How do I store data in a shapefile?

[RobWile]

When I digitize a polyline in arcmap 10, I would expect the data for that line to be stored in a shapefile so that I can manipulate it (turn on, turn off) from the table of contents, but that doesn't seem to  work.  Where do the digitized polylines show up in the table of contents? #digitize‌ #feature create #shape file

[DanPatterson_Retired]

you did create an empty shapefile, then get into edit mode and began to use the editing tools to draw the features, I hope.  If not, then this section of the help file explains how to create and edit features

[RobWile]

Yes, that's the procedure I followed (twice, carefully), but still don't see any link between the polyline I drew and the empty shape file that I created.

After drawing the polyline in map view, the attribute table for the new shape file is empty. Shouldn't there be data for the polyline? What am I missing?

[DanPatterson_Retired]

once you save your edits and open the table all you will see is a FID, OID and Shape field with one record/row per feature and the FID will be sequentially numbered but the OID field won't and the Shape file will just say Polyline

That's about all the is to be expected

[RickeyFight]

Watch these

Creating / Editing Shapefiles in ArcGIS Desktop (1 of 2) - YouTube 

Creating / Editing Shapefiles in ArcGIS Desktop (2 of 2) - YouTube 

[RobWile · Accepted solution]

Thank you, the video helped.  I wasn't creating my geometry using the "construction tools" in "create features".  I was creating it using the draw tool bar across the top.  Confusing, but it seemed to make the difference.

[JayantaPoddar]

Yup... The draw tool creates graphics on the data-frame. It doesn't create a feature or store attribute information.