idea New graphic drawing tool - cloud in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

New graphic drawing tool - cloud

MatthewDurling — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 20:03:47 GMT

In our professional drawing office and many other internationally we have to add "clouds" around parts of the map or alignment sheet which have been revised or updated. Clouds seem to be the excepted standard accepted by engineers globally

I know in AutoCAD they just have a pen tool with which can draw a "cloud" around anything. In ArcMap it is a nightmare and if you use the freehand graphic tool they look awful and copying and pasting in images is not ideal especially when it come to unusual shapes. ArcGIS needs this tool. Eg.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

MatthewDurling — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:54:05 GMT

apologies i wrote "excepted" and i meant "accepted"

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

TimBarnes — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 19:29:53 GMT

Could you not create a cloud template as a png (or something similar that supports transparancy) and then simply use the Insert Picture/Object?

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

MatthewDurling — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 05:33:48 GMT

thats what i have to do at the moment but with 40 sheets and several clouds of different sizes on each its a real long winded pain in the arse.
A tool with which I can add them on the fly as and when i need them and each to the unique size and shape needed is what is wanted.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

EduardoLopez1 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:04:51 GMT

You should be able to set the arc length and also be able to make the cloud be inverted, when a drawing has something that is either on Hold or to be removed the cloud is inverted. Maybe even be able to select a polygon or a shape and have that be converted into a cloud by picking it would be perfect.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

MarkJennings — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:14:34 GMT

This could be generate by symbology some how. This way it would change the look of the cloud as you change the reference scale. I found this idea because I was searching for a solution.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

MichaelMejac — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 15:24:01 GMT

This is the only way that I found to do it

1) create a polygon (ellipse works well) around the area that you want to cloud.
2) Use "Densify" command to add vertices at a consistent interval
3) convert polygon to polyline
4) Begin edit session on polyline
5) Flip the polyline's directionality
6) Select each segment, Change Segment> Circular Arc

A little time intensive, but it works.

Mike Mejac
Natural Resource Technology

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

JohnTuohy1 — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:00:24 GMT

Thanks Michael, this worked! I unfortunately only have the basic license so instead of being able to use the "densify" command and "polygon to polyline tool", I had to improvise by exporting the shape to Auto Cad.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

MarkJennings — Tue, 28 May 2019 17:21:52 GMT

Brilliant John. I hadn't thought of this before I can will create the Clouds in Autocad then export them back into ArcMAP.

Eventually ESRI should have a solution to this. ArcMAP is a little awkward to use for creating Engineering Prints. However most of the issues are basic and would be easy to solve with a bit of development.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

MarkJennings — Tue, 28 May 2019 17:51:15 GMT

mdmejac,

I too have only a basic licence. An Standard Licence doesn't have enough benefit for user like me.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud

JayHanson — Tue, 28 May 2019 17:52:18 GMT

If you print to PDF (Pro version), you can use the cloud tool to make the cloud. Then if you have to edit the map just replace the old map pages with the new map page using the replace tool and the clouds will remain.

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud - Status changed to: In Product Plan

AubriOtis — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:21:25 GMT

Re: New graphic drawing tool - cloud - Status changed to: Implemented

KoryKramer — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:59:15 GMT

When you update to ArcGIS Pro 2.9 you'll be able to draw clouds!

Clouds are part of a suite of new graphics available. See Enhance graphics capability and functionality and Rounded Rectangles – Drawing Toolbar as well.

shows all the ideas you can expect in 2.9. Go to 7:08 to see a little cloud demo!