Edit features

Some maps include feature layers that can be edited by anyone viewing the map. These editable layers are useful when the map author wants community input. For example, an author might include an editable feature layer that allows the birding community to post their bird sightings directly on the map and attach media files, such as photographs, audio files, and video files, to the specific observation points. Because these features are part of the layer, any changes made on the map are immediately viewable to everybody who has access to the layer, even when the layer is part of a different map. Authors can enable editing on ArcGIS Server feature service layers and hosted feature layers.

The owner of an editable features layer decides whether to allow editing and sets an editing level. Editing levels determine if you can add features only, update feature attributes only, or add, update, and delete features. If the feature layer is editable, you will see the Edit button at the top of the map viewer. Edits are automatically saved to the layer.

1. Open the map in the viewer and click Edit. An editing template appears on the left side of the map. If the feature layer supports updating features only, you won't see any items in the editing template for creating new features.
2. To add a feature, click its symbol in the template and click to add or draw it on the map.
   1. Press the Ctrl key to enable snapping. Snapping helps you line up the feature you are adding next to an existing one on the map. Once you've added the feature, a pop-up appears.
   2. Enter information into the available fields. The fields will vary based on the editable attribute fields in the layer. For example, you might enter a title, description, location, comment, and so on.
   3. To attach an image or other files with a feature, click Browse in the Attachments section of the pop-up and choose the file from your computer. The following file types are supported: 7Z, AIF, AVI, BMP, DOC, DOCX, DOT, ECW, EMF, EPA, GIF, GML, GTAR, GZ, IMG, J2K, JP2, JPC, JPE, JPEG, JPF, JPG, JSON, MDB, MID, MOV, MP2, MP3, MP4, MPA, MPE, MPEG, MPG, MPV2, PDF, PNG, PPT, PPTX, PS, PSD, QT, RA, RAM, RAW, RMI, SID, TAR, TGZ, TIF, TIFF, TXT, VRML, WAV, WMA, WMF, WPS, XLS, XLSX, XLT, XML, and ZIP.
3. To edit a feature, click it on the map to open its pop-up and edit the information.
4. To remove a feature, click it on the map to open its pop-up and click Delete.

Add layer to new map with full editing control

There are cases when you have full editing control on hosted feature layers regardless of the editing level set by the owner of the layer. To access full editing, you open the layer in the map viewer from the item details page.

• Members of a group that allows group members to update items shared to the group have full editing control even if the hosted feature layer is not editable and even if they do not have feature editing privileges.
• Default administrators and layer owners can open with full editing control regardless of the editing level set for nonadministrators or whether the hosted feature layer is editable by other people. This is a privilege reserved for the administrator role.
• Members with privileges to edit with full control can open an editable hosted feature layer in the map viewer and add, update, and delete features. Members can do this regardless of the editing level set on the layer, but the layer must have editing enabled.

Follow the steps below to edit these layers:

1. Verify that you meet one of the requirements outlined above.
2. Open the item details of the hosted feature layer.
3. Under the item thumbnail, click Open > Add layer to new map with full editing control.