Create layers

Create a point, line, or polygon layer with your own attributes, then draw its first feature on the map.

Create an empty point, line, or polygon layer to build and maintain your own dataset, such as assets to inspect or observations from the field. Once the layer exists, people with Contribute access can add features to it on the web or in the Field App.

Create a layer

1. Click Edit map in the toolbar at the top right of the map.

2. Click Add to map (the pencil icon) in the toolbar, then click Create layer. If the button shows a tool you used earlier, click the arrow next to it to open the menu.

3. Enter a Name for the layer, select a Type (Point, Line, or Polygon), and click Next.

4. For each attribute you want to collect, click Add attribute and select a type, such as Text, Number, or Image. Name each attribute in the list on the left.

5. Click Create layer. The layer appears in the legend, ready for its first feature.

6. Click the map to place a point, or click to place each vertex of a line or polygon. The feature editor opens.

7. Optional: To add several features in a row, click Add in bulk (the stacked squares icon) at the top of the feature editor, or press Option+A (Mac) or Alt+A (Windows). In Bulk settings (the sliders icon next to it), select Copy values to each new feature or Start each feature with blank values.

   
8. In the feature editor, fill in the attribute values and click Done. In bulk add, click Next to save the feature and draw another, and click Finish when you're done.

Each layer has one geometry type. You choose it when you create the layer and can't change it later. To collect points and polygons, create a layer for each and put them in a layer group.

To add more features later, see Edit features. To change the attributes, see Add, rename, or delete attributes. For dropdowns, required fields, and other form settings, see Forms.

Layers and annotations

A layer holds features with the same attributes, geometry type, and style, and supports filtering, analysis, the table, and field data capture. An annotation is a shape, pin, or note for marking up the map. See Draw on the map.

To turn annotations into a layer, select them, right-click, and click Actions > Convert to layer. To bring in data you already have, upload it instead. See Upload files.