How to Convert a Polyline to a Polygon in ArcMap

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ArcMap allows you to create a digital map and fill it with information.
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ArcMap prepares, manipulates and interprets geographic data through maps and geographic information systems, creating a map with layers of information about different points. It is the main component of ArcGIS from the developer Esri. ArcMap allows you to create a map and fill each point on the map with information relevant to that location, such as precipitation rates, literacy rates or elevations. To add this information, establish the areas on a map with which to associate the information, a process that requires creating closed polygons out of the lines that make up the edges of an area.

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Creating a Geodatabase

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Step 1

Open ArcMap and create a new map under the File menu.

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Step 2

Select the SHP files containing your polyline data from the dialog box that appears as soon as you open a new map. ArcMap creates the new map with the polylines – a set of lines grouped together – from the selected file.

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Step 3

Click on Data Management Tools in the main menu and then select Workspace and later Create Personal GDP under the sub-menus. This step will create a new geodatabase into which you can input the polylines.

Step 4

Select the output location folder for your geodatabase, give it a name, such as "example.mdb," and click on "OK."

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Step 5

Click on Data Management Tools and then Workspace and Create Feature Dataset in the sub-menus. Set the output location to the database you just created, example.mdb, and name the dataset with a easy-to-remember name like "test." Click on the "Properties" button in the dialog box, and then import the SHP file containing the desired polygon data. Click on "OK."

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Step 6

Select Conversion Tools in the main menu and then To Geodatabase and Feature Class to Geodatabase under the sub-menu options.

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Step 7

Drag your SHP file with point data and the polyline SHP into the input box. Set the output geodatabase to the dataset you just created, example.mdp/test and click on "OK." This creates a dataset that associates your polylines with a specific point on the map. Refresh the map using your dataset to verify the results.

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Turning Polylines into a Polygon

Step 1

Select Data Management Tools from the main menu, followed by Features and Feature to Polygon in the sub-menus.

Step 2

Select your polyline file from the dataset directory, example.mdb/test, as the Input Feature.

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Step 3

Select your point file as the Label Feature and select a name for the output, such as "example_polygon." Click "OK" and refresh your map from the new file to see your polygon in place.

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