
First, you will use a geoprocessing tool to change the line
caps on some roads. You will use the Calculate Line Caps
tool for this purpose. This tool is found in the Symboliza-
tion Refnement toolset.
1. Open the Calculate Line Caps tool.
5. Click OK to run the tool.
Next, you will add control points to the roads and
rivers. Control points are designed to enhance the
symbology of your features when a linear feature makes
a sharp turn. This functionality is useful when it is
important to have a continuous pattern of solid dashes
at corners.
You will run this tool twice: frst on RoadL, then on
HydroL. The Set Representation Control Point By
Angle tool is located in the Symbolization Refnement
toolset.
6. Open the Set Representation Control Point By Angle
tool.
32 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

9. Click OK to run the tool and run the tool again on
HydroL using the same Maximum Angle parameter
value of 135.
Next, you will align all the buildings on your map
to nearby roads. The tool will select point features
within a certain distance of linear features and rotate
the points to the angle of the lines. You will run this
tool twice: frst with BuildingP against RoadL, then
BuildingP against HydroL. This tool is located in the
Symbolization Refnement toolset.
10. Open the Align Marker to Stroke or Fill tool.
11. Choose BuildingP layer.lyr for the Input Features With
Marker Representations parameter and RoadL
layer.lyr for the Input Features With Stroke Or Fill
Representations parameter.
12. Type 5 for Search Distance. Make sure Points are set
as the unit of measurement and PERPENDICULAR is
set for the optional Marker Orientation parameter.
Geoprocessing tools for complex features
You will create symbology for a situation in which you
have information about the location for bridges and tun-
nels but no data. You know from some felds in your feature
classes that you have roads crossing over rivers as well as
roads and railroads crossing above and below each other.
This information tells you that at those locations where two
features intersect each other, one feature crosses above the
other. For your maps, you want to use this information to
create bridge and tunnel symbology.
The Create Overpass tool performs this complicated opera-
tion. This tool is located in the Symbolization Refnement
toolset. There are a signifcant number of parameters on
this tool, and care must be taken when entering values for
all parameters. Some are required, and others are optional.
7. Choose RoadL layer.lyr for the Input Features With
Representations parameter.
8. Type 135 for the Maximum Angle parameter.
13. Click OK to run the tool and run it a second time to
align BuildingP layer.lyr to HydroL layer.lyr.
33 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
When the tool is complete, you will be able to symbolize
your features in a way that clearly indicates one feature is
crossing over the other. This is done using masks to hide
one feature and a new linear feature class that provides the
bridge or tunnel symbol.
Overall, this tool is designed to follow your lead in making
a calculation for where overpasses will be created. You will
indicate which features are above other features by setting
the frst two parameters.
1. Open the Create Overpass tool.
2. Choose RoadL layer.lyr for Input Above Features With
Representations and HydroL layer.lyr for Input Below
Features With Representations.
Next you will see the tools optional parameters.
Without these parameters, the tool will complete as
expected and create the masks you need to indicate
which features cross over others, but it will only create
the minimum required parts for overpass and underpass
symbology. These optional parameters allow you to
indicate how you want the overpass or underpass to
look.
You can choose to enter a SQL expression to refne
your selection. Without a SQL expression, the tool will
process every feature in your feature class. Although
there is nothing inherently wrong with this approach, it
will take longer for the tool to complete. In this tutorial,
the tool will complete in less than 30 seconds. Your
computer speed may vary, so the elapsed time could be
as long as two minutes.
For example, you may want to place a bridge at every
location where a road crosses a river, or your data
might not have an attribute feld on which to make
a refnement selection to make the tool process on
a smaller set of data. As shown earlier, a data feld
indicates where a crossing occurs.
3. Type 2 for Margin Along and type 1 for Margin
Across, then choose Points for both from the drop-down
lists for the unit of measurement.
Following this, you will select your own locations for
the mask feature class (Output Overpass Feature Class)
and mask relationship class (Output Mask Relationship
Class).
4. Type Over_FC and Over_RC for the names of the
new feature class and relationship class.
34 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

