Lasso Tools

Lasso provides a way to easily relate a group of conductors (or cables) with a conduit feature. Lasso tools require the Lasso feature layer be added to the map document. The number of clicks the user makes to place the Lasso feature determines whether annotation is displayed to provide information about the related conductors. The annotation fields are determined by the Cross Section Annotation configuration (see Annotation Options in the Configuring ArcFM Solution online help in ArcCatalog. By default, the annotation displays the feature class alias and OID.

The Conduit Manager toolbar provides the Select By Lasso and Refresh Lassos tools. Select By Lasso uses an existing Lasso feature to add conduit and related features to the selected set. Refresh Lassos allows you to add conductors to an existing conduit and update annotation using an existing Lasso.

In the figure below, the symbology of the lasso feature layer was modified to display an arrow at the start. This allows the user to place a lasso the points to the conduit and displays annotation about the conductors.

Types of Lassos

Lassos are defined by the number of mouse clicks required to place them. For three- and five-point lassos, you may modify the lasso symbology to include an arrow at the start (see Figure 1). This creates a lasso symbol that points to the conduit. To modify the lasso symbology, right-click it on the Display tab and select Properties.

2-point lasso: The first click and second click define the "gate" through which the conduit system and underground linear features you want to relate must pass. The 2-point lasso does not display annotation.
3-point lasso: The first click is directly on the conduit. The second and third clicks define the gate. The 3-point lasso does not display annotation.
4-point lasso: The first and second clicks define the gate. The third and fourth clicks determine where the annotation will appear. The fourth click determines the angle of display for the annotation.
5-point lasso: The first click is directly on the conduit. The second and third clicks define the gate. The fourth and fifth clicks indicate where the annotation will appear. The fifth and final click determines the angle of display for the annotation.

Place Lasso

Lasso allows you to relate multiple conductors and cables to a conduit system. Depending on the type of lasso, it may display annotation describing the related features. The types of lasso are described here.

On the map, locate the conduit and unrelated linear features.
Click the Lasso feature on the Create Features tab.
Select the Lasso feature the Attribute Editor Targets tab.
Define the Lasso by clicking according to the type of lasso you want to place. For three- and five-point lassos, you may set the Lasso feature to snap to the conduit, but snapping isn't required.

You may now associate conductors with specific positions in the conduit if the conduit has been configured.

Select by Lasso

Select by Lassos uses an existing Lasso for adding the conduit and related features to the selected set. The Conduit Manager toolbar can be added by right-clicking in the toolbar area and checking Conduit Manager.

Select an existing Lasso on the map.
Click Select by Lassos button. The conduit and all related linear features contained by the lasso are added to the selected set.

Select by Lasso adds all conductors and conduit encompassed by the lasso to the selected set:

Refresh Lassos

Refresh Lassos uses an existing Lasso and relates newly added features to the conduit and updates displayed annotation. Use this tool if:

You have updated the attributes of a linear feature that crosses through an existing lasso
You have added a linear feature that has been added to an existing conduit and crosses through an existing lasso

You may select multiple lassos and refresh them with one click of the button. To refresh an existing lasso:

Select the lasso feature(s) on the map.
Click Refresh Lassos. The annotation is updated to reflect attribute changes and conductor additions to the conduit system feature(s).