End-to-End Connection Line

Function Description

End-to-End Connection Line: Connects the endpoints of line objects sequentially according to their order (either the selection order or the SMID order). Specifically, it connects the end point of the first line object to the start point of the second line object, then connects the end point of the second line to the start point of the next one, and so on. The direction of the resulting line after connection is the same as that of the first line object.

  • The Connect End-to-End Line function applies to 2D line layers and CAD layers.
  • The Connect End-to-End Line function is only available when line objects are selected.
  • This operation does not apply to complex objects and compounds. For an introduction to object types, please refer to Objects Overview.
  • Explanation of Line Object Order. When connecting objects end-to-end, the order of the line objects to be joined needs to be determined to define the line direction. The application provides two methods to determine the order of line objects to be connected. One is to select multiple line objects by holding down the Shift key; the connection will follow the selection order. The other is to select objects by dragging a rectangle with the mouse; the connection will follow the ascending order of the SMIDs of the selected line objects.

Function Entrances

  • Edit Data Tab -> Feature Editing Group -> Line Editing -> Connect and Break -> End-to-End Connection Line

Operation Instructions

  1. With the layer in an editable state, select one or more line objects to be connected.
  2. In the Edit Data tab, under the Line Editing drop-down menu, click the End-to-End Connection Line button in the Connect and Break group to execute the line connection operation.
  3. The End-to-End Connection Line dialog box pops up. In this dialog, set the attributes for the new object after the connection is completed.

    In the End-to-End Connection Line dialog, you can set the operation mode for each field individually, or select multiple fields and set them uniformly. The following describes this dialog box.

    • Editing Layer: The editing layer drop-down list displays all editable layers in the current map. You can click the drop-down arrow on its right to select the layer to operate on.
    • Field List Area: This area lists information for all non-system fields and editable system fields in the current editable layer, including the field name, type, and the operation mode for the field of the new object after the connection. By default, the field attributes of the first object are used.
    • Operation Mode Setting Area: Provides four operation modes.
      • Is Empty: Means the value of this field for the new object is empty after connection.
      • Sum: Means the value of this field for the new object is the sum of the corresponding field values from each connected object.
      • Weighted Mean: Means the value of this field for the new object is the weighted mean value of this field from all connected objects. A weighting field needs to be specified. If no weighting field is selected, a simple average is calculated, which sums the selected field values of all source objects and divides by the number of source objects.
      • Save Geometry: Means the value of this field for the new object is the same as that of a currently selected object. You can click the drop-down arrow on the right to choose which object's property value the new object should use.
  4. Click the OK button to complete the line object connection operation.
Figure 1: Line objects before connection Figure 2: After end-to-end connection line