EDTools Documentation

EDTools requires "avdlog.dll" and "avdlog.dat" from the Dialog Designer extension. EDTools does not work in projected views.

The file "avdlog.dll" must be present in ArcView's BIN32 directory and "avdlog.dat" in the LIB32 directory. If you have ArcView 3.1, the files will already be present; otherwise, if you have ArcView 3.0a and don't have the Dialog Designer extension, click HERE to download the files.

The extension adds five menu entries to a View:

If features are selected, the conversion/recalculation routines only act on those features. Otherwise, all features of the active theme are acted upon. The "Recalculate" routine requires that the theme is being edited.

EDTools also adds a floating toolbox:

Figure 1

To open the tool box, click on the View with the right mouse button and select "EDTools".

Buttons

The Translate button launches a dialog to translate selected feature(s):

Figure 2

It requires that the theme is being edited. You may enter X-shift and Y-shift values or use the Define Shift tool to apply a 2-point line to define the shift. The Apply to Duplicate checkbox applies the shift to a cloned set of features; the cloned features become the new selection set.

The Rotate button launches a dialog to rotate selected feature(s):

Figure 3

It requires that the theme is being edited. You may enter a value for the rotation angle (degrees) or use the Get Angle tool to apply a 3-point line to define the angle. The Center Axis button sets the axis of rotation to the centerpoint of the selection set; alternatively the Get Axis pointer tool may be applied to define the axis point, or the X and Y values may be entered directly.

The Scale button launches a dialog to scale selected feature(s):

Figure 4

It requires that the theme is being edited. A scale factor of 2.0 doubles the size of selected feature(s) and 0.5 halves their size. If any Area, Perimeter, or Length attributes exist, they will be recalculated.

The Offset button launches a dialog to offset selected polyline(s) or polygon(s):

Figure 5

It requires that the theme is being edited. You may enter a value for the offset or use the Define Offset tool to apply a 2-point line to define the offset (the returned value will always be positive). Note that a negative offset will "expand" a polygon and a positive offset will "shrink" it. The Apply to Duplicate checkbox applies the offset to a new set of features; the new features become the new selection set. Thus, the offset function can also act as "Copy Offset". If any Area, Perimeter, or Length attributes exist, they will be recalculated for the new features.

The Flip button causes the direction of selected line(s) to be reversed. It requires that the theme is being edited.

The Explode button breaks up selected polyline(s) or polygon(s) into individual lines and rings. It requires that the theme is being edited. The original features are deleted. If any Area, Perimeter, or Length attributes exist, they will be recalculated for the new features.

The Measure button launches a dialog to draw the current marker along selected line(s):

Figure 6

The interval value (map units) defines the spacing of the markers. If the offset value is positive, markers are drawn to the left of each lines; if negative, markers are drawn to the right. A rotation angle may also be set. The Use line(s) to rotate markers checkbox causes the rotation angle of each marker to be set equal to that of the line segment at which it's drawn (useful for milepost symbols). Note that the measure button works on the active theme; it does not require that a theme is being edited.

The Dangles button draws the current marker at all unconnected endpoints (e.g. endpoints that do not match endpoints of any other polyline) in a polyline theme. Internal discontinuities are not considered. Note that the button works on the active theme; it does not require that a theme is being edited.

Tools

The Snapper tool allows the user to add features that snap to another feature theme in the View. It requires that the theme is being edited. When the tool is clicked, you will be asked to choose the snap theme from a list of feature themes in the view. Note that the snapping distance must be greater than zero: enable the general or interactive snapping in the View's popup menu and set the distance using the appropriate tool.

The Extend tool extends or retracts one polyline to intersect another. It requires that the theme is being edited. If the intersection point is within the endpoint segment of the arc to be extended, the endpoint will be retracted to the intersection point. The target polyline is broken into separate records at the intersection point(s); if present, the length attribute will be recalculated.

To use the tool, apply it to the source feature and answer "Yes" to the "Select this line to extend?" question. Then apply the tool to the target feature and answer "Yes" to the "Extend to this line?" question. Finally, choose the extend option:

"to" endpoint - extends only the "to" endpoint of the polyline

"from" endpoint - extends only the "from" endpoint of the polyline

"from" and "to" endpoints - extends both if applicable

The Transfer tool transfers attributes from one feature to another. It requires that the theme is being edited. To copy attributes of a feature, apply the tool to a feature to select; the feature selected by the tool will be highlighted and you will be asked if you want to copy its attributes. To paste attributes to a feature, hold the shift key down and apply the tool to a feature to select. You may apply the paste tool as many times as you wish. After each paste, the display will be refreshed in case attribute changes affect how the feature is drawn.