How to Edit or Repair Uploaded Shapefiles

When uploading shapefiles with multiple adjoining polygons, IFTDSS will automatically join the polygons into a single dataset; this process may create erroneous gaps or vertices where these polygons once touched. The steps below outline the process of repairing or cleaning these polygons and re-saving them as a new shapefile.

  1. Click the More Options button to the right of your shapefile and

  2. Click the Zoom to option. This will zoom to your newly uploaded shapefile.

    use the 'zoom to' option to find your shapefile on the map

To Edit a shapefile:

  1. Open Create/Edit Shapes 'edit tools' button from the bottom of Map Studio and click Copy from Existing FeaturesCopy from existing features button. To edit only one polygon, choose Select Singlepart, or to edit multiple polygons choose Select multipart.

  2. Scroll to the map and single left click the mouse button over the polygon you intend to copy. There are then two methods to edit:

    • Single left click a second time then drag to move the shape, or use the vertices in one of the four corners to resize the shape.

      After left clicking twice the shape changes color and can be moved around the map by clicking and dragging.

    • Single left click a third time to display and edit polygon vertices.

      • Move a vertex by hovering over it, holding down the left mouse key, and dragging it to the correct position.

      • Delete a vertex by hovering over it, and single clicking the right mouse button once. Only vertices displayed in orange may be removed.

      vertices single right clicked will disappear. Single left click and drag to move vertices.

  3. Continue your edits until you are satisfied with your shape.

  4. Save the new shape by giving it a descriptive name in Create/Edit Shapes, specify the folder to save the file to, and click Create. The new shape will now be available in My Workspace for use throughout IFTDSS.

Open the shapefile to be repaired then zoom to your shapefile:

  1. Open Edit Tools'edit tools' button from the bottom of Map Studio.

  2. Click Copy from Existing FeaturesCopy from existing features button, then choose Select Singlepart, or to edit multiple polygons choose Select multipart.

  3. Click the shape to highlight it.

    A shape with a hole in it is highlighted to be copied.

  4. Click the rectangular extent rectangular extent button polygon polygon button or freehand freehand draw button buttons within the Edit Tool and draw a small polygon over the hole you wish to fill.

    drawing a small shape file over a hole, while in editmode, will fill that hole upon saving

  5. Give the repaired shape a name, select a folder to save it in, then click Create to create the newly repaired shape.

    Copy of the original shape but with the hole now patched.