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Representations allow you to symbolize your data using a flexible, rule-based structure that is stored inside the geodatabase along with your data. Feature classes can support multiple feature class representations simultaneously, so a variety of map products can be derived from a single database without the unnecessary storage of copies of data. The representation of a single feature (called a feature representation) can be modified if necessary, creating a persistent override to the representation rule, which is also stored and maintained within the geodatabase. Representations provide the organizational structure of rule-based symbology while retaining the flexibility to customize the portrayal of individual features.
Representations are a property of feature classes and can be viewed and managed from the Representations tab on the Feature Class Properties dialog box in ArcCatalog.
Using layer files to organize representations
You can use layer files (.lyr) to save a specific way to display data, including the use of a representation present on the source data. Layer files do not store the actual representation rules. They only hold a pointer to which feature class representation to use to render the data. You can create layer files in ArcMap from layers that are symbolized with a feature class representation, or you can create layer files in ArcCatalog that reference a feature class and an associated feature class representation.
Using the representation management geoprocessing tools
You can use the tools in the Representation Management geoprocessing toolset in the Cartography toolbox to manage your representations. There are tools to add and remove representations from a feature class, create a layer from a feature class representation, and manage overrides within a feature class representation.
Data types that support representations
Any point, line, or polygon feature class in a personal, file, or ArcSDE geodatabase can support representations. Shapefiles, coverages, annotation feature classes, and dimension feature classes cannot support feature class representations.
How to add a representation to a feature class
- Click Properties on the shortcut menu of the feature class in ArcCatalog or in the Catalog window in ArcMap to open the Feature Class Properties dialog box.
- On the Representations tab, click New to open the New Representation dialog box.
- Type a name for the new feature class representation and names for the RuleID and Override fields, or accept the default names. Although you can change the name of a representation later, the names of the RuleID and Override fields cannot be changed. If you plan to have many representations associated with this feature class, it is wise to choose informative representation and field names that are easy to relate to one another.
- Decide how you want to store changes to geometry:
- Choose Store change to geometry as representation override to place all modifications to feature representation geometry in the Override field, leaving the Shape field intact.
- Choose Change the geometry of the supporting feature to force edits made to the feature representation geometry to also alter the geometry of the source feature.
- To import representation rules from an existing layer that symbolizes features with a representation, click Select to navigate to the layer on the Select a Feature Layer dialog box. All the representation rules of that layer will be copied into this feature class representation.
- If the layer specified in the previous step is based on the same feature class as this feature class, you can also choose to assign the representation rules to features by checking the Assign rules to features to match the layer check box. If you are importing representation rules originating from a different feature class, this option will be disabled.
- Click Next.
- Modify the representation rule structure, if necessary.
- Click Finish to create the new representation.
How to create a representation from a symbolized layer in ArcMap
- In the Table of Contents window in ArcMap, right-click the symbolized layer and click Convert Symbology to Representation on the shortcut menu.
- In the Convert Symbology to Representation dialog box, type the name of the new feature class representation and the RuleID and the Override fields, or accept the defaults.
- Decide how you want to store changes to geometry:
- Choose Store change to geometry as representation override to place all modifications to feature representation geometry in the Override field, leaving the Shape field intact.
- Choose Change the geometry of the supporting feature to force edits made to the feature representation geometry to also alter the geometry of the source feature.
- Decide if you want to convert all the features in the feature class or only those that are visible in the current extent. Also, decide whether or not to add the new feature class representation to the current map. The original layer will still appear in the table of contents regardless of your choice.
- Click Convert to add a representation to the source feature class, populated with representation rules that correspond to the appearance of the symbols used in the original layer.
How to access the properties of a feature class representation
- Click Properties on the shortcut menu of the feature class in ArcCatalog or in the Catalog window in ArcMap to open the Feature Class Properties dialog box.
- On the Representations tab, select a feature class representation from the list.
- Click Properties to open the Representation Properties dialog box to view or modify the names of the RuleID and Override fields, the editing behavior, and the representation rules associated with this representation.
How to remove a representation from a feature class
- Click Properties on the shortcut menu of the feature class in ArcCatalog or in the Catalog window in ArcMap to open the Feature Class Properties dialog box.
- On the Representations tab, select a feature class representation from the list.
- Click Delete to remove the representation, including the RuleID and Override fields and the representation rules associated with this representation, from the feature class.