Add start and end symbology to vertices and nodes display option

[DuncanHornby]

ESRI introduced the ability to display vertices and nodes which is a useful addition to ArcPro. But I would like to see 1 more symbology option for LINES and that is to symbolize the start and end vertices in a different colour. When you edit the vertices of a line you can identify the direction of the line as the end vertex is red. BUT the edit vertices tool only shows this 1 line at a time, the currently selected line. I would like to see the vertices of multiple lines (all features in the layer) so I can make a judgment call.

Yes I could change the symbology of the line to have an arrow indicating direction but I don't want that I want to use the new nifty symbolize vertices/nodes option. A quick flick on 'n' off to show me the bulk of the data's direction.

As a use case scenario I'm measuring transects from the coast out to sea and I need the data to be directed out to sea. Flicking on nodes with start/end colouration would be a nice, fast solution.

[DanLee]

Hi @DuncanHornby, 

I am glad that you posted this request.  Displaying start/end of lines in different symbology with an on/off toggle would certainly be helpful to many users, myself included.  🙂  This would be especially effective to help identify wrong directions for the transects from the coast out to sea cases because each transect line is not connected with other transect lines, usually.

When lines are connected, like roads or rivers, the start/end symbology would be on top of each other, which could be confusing. In that case, would you (or anyone else who is reading this post) think displaying an arrow (or multiple arrows) on each line could also help see line directions?

[DuncanHornby]

@DanLee That is a very good point with the overlap issue. I think what is good about the new node and vertices display option is that its temporary, with a click of a button you can turn the display on and off without altering the symbology of the data, it does not require a selection or definition query. You simply display the vertices and then turn them off. So my idea is as you rightly point out only suitable for non-connecting lines. If the display option can display a simple arrow along the line that can be turned off as easily as the vertices then that would resolve the overlap issue.  Now what might be a clever display is if the arrow is closer to the to-end of the line (say 80% along length of line) rather than mid-point. I'm thinking if you have hundreds of lines displaying its very position subtly tells you which end of the line you are looking at. I suspect esri would need to do a little research on what works for people?

[DanLee]

Hi @DuncanHornby, 

I am totally with you on the convenience of the temporary nodes/vertices display without altering the symbology of the data. For connected lines, the potential confusion could be reduced with more distinguishable symbol designs, while that may still not be enough for nodes where more than two lines intersect.

Displaying arrows would certainly help clarify line direction. Your thought about displaying the arrow at 80% to the to-end is interesting. I am not sure at the moment whether the 80% position has more advantage over the midpoint. It feels that they may be equally effective but midpoint is a common, clear concept and can help assess half of the length easily.

Wherever an arrow is positioned, the problem is that the arrow location can easily go outside of the map/viewing area when you zoom in. What would be helpful is an option to always display an arrow on a line as long as it is still in the view. This is my thinking loud based on my experience working with line features. Yes, we (Esri) are thinking about what could work more effectively at the user end. Your thoughts and feedback are always important and welcome 🙂

[DuncanHornby]

@DanLee I do a lot of work with river networks, so I dream about nodes and lines! 😁

Reading your comment about a distinguishable symbol designs for nodes, I feel that might be problematic as in rivers you can have nodes where for example two lines flow in, 3 lines flow out and 1 line starts and ends at the same node (i.e. loops) and probably a bunch of other nutty scenarios.

So I'm leaning to your idea that the direction is best symbolised with an arrow along its length. Although what you say about it being a mid-point location as that is conceptually easier to understand, I as someone who stares at rivers all day think there may be merit in a to-end position.

So below is me using a standard arrow symbol at 50% along length of line. I've made nodes and dangles as solid circles (its what I like).

50% along

This is me fudging an 80% along symbol, I just prefer it, although difference in minimal? But having the ability to flash on/off an arrow would be very useful.

80% along

[DanLee]

DuncanHornby, glad to learn more about your work with rivers.

Regarding your example "two lines flow in, 3 lines flow out ... ", that's exact why I said "that may still not be enough for nodes where more than two lines intersect" even with some effort on the symbol design.

Thank you for making the two examples to compare midpoint vs. 80% point arrow positions. When you zoom out to that smaller scale, the flow-in arrows do become more clustered than the midpoint arrows, therefore give better visual lead to where the rivers merge. So, perhaps a user specified % value could be an option in addition to midpoint.

Do you ever zoom into an area, such as inside the red box below, where even the 80% arrow locations fall outside the map view, and you wish to still see the arrows (flow-in or flow-out)?  See the last paragraph in my last comment.

[DuncanHornby]

Yeah I definitely will zoom into your red box limits and you are right I would still like to see an arrow. So I think my "80% position" is actually 80% of the displayed line. So when zoomed out and viewing the whole line 80% is the 80% position, but when zoomed into a junction and lets say you are viewing 50% of the actual line then my 80% position now becomes 80% of 50% of the line...my brain hurts! So the arrow dynamically moves.

I think having the user choose a position and default could be mid-point is a good solution as may be you have some sort of symbology that actually places a symbol marker at the mid point of the line. In that case a user might say show the arrow at the 25% position so it does not clash with their symbol?

[DanLee]

Exactly! Now we are on the same page.  80% of 50% would be 90% of 100 ... Good brain exercise. 🤝🙂 

The arrow is an visual aid to your inspection work of the area. It would make sense that it "follows" your view and not to let you lose sight of the flow directions. Theoretically any % position could be helpful; flexibility is always good.

Thank you again for posting the request and for the discussion. I know our editing team is listening. I hope people will vote up on this one.