Correcting topology errors(ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)
Release 9.3 Last modified May 14, 2009	Print all topics in : "Editing topology"

About correcting topology errors

Note: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

There are several ways to correct topology errors once you've discovered them. You can select the error on the map with the Fix Topology Error tool , or select the error from within the Error Inspector and apply one of the fixes listed in the shortcut menu for that error type.




Different error types have different predefined fixes available for them. For example, a dangling line can be trimmed or extended to another line. Errors caused by violations of the Must Be Covered By rules can be fixed by creating a new feature or deleting a feature. Errors caused by overlapping polygons can be merged into one of the polygons, subtracted from both, or turned into a separate, new polygon feature. Some of the tasks below show how to use the Merge fix.
Learn more about topology errors
Learn more about topology error fixes
Each time you save your edits (Editor > Save Edits) during an edit session, the contents of the Error Inspector window are cleared. You need to click the Search Now button on the Error Inspector to populate the list again. Doing this ensures that the Error Inspector always shows the most up-to-date errors and exceptions for your geodatabase.

Keyboard shortcuts in the Error Inspector

The following keyboard shortcuts are available in the Error Inspector:

Shortcut key	Editing function
Up and Down arrows	Move up and down through the rows
Z key or Spacebar	Zoom to selected error
P key	Pan to selected error
Z key	Zoom to selected error
F key	Select the parent features causing the error
D key	View a description of the topology rule
X key	Mark the error as an exception
E key	Mark the exception as an error

How to correct topology errors

Merging an error area into a polygon

1. Click the Fix Topology Error button on the Topology toolbar.
   
2. Click the error feature you want to merge into one of the overlapping polygons.
   
3. Right-click and click Merge.
   
4. Click the feature into which you want to merge the error feature.
   
5. Click OK.
   

Merging an error area into a polygon from the Error Inspector

1. On the Error Inspector, click the error you want to fix.
   
2. Right-click the error and click Merge.
   
3. Click the feature into which you want to merge the error feature.
   
4. Click OK.
   

Finding features that are affected by an error

1. On the Error Inspector, click the error.
   
2. Click the Feature 1 field in the error to see the first feature that is affected by it.
   
3. Click the Feature 2 field to see the second feature that is affected by it.
   

The features flash on the map.

Marking an error as an exception

1. On the Error Inspector, click the error you want to mark as an exception.
   
2. Right-click the error and click Mark as Exception.
   

The error is marked as an exception. It is no longer symbolized as an error in the Topology layer on the map.

Tips

Press the X key to mark the selected error as an exception. Press the E key to mark the selected exception as an error. You can use the Error Inspector to find exceptions as well as errors.

Getting a description of the rule that is violated for an error

1. On the Error Inspector, click the error for which you want a description.
   
2. Right-click the error and click Show Rule Description.
   

A dialog box appears with a description of the error and some pictures of geometries that would and would not result in this error.

The errors are marked in red.

3. Optionally, uncheck Show Errors to compare the feature geometries without the errors.
   
4. Click OK.
   

Tip

Press the D key to see a description of the selected error.

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