5. Click the SQL button to open the Query Builder
dialog box.
6. On the Query Builder dialog box, double-click
BridgeCategory to add it to the SQL expression box,
click the = button to add it to the SQL expression box,
click Get Unique Values, then double-click the 1 bridge
entry to add it to the SQL expression box.
10. Type 1 and choose Points from the drop-down list to
indicate the length of the wing ticks for your bridge or
tunnel symbol.
Your dialog box should look like the one below.
9. Choose ANGLED from the drop-down list to indicate
the wing type you want to use.
7. Click OK to close the Query Builder dialog box.
8. Type Bridge_FC for the name of the new decoration
feature class.
35 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
11. Click OK to run the tool.
When the tool is complete, you will have created two
new feature classes and a relationship class to use in
your map to display bridges. The mask will be linked to
RoadL with the relationship class.
Now you will create some underpasses at the locations
where you know that railroads pass underneath roads.
The process will be nearly identical to Overpass with a
few minor differences, which will be pointed out as you
proceed through this section.
12. Open the Create Underpass tool.
13. Choose RoadL layer.lyr for Input Above Features
With Representations and RailroadL layer.lyr for Input
Below Features With Representations.
14. Type 2 for Margin Along and type 1 for Margin
Across, then choose Points in both cases for the unit of
measurement.
16. For the Expression parameter, click the SQL button and
create the expression RelationshipToSurface = 3.
15. Type Under_FC and Under_RC for the names of
the new feature class and relationship class.
17. Click OK to close the Query Builder dialog box.
18. Populate the Output Decoration Feature Class
parameter and type Tunnel_FC for the name of the
new feature class.
19. Choose PARALLEL from the drop-down list for Wing
Type.
20. Type 1 for the length of the wing ticks and choose
Points for the unit of measurement.
36 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

Now that you have populated all the parameter values,
your dialog box should look like the following:
21. Click OK to run the tool.
Geoprocessing tools for fnding graphic conficts
Now that you have run a series of geoprocessing tools on
your data, the fnal step is to fnd out where your symbol-
ized data is overlapping. The Detect Graphic Confict tool
will create a polygon feature class that you can use to visu-
ally locate incidents of overlap. Use this tool to identify the
areas where buildings graphically overlap other buildings.
This tool is found in the Graphic Quality toolset.
1. Use BuildingP layer.lyr for both the Input Features
With Representations and Confict Features With
Representations parameters.
The Output Feature Class parameter will automatically
populate. Navigate to your data location instead.
2. Type BuildingP_DGC to change the name.
3. Type 5 for the Confict Distance parameter and
choose Points from the drop-down list.
4. Type 0 (zero) for the Line Connection Allowance
parameter.
Your dialog box should look like the one below.
5. Click OK to run the tool.
Once complete, you will have a polygon feature class
that will indicate where features are graphically in
confict with others.
37 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL
6. Exit ArcCatalog.
Examining the results in ArcMap
1. Start ArcMap.
2. Open Exercise_5.mxd.
3. Add the following feature classes from the
TopographicMap feature dataset to the TOC:
Over_FC
Under_FC
Bridge_FC
Tunnel_FC
BuildingP_DGC
4. For both Bridge_FC and Tunnel_FC, set the symbology
to a shade of black and the line width to 1 point. For the
other feature classes just added, you can change their
symbology to anything you like.
5. Click HydroL_Rep and open the Layer Properties
dialog box.
6. Click the Symbology tab, click Layer options, then
click Masking.
8. Click OK to close the Masking dialog box.
9. Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box for
HydroL_Rep.
10. Click RailroadL_Rep and open the Layer Properties
dialog box.
11. Click Layer options and click Masking.
12. Click the check box for Under_FC.
13. Click OK to close the Masking dialog box.
14. Click OK to close the Layer Properties dialog box for
RailroadL_Rep.
15. Make the layers Over_FC and Under_FC not visible.
7. Click the check box for Over_FC.
38 REPRESENTATIONS TUTORIAL

1. Click Bookmarks> 5) Geoprocessing Results.
Notice that the dash pattern on the roads has been
adjusted, the result of using the Set Representation
Control Point By Angle tool. The point buildings are
now aligned to the roads, the result of the Align Marker
To Stroke or Fill tool. Bridge and tunnel symbology
has been added where the road crosses the river and
the railroad, and this masks out the river and railroad
symbologyall the result of the Create Overpass tool.
Finally, the polygons from BuildingP_DGC indicate the
areas where point buildings are graphically overlapping
each other.
Congratulations, youve completed exercise 5.
Things created and accomplished in this exercise
Creating layer fles in ArcCatalog
Setting symbology to representations
Setting environment settings for ArcToolbox
Using the Calculate Line Caps geoprocessing tool
Using the Set Representation Control Point By Angle
geoprocessing tool
Using the Align Marker To Stroke or Fill geoprocessing
tool
Using the Create Overpass geoprocessing tool
Using the Query Builder dialog box
Using the Create Underpass tool
Using the Detect Graphic Confict tool
Using feature-level masking in ArcMap
Viewing the results in ArcMap
When you started exercise 1, your map looked like the one
below.
There were no bridges, the buildings were not aligned to the
roads, and the dash pattern symbology on the roads was not
well developed.
Now that you have run all the geoprocessing tools, your
map looks like the following: