Single Symbols for Vector Features
Included in this tutorial
Single Symbols, by default
Formatting a symbol, including the Symbol Format Gallery
Format Symbol Properties, with two examples
Software version in examples: ArcGIS Pro 2.9.1
Tutorial Data: The tutorial includes demonstration with sample data available here.
Credits: L. Meisterlin (2022)
Single Symbols, by default
By default ArcGIS Pro will apply a Single Symbol to all features in a layer.
The colors, however, are arbitrary by default. In this tutorial, we will not manipulate the approach—we will keep a single symbol for all features in the layer—but we will change the colors and sizes of these symbols.
ArcGIS Pro assigns a single symbol by default
Formatting a symbol
Access the symbol’s formatting options by clicking on the swatch in the Symbology panel’s Primary Symbology options.
There are two headings for formatting the symbol: Gallery and Properties.
Symbol Format Gallery
The Gallery offers preset symbols you might be interested in using.
CAUTION: Be careful if you rely on symbol presets. Maps are never made for a universal audience, and most symbols do not carry universal meaning.
The demonstration below shows the gallery of point symbols. Similar galleries are offered for other vector file types.
accessing the Symbol Format options and scrolling through the Gallery of preset symbols
TIP: You can save your symbols within the Symbology panel to reuse as presets within this project or others.
Symbol Format Properties
You can change the properties of a single symbol manually under Properties.
Example 1: Points
In the example below, we change the color of both the fill and outline of each symbol representing the point features. We also change the outline width (or stroke weight) and the overall size of the symbol. (There are several other options to explore.)
Notice the preview area of the panel at the bottom (highlighted in magenta in the demonstration). Here you can preview changes made to the symbol before applying those changes to the layer.
Changes are not applied until you click “Apply” at the bottom of the panel.
changing symbol properties for point features
Example 2: Polygons
In the example below, we change the format properties of a single symbol applied to polygons features. Here, we change the fill color to transparent (i.e., “No Color”) and change the outline color and width.
The demonstration also shows the format gallery for polygon features.
changing symbol properties for polygon features