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Creating dimension feature classes (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Creating dimension feature classes (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)
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About creating dimension feature classes

Note: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

NOTE: Although dimension classes can be both created and edited in ArcInfo and ArcEditor, they are read-only in ArcView.

Dimension features are stored in dimension feature classes. Creating a dimension feature class is similar to creating a feature class that stores custom features.

Before creating a dimension feature class, you must create at least one style for the dimension features you will create. You can specify the properties of the style yourself or import the style from another dimension feature class, or the wizard can create a default style for you.

Once you have created a dimension feature class, you can use ArcCatalog to create and import additional styles.

Learn more about creating and managing dimension styles.

How to create dimension feature classes (ArcInfo and ArcEditor only)

Creating a dimension feature class with the default style

  1. In ArcCatalog, right-click the geodatabase or feature dataset in which you want to create the new dimension class.

  2. Point to New.

  3. Click Feature Class.

  4. Type the name for the new dimension feature class. To create an alias for this feature class, type the alias.

  5. Click the drop-down arrow, and click Dimension Features.

  6. Click Next.

  7. If this is a stand-alone feature class, choose or import a coordinate reference system and click Next.

  8. If this is a stand-alone feature class, accept the default XY tolerance or type your desired XY tolerance and click Next.

  9. Type a reference scale. The reference scale specifies the scale at which the symbology of the dimension feature is the same size as defined in the style (in this case, the default style). The reference scale units will automatically match the spatial reference's units if the dimension class is being created in a feature dataset. If this is a stand-alone dimension class, you should choose the units that match the coordinate system.

  10. Click the option for Create a style for me and click Next.

  11. If creating this feature class in an ArcSDE or file geodatabase, either use the default configuration keyword or check Use configuration keyword and choose a keyword from the drop-down menu.

  12. Click Next.

  13. The fields necessary for the dimension feature class will already be added to the feature class. If you want additional fields, define them and click Finish.

Tip

  • The reference scale refers to the scale of your map at which the symbology of the dimension feature is viewed at the size described in the style. For example, if your dimension text is Arial 12 pt. and your reference scale is 1:1,000, your text will be 12 pt. at 1:1,000. As you zoom out from this scale, the text becomes smaller, and as you zoom in from this scale, the text becomes larger.

Creating a dimension feature class with a custom style

  1. In ArcCatalog, right-click the geodatabase or feature dataset in which you want to create the new dimension class.

  2. Point to New.

  3. Click Feature Class.

  4. Type the name for the new dimension feature class. To create an alias for this feature class, type the alias.

  5. Click the drop-down arrow and click Dimension Features.

  6. Click Next.

  7. If this is a stand-alone feature class, choose or import a coordinate reference system and click Next.

  8. If this is a stand-alone feature class, accept the default XY tolerance or type your desired XY tolerance and click Next.

  9. Type a reference scale. The reference scale specifies the scale at which the symbology of the dimension feature is the same size as defined in the style (in this case, the default style). The reference scale units will automatically match the spatial reference's units if the dimension class is being created in a feature dataset. If this is a stand-alone dimension class, you should choose the units that match the coordinate system.

  10. Click the option for I would like to create my own style.

  11. Click New Style to open the Dimension Style Properties dialog box.

  12. Use the Dimension Style Properties dialog box to set the characteristics of your dimension style and click OK when you're done.

  13. Click Next.

  14. If creating this feature class in an ArcSDE or file geodatabase, either use the default configuration keyword or check Use configuration keyword and choose a keyword from the drop-down menu.

  15. Click Next.

  16. The fields necessary for the dimension feature class will already be added to the feature class. If you want additional fields, define them and click Finish.

Creating a dimension feature class by importing a style

  1. In ArcCatalog, right-click the geodatabase or feature dataset in which you want to create the new dimension class.

  2. Point to New.

  3. Click Feature Class.

  4. Type the name for the new dimension feature class. To create an alias for this feature class, type the alias.

  5. Click the Type of features stored in this feature class drop-down arrow and click Dimension Features.

  6. Click Next.

  7. If this is a stand-alone feature class, choose or import a coordinate reference system and click Next.

  8. If this is a stand-alone feature class, accept the default XY tolerance or type your desired XY tolerance and click Next.

  9. Type a reference scale. The reference scale specifies the scale at which the symbology of the dimension feature is the same size as defined in the style (in this case, the default style). The reference scale units will automatically match the spatial reference's units if the dimension class is being created in a feature dataset. If this is a stand-alone dimension class, you should choose the units that match the coordinate system.

  10. Click the option for Import a style from an existing dimension feature class.

  11. Click Import Style to browse for a dimension feature class from which to import a style.

  12. Click the Browse button to browse for a geodatabase. Once the geodatabase is selected, the dimension feature classes and the feature datasets containing dimension feature classes are listed in the tree view.

  13. Click the dimension feature class that contains the style you want to import.

  14. Click the dimension style you want to import and click OK when you're done.

  15. Click Next.

  16. If creating this feature class in an ArcSDE or file geodatabase, either use the default configuration keyword or check Use configuration keyword and choose a keyword from the drop-down menu.

  17. Click Next.

  18. The fields necessary for the dimension feature class will already be added to the feature class. If you want additional fields, define them and click Finish.

See Also

  • Creating and managing dimension styles
  • Dimensions in the geodatabase
  • About editing dimension features
  • About editing geometric network features