Target layer: Polyline, Polygon

Description: Drag a selection box. All polylines intersected by the selection box will be Generalized or Densified (depending on the tool used) using the parameters assigned. Note that the same functions are available as commands on ET Commands menu and work on the current selection of the target layer.

The Generalize, Densify & Densify By Angle  tools are situated by default on the Generalize Densify Smooth Tool Menu. If some of them are used often they can be added to the ET GeoTools toolbar using Tools ==> Customize. 

The parameters for all tools  can be set in the control panel or via a hot key while the tool is activated. In the control panel the user can set whether the parameters dialog to appear for each operation or only when the hot key ("S") is pressed. In the latter case the parameters assigned will be used by the tools until changed.

• Generalize Polyline Tool : Generalizes ( reduces the number of vertices required to represent a polyline ) the features of a polyline layer using the Douglas-Poiker algorithm
  • Parameter  - Generalize tolerance (maximum offset) - the maximum distance that the generalized polyline will differ from the original one. Can be set in ET GeoTools control panel or using the hot key "S" while the tool is active
• Densify Polyline Tool : Densifies ( adds vertices to  polyline at a user-specified tolerance ) the features of a polyline layer.
  • Parameters - Can be set in ET GeoTools control panel or using the hot key "S" while the tool is active
    • Maximum segment length
    • Deviation value (Has no impact if there are no curve segments in the polylines - in most of the cases can be set to 0)
• Densify Polyline By Angle Tool : Densifies (  introduces vertices at points where the included angle between tangents at those point is Deviation Angle) selected polycurves..
  • Parameters - Can be set in ET GeoTools control panel or using the hot key "S" while the tool is active
    • Maximum segment length
    • Deviation Angle (Has no impact if there are no curve segments in the polylines - in most of the cases can be set to 0)

Advantages: 

• The standard Generalize tool is not available for the ArcGIS users with an ArcView license  
• Densify and Densify By Angle are not standardly available in ArcMap, but can be very useful if data from a Geodatabase containing true arcs is to be exported to shapefile.

Hot Keys (Pressing these keys when the tool is active will allow changing  the parameters used by the function): 

• "S" - sets the parameters for the functions
  • Maximum offset - Generalize Polyline Tool
  • Maximum segment length & Deviation value - Densify Polyline Tool
  • Maximum segment length & Deviation Angle - Densify Polyline By Angle  Tool

Attribute Updates: The attributes of the original polylines are preserved

Notes :

• Since version 9.4 the Generalize & Densify tools can be used on polygons as well. It is very important to understand that if used on polygons that have neighbors GAPS and/or OVERLAPS might be introduced on the boundaries between the neighboring polygons. Use the Generalize & Densify tools only on stand-alone polygons!!!!!
• If possible use Densify instead of Densify By Angle
• The Densify Polylines Tool before smoothing to achieve better approximation of the original polylines. More vertices will constrain the curves close to the originals
• In some cases the Generalize Polylines Tool can be used after smoothing to remove redundant vertices, but preserve the smooth appearance of the polylines