Donut (Multi-part) Polygons

To provide compatibility with the import and export of GIS donut polygons, string and polygon tools on the Design tab, in the Create group (and the Vizex right-click menu), may be used to create, combine, separate, and modify multi-part or donut polygons.

Note: The polygons you create and select must all be in the same layer. Not all string editing tools may work on multi-part or donut polygons. If a tool you want to use on a multi-part or donut polygon is not enabled, you may need to separate the parts first and then combine them using the tools described below.

A second click on an already selected multi-part polygon will select the individual part. This creates a partial selection exactly as if you dragged along part of the polygon. This is useful for deleting or moving the parts of a multi-part or donut polygon.

Design tools

On the Design tab, in the Create group:

  • Click New Donut Polygon to begin digitising a new multi-part (donut) polygon from scratch.

  • Select New Donut Polygon | Add Polygon Part to digitise a polygon and either attach it to an ordinary polygon or add it to a donut or multi-part polygon.

  • Select New Donut Polygon | Combine Polygon Parts to create a multi-part or donut polygon by combining two or more parts.

  • Select New Donut Polygon | Separate Polygon Parts to separate the constituent parts of a multi-part or donut polygon.

Vizex right-click menu

To create a donut polygon when both the outer and inner polygons have already been defined:

  1. Select the outer and inner polygons.

  2. Right click and select Combine Polygon Parts.

When a single polygon is selected:

  • from the right-click menu, select New Polygon Part to digitise a polygon to be attached to an ordinary polygon or a donut polygon.

When more than one polygon is selected:

  • from the right-click menu, select Combine Polygon Parts to create a multi-part or donut polygon by combining two or more parts.

Conversely, when a multi-part or donut polygon is selected:

  • from the right-click menu, select Separate Polygon Parts to split the parts into independent polygons.

Keep the inner polygon

To create a donut polygon and keep the inner polygon:

  1. Select the outer polygon.

  2. Select New Polygon Part from the right-click menu.

  3. Enable snapping and digitise the inner polygon.

  4. Select the outer and inner polygons and select Separate Polygon Parts from the right-click menu.