An overview of creating feature classes
An overview of creating feature classes
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| Release 9.3 |
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Note: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.
NOTE: This topic assumes that you have a basic understanding of feature classes. If not, please read Feature class basics and Modeling feature classes before you continue.
A feature class is a collection of geographic features that share the same geometry type (such as point, line, or polygon), and the same attribute fields for a common area. Streets, well points, parcels, soil types, and census tracts are examples of feature classes.
Related feature classes are often grouped together in a feature dataset. If you want to use topology to manage how features share geometry, build a geometric network for a utility layer, build a network dataset for routing and optimization, or build a terrain (a TIN data structure), you need to organize your feature classes in a feature dataset.
There are four primary ways to create a new feature class in your geodatabase:
- Using ArcCatalog
- Using a geoprocessing tool named Create Feature Class
- Saving the contents of a map layer in ArcMap
- Converting an external data source into a geodatabase feature class (e.g., converting a shapefile or a CAD file)
You create empty feature classes in ArcCatalog. A new feature class can be created as part of a feature dataset or as a stand-alone feature class in a geodatabase. They can also be contained within the following structures: shapefile, coverage, CAD, SDC, and VPF.
The following topic, Defining feature class properties, details the properties and options available when creating a new feature class.
If you feel you are comfortable with feature classes and their properties, skip directly to How to create feature classes.
Once you've created a feature class and populated it with features, you may be able to speed up attribute queries by creating attribute indexes. See Creating attribute indexes for more information.
