How to Edit a Shapefile

1. Before editing a shapefile, you must activate the Editor toolbar.
2. From the View menu, select Toolbars, Editor.
3. From the Editor drop-down menu, select Start Editing.
4. From the Start Editing box, select the folder that contains the shapefile to be edited.
5. Click OK.
6. From the Editor's Task drop-down menu, select Modify Feature.
7. From the Editor's Target drop-down menu, select the shapefile to be edited.
8. From the Editor toolbar, click on the Edit tool.
9. From within the Data Frame, double-click on the shapefile feature until the vertices appear.
10. Place the Edit tool over the vertex, click and move it to the desired location.
11. When you are finished moving vertices, click outside the shapefile feature to complete your changes.

12. You can ALSO move the entire shapefile feature.

13. From within the Data Frame, double-click on the shapefile feature until the vertices appear.
14. With the Edit tool over a segment of the shapefile feature, click and drag the feature to the desired location.
15. When you are finished moving the shapefile feature, click outside the feature to complete your changes.

16. You can ALSO insert vertices to change the shape of the shapefile feature.

17. From within the Data Frame, double-click on the shapefile feature until the vertices appear.
18. With the Edit tool over a segment of the shapefile feature, right click and select Insert Vertex.
19. When you are finished moving vertices, click outside the shapefile feature to complete your changes.

20. You can ALSO delete vertices to change the shape of the shapefile feature.

21. From within the Data Frame, double-click on the shapefile feature until the vertices appear.
22. With the Edit tool over a segment of the shapefile feature, right click and select Delete Vertex.
23. When you are finished deleting vertices, click outside the shapefile feature to complete your changes.
    

In the example provided, the "Locations" shapefile is edited.

Video of Example

  click on image for video