Distance and Direction widget—Portal for ArcGIS

The Distance and Direction widget allows you to draw lines, circles, ellipses, and range rings to visualize important information.

Configure the Distance and Direction widget

This widget can be set to open automatically when an app starts. To enable this feature, click the Open this widget automatically when the app starts button on the widget, which turns it dark green.

Hover over the widget and click the Configure this widget button to open the configuration properties dialog box.
To replace the widget icon with your own, click the Change widget icon button.
A file explorer window appears, allowing you to select a local image file to use as the widget icon.
On the Show Tab column, use the check boxes to choose which tabs will display when the widget is deployed.
For each Feedback Shape row, use the color picker in the Line Color column to set what color will be used to draw graphics.
For each Feedback Shape row, use the text box in the Line Width column to set what line width will be used to draw graphics.
Use the color picker in the Text Color column to set the color used to label graphics.
Use the text box in the Text Size column to set the text size used to label graphics.

Use the Distance and Direction widget

You can use the Distance and Direction widget to create lines, circles, ellipses, or rings.

Change the input coordinate format

The Distance and Direction widget allows you to change the way coordinates are displayed in a text box on a dialog box.

Click the Format Input button next to any coordinate text box to open the Set Coordinate Format String dialog box.
Click the drop-down menu and choose a coordinate display format.
Format the coordinate string by adding characters or spaces, or removing components of the string in the text box.
Optionally check the box to add a + or - prefix to positive or negative numbers.
Click Apply.

Create lines

You can create lines using the Distance and Direction widget given a distance and bearing, from known coordinates, or by interactively selecting points.

Create lines from distance and bearing

Create lines from a given distance and bearing.

Click the Line tab.
On the From drop-down menu, choose Distance and Bearing.
Set a start point by entering coordinates in the Start Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Add Point tool to interactively select a point.
Optionally use the Format Input button to open the Set Coordinate Format String dialog box.
Enter a value for Length and set the units in the drop-down menu.
Enter a value for Angle and set the units in the drop-down menu.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create lines from coordinates

Use known coordinates to create geodesic lines.

Click the Line tab.
On the From drop-down menu, choose Points.
Set a start point by entering coordinates in the Start Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Add Point tool to interactively select a point.
Optionally use the Format Input button to open the Set Coordinate Format String dialog box.
Set an end point by entering coordinates in the End Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Add Point tool to interactively select a point.
Optionally use the Format Input button to open the Set Coordinate Format String dialog box.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create lines interactively

Interactively create geodesic lines on the map.

Click the Line tab.
On the From drop-down menu, choose Points.
Check the Create Line Interactively check box.
Click the Draw Line tool.
Click a location on the map to designate the line starting point.
Click a second point on the map to designate the line ending point.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create circles

You can create circles using the Distance and Direction widget from known coordinates, interactively, or from a given time and speed.

Create circles from known coordinates

Use known coordinates to create circles using radius or diameter lengths.

Click the Circle tab.
Click the Create Circle From drop-down menu and choose Radius or Diameter.
Set a center point by entering coordinates in the Center Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Draw Circle tool to interactively select a point.
Enter a distance in the Radius or Diameter text box and choose the desired units from the drop-down menu.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create circles interactively

Interactively create circles by clicking the map.

Click the Circle tab.
Click the Create Circle From drop-down menu to choose a drawing method. Choose Radius or Diameter.
Check the Create Circle Interactively check box.
Click the Radius/Diameter units drop-down menu to set the distance units.
Click the Draw Circle tool.
Click a point on the map to designate the circle's center.
Click a second point on the map to designate the circle's radius or diameter.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create circles using speed and time

Create a circle to identify potential locations for moving objects using a center point, time, and speed.

Click the Circle tab.
Click the Create Circle From drop-down menu and choose Radius or Diameter.
Set a center point by entering coordinates in the Center Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Draw Circle tool to interactively select a point.
Expand the Distance Calculator dialog box to enter the other options.
Enter a value for Time and set the units in the drop-down menu.
Enter a value for Rate and set the units in the drop-down menu.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create ellipses

The Distance and Direction widget can create ellipses either from known coordinates or interactively.

Create ellipses from known coordinates

You can use known coordinates to create ellipses.

Click the Ellipse tab.
Click the Ellipse Type drop-down menu to choose either Semi or Full.
Set a center point by entering coordinates in the Center Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Draw Ellipse tool to interactively select a point.
Enter values for the Major and Minor axes in the Axis section and choose a value from the Units drop-down menu.
Enter a value for Orientation Angle and set the units in the drop-down menu.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create ellipses interactively

Interactively create ellipses by clicking the map.

Click the Ellipse tab.
Click the Ellipse Type drop-down menu. Choose Semi or Full.
Check the Create Ellipse Interactively check box.
Click the Unit drop-down menu in the Axis section to change the axis units.
Click the Draw Ellipse tool.
Click a point on the map to designate the ellipse center.
Drag the mouse and click the map to designate the ellipse major axis length and orientation.
Drag and click the map to designate the ellipse minor axis length.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create rings

The Distance and Direction widget can create range rings either from known coordinates and ring intervals or interactively.

Create range rings using a fixed ring number and distance

Create range rings using a set ring number and distance with the Distance and Direction widget.

Click the Rings tab.
From the Type drop-down menu, choose Fixed.
Set a center point by entering coordinates in the Center Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Add Point tool to interactively select a point.
Type a value in the Number of Rings text box.
Type a value in the Distance Between Rings text box and set the desired units using the drop-down menu.
Type a value in the Number of Radials text box.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create range rings interactively

Interactively create range rings by clicking the map.

Click the Rings tab.
From the Type drop-down menu, choose Interactive.
Use the Distance Units drop-down menu to set the units.
Type a value in the Number of Radials text box.
Click the Add Point tool.
Click the map to designate a center point.
Drag the mouse and click the map to designate the first ring.
Add additional rings as needed.
Double-click the map to complete the range rings.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create range rings by distance from an origin

Create range rings based on an origin and distance from the origin.

Click the Rings tab.
From the Type drop-down menu, choose Origin.
Set a center point by entering coordinates in the Center Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Add Point tool to interactively select a point.
Use the Distance Units drop-down menu to set the units.
Enter a value in the Distances text box to set how far the first ring will be from the origin point.
Click the plus sign to add another value, and continue to add values as necessary.
Optionally hover over a value and click the delete button to delete that value.
Type a value in the Number of Radials text box.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Create range rings by distance between rings

Create range rings based on an origin and distance from the previous ring.

Click the Rings tab.
From the Type drop-down menu, choose Cumulative.
Set a center point by entering coordinates in the Center Point text box and pressing Enter, or use the Add Point tool to interactively select a point.
Use the Distance Units drop-down menu to set the units.
Enter a value in the Distances text box to set how far the first ring will be from the origin point.
Click the plus sign to add another value, and continue to add values as necessary.
Optionally hover over a value and click the delete button to delete that value.
Optionally hover over a value and click the up or down arrow to reorder the values.
Type a value in the Number of Radials text box.
Click OK.
Optionally click Clear Graphics to remove the graphics from the map.

Feedback on this topic?