How To: Create connection lines between two or more points

Summary

The instructions provided describe how to create connection lines between two or more points on a map.

Procedure

1. Insert the XY data into ArcMap.
2. Select the correct coordinate system and X and Y Fields.
   
   
   a. Right-click the particular layer in the data table, and select Display XY Data.
   b. Select the X and Y values in the X and Y Fields.
   c. Click Edit to define a correct coordinate system.
   d. Click OK twice. The points are now added to the map as a layer in the Table of Contents.
   
   
3. Save the points permanently.
   
   
   a. Right-click the event layer, and select Data > Export Data.
   b. Click the Browse button to select a location and name for the new file.
   c. Set the file type as shapefile or feature class.
   d. Click Save, and click OK.
   
   
4. Join the two layers.
5. Export the shapefile to which the data is joined to a new shapefile that contains both sets of XY data.
6. Go to ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Features > XY to Line.
7. Using the new shapefile created in Step 5, enter in the Start X-coordinate field, Start Y-coordinate field, End X-coordinate field, and End Y-coordinate field of the table.
   
   
8. Run the XY to Line tool.
   
   

Related Information

• ArcGIS Help: About joining and relating tables
• ArcGIS Help: Joining attributes in one table to another
• ArcGIS Help: XY To Line (Data Management)