topic Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

MatthewLeonard — Wed, 15 May 2024 15:12:20 GMT

I want to split a selected line feature at one point, by snapping to a point feature to select the split point. Seems simple enough, and I can do this in ArcMap. When I try this using the Split tool under Edit - Tools / Modify Features in Pro, I get an error "Splitting Line Features failed." There is no explanation as to why it failed.

However, I found that if I draw a line with multiple vertices to specify where to split, and I cross the selected line twice at the same point, the line will split successfully and I will effectively accomplish what I want. But it shouldn't have to work this way. For this to work, I need a point feature already snapped to the line I want to split at the desired point, so I can make sure I cross the line at the same point twice. But, say I want to split at a point that is near the selected line but not snapped to it - then this roundabout method doesn't work.

I don't want to use "Split Line At Point", because I don't want to create new output data. I want to edit the data I currently have.

How can I do this very simple thing? Is this somehow a feature that is missing in ArcGIS Pro?

I just upgraded yesterday to Pro 3.3.0.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

Scott_Harris — Wed, 15 May 2024 15:38:19 GMT

@MatthewLeonard you should be able to split a line by clicking on the edge of the line. My best guess: the point is offset from the line and point snapping takes precedence (meaning the split point doesn't intersect the line).

Try turning off the point snapping agent, and try again. If that doesn't work, please consider opening a case with Esri Technical Support.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

MatthewLeonard — Thu, 16 May 2024 13:12:06 GMT

@Scott_Harris You are right - the point I was snapping to as the split point was not exactly on the line I wanted to split. It is very close. I tried clicking a random place on the line edge as the split point, and it worked. I also then snapped a point to the line edge and used that point as the split point, and it also worked.

But, in ArcMap I can use a point near the line as the split point. Whether or not this works depends on the zoom level. If I am zoomed in close enough where I can see some space between the point and the line, it will not work. But if I zoom out to where it looks like the point is on the line, then using that same point as the split point will work - it splits the line at a place nearest the split point. So, ideally I need to be able to do the same thing in Pro. Maybe there is a setting for the tolerance at which such a split will work?

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

Scott_Harris — Thu, 16 May 2024 13:26:38 GMT

@MatthewLeonard the ArcGIS Pro editing team has been making some improvements to Split behind the scenes, where this specific scenario is addressed. We hope to have it available in the next release.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

MatthewLeonard — Thu, 16 May 2024 13:42:19 GMT

Thanks - that sounds like what I need. It is frustrating that functionality from ArcMap disappeared in Pro and then has to be added back years later. I've seen other examples of that kind of thing. But I'm glad you're working on it 🙂

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

DrewPhillips — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 21:05:22 GMT

The specific functionality that seems to have been left behind in ArcMap was the ability to select a line and then split it at an arbitrary point along that line that was within the snap tolerance. Is that functionality part of the behind-the-scenes improvement that you mention? The task was fundamental in our workflow. The current method seems to require making some other feature first.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

Scott_Harris — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 12:41:38 GMT

@DrewPhillips You should be able to split a line by clicking on the edge with edge snapping on. If not, try making sure your data is in the same coordinate system as you map to see if that fixes it. That is one of the improvements we are making in the next release: not having to avoid projecting on the fly.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

DrewPhillips — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:34:05 GMT

Sure enough, that worked. Puzzled why I couldn't do it before. Sorry, but thanks.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

scottblevins — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 18:20:56 GMT

I absolutely HATE this new version. Its driving me insane!! When a line doesn't split how about telling us why!!!! If there was anything else i could switch to, I WOULD.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

RyGuy — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:40:39 GMT

Scott - would you happen to know the status of this? It's absolutely driving me mad.

Re: Editing: How to split a line feature at just one point?

Scott_Harris — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:48:01 GMT

@RyGuy There is one outstanding bug that I'm aware of: https://support.esri.com/en-us/bug/when-using-the-split-tool-from-the-modify-features-pane-bug-000172550

If you are experiencing it, I assume two things to be true:

The data is projected on the fly while editing https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/editing/introduction-to-projection-on-the-fly.htm
The sketch is being snapped to an existing vertex while splitting (since that bug doesn't reproduce unless you snap to a vertex).

My suggestions:

Contact Esri Technical Support to have your case attached to the defect to follow it (or investigate it as a new defect if your scenario is different).
Until it is fixed, try to keep the map in the same coordinate system as the layers you are editing. I know this isn't always easy to do, but it is considered a best practice.