Add a point, line, and polygon

Learn how to display point, line, and polygon graphics in a map.

You typically use graphics to display geographic data that is not connected to a database and that is not persisted, like highlighting a route between two locations, displaying a search buffer around a point, or tracking the location of a vehicle in real-time. Graphics are composed of a geometry, symbol, and attributes.

In this tutorial, you display points, lines, and polygons on a map as graphics.

Prerequisites

Steps

Open a Visual Studio solution

1. To start the tutorial, complete the Display a map tutorial or download and unzip the solution.

2. Open the .sln file in Visual Studio.

3. If you downloaded the solution, get an access token and set the API key.
   Instructions for setting the API key

   An API Key gives your app access to secure resources used in this tutorial.

   1. Go to the Create an API key tutorial to obtain a new API key access token using your ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account. Ensure that the following privilege is enabled: Location services > Basemaps > Basemap styles service. Copy the access token as it will be used in the next step.

   2. In Visual Studio, in the Solution Explorer, click App.xaml.cs.

   3. In the App class, add an override for the OnStartup() function to set the ApiKey property on ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.

      App.xaml.cs

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          public partial class App : Application
          {
      
              protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
              {
                  base.OnStartup(e);
                  Esri.ArcGISRuntime.ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.ApiKey = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
              }
      
          }
      }

Update the tutorial name used in the project (optional)

The Visual Studio solution, project, and the namespace for all classes currently use the name DisplayAMap. Follow the steps below if you prefer the name to reflect the current tutorial. These steps are not required, your code will still work if you keep the original name.

Add a graphics overlay

A graphics overlay is a container for graphics. It is used with a map view to display graphics on a map. You can add more than one graphics overlay to a map view. Graphics overlays are displayed on top of all the other layers.

1. In the Visual Studio > Solution Explorer, double-click MapViewModel.cs to open the file.

   More info

   The project uses the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) design pattern to separate the application logic (view model) from the user interface (view). MapViewModel.cs contains the view model class for the application, called MapViewModel. See the Microsoft documentation for more information about the Model-View-ViewModel pattern.

2. Add additional required using statements to your MapViewModel class. Esri.ArcGISRuntime.UI namespace contains the Graphic class and Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Symbology namespace contains the classes that define the symbols for displaying them.

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   using System;
   using System.Collections.Generic;
   using System.Text;
   using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
   using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;
   using System.ComponentModel;
   using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
   
   using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Symbology;
   using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.UI;
   

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3. In the view model, create a new property named GraphicsOverlays. This will be a collection of GraphicsOverlay that will store point, line, and polygon graphics.

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           private Map? _map;
           public Map? Map
           {
               get { return _map; }
               set
               {
                   _map = value;
                   OnPropertyChanged();
               }
           }
   
           private GraphicsOverlayCollection? _graphicsOverlays;
           public GraphicsOverlayCollection? GraphicsOverlays
           {
               get { return _graphicsOverlays; }
               set
               {
                   _graphicsOverlays = value;
                   OnPropertyChanged();
               }
           }
   

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4. Add a new method in the view model named CreateGraphics. Add code to create a new GraphicsOverlay and assign it to the GraphicsOverlays property.

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           private void SetupMap()
           {
               // Create a new map with a 'topographic vector' basemap.
               this.Map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISTopographic);
           }
   
           private void CreateGraphics()
           {
               // Create a new graphics overlay to contain a variety of graphics.
               var malibuGraphicsOverlay = new GraphicsOverlay();
   
               // Add the overlay to a graphics overlay collection.
               GraphicsOverlayCollection overlays = new GraphicsOverlayCollection
               {
                   malibuGraphicsOverlay
               };
   
               // Set the view model's "GraphicsOverlays" property (will be consumed by the map view).
               this.GraphicsOverlays = overlays;
   
           }
   

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5. In the MapViewModel constructor, add a call to the CreateGraphics function.

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           public MapViewModel()
           {
               SetupMap();
   
               CreateGraphics();
   
           }
   

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6. In the Visual Studio > Solution Explorer, double-click MainWindow.xaml to open the file.

7. Use data binding to bind the GraphicsOverlays property of the MapViewModel to the MapView control.

   More info

   Data binding and the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) design pattern allow you to separate the logic in your app (the view model) from the presentation layer (the view). Graphics can be added and removed from the graphics overlays in the view model and those changes appear in the map view through data binding.

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           <esri:MapView x:Name="MainMapView"
                             Map="{Binding Map, Source={StaticResource MapViewModel}}"
                             GraphicsOverlays="{Binding GraphicsOverlays, Source={StaticResource MapViewModel}}" />
   

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Add a point graphic

A point graphic is created using a map point and a marker symbol. A map point is defined with x and y coordinates and a spatial reference. For latitude and longitude coordinates, the spatial reference is WGS84.

1. In the Visual Studio > Solution Explorer, double-click MapViewModel.cs to open the file.

2. In the CreateGraphics function, add code to create a MapPoint and a SimpleMarkerSymbol. To create the MapPoint, provide longitude (x) and latitude (y) coordinates, and a SpatialReference. Use the SpatialReferences.Wgs84 static property.

   More info

   Point graphics support a number of symbol types such as SimpleMarkerSymbol, PictureMarkerSymbol and TextSymbol. Learn more about Symbol in the API Reference documentation.

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               // Set the view model's "GraphicsOverlays" property (will be consumed by the map view).
               this.GraphicsOverlays = overlays;
   
               // Create a point geometry.
               var dumeBeachPoint = new MapPoint(-118.8066, 34.0006, SpatialReferences.Wgs84);
   
               // Create a symbol to define how the point is displayed.
               var pointSymbol = new SimpleMarkerSymbol
               {
                   Style = SimpleMarkerSymbolStyle.Circle,
                   Color = System.Drawing.Color.Orange,
                   Size = 10.0
               };
   
               // Add an outline to the symbol.
               pointSymbol.Outline = new SimpleLineSymbol
               {
                   Style = SimpleLineSymbolStyle.Solid,
                   Color = System.Drawing.Color.Blue,
                   Width = 2.0
               };
   

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3. Create a Graphic with the point and pointSymbol. Display the Graphic by adding it to the GraphicsOverlay.Graphics collection.

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               // Add an outline to the symbol.
               pointSymbol.Outline = new SimpleLineSymbol
               {
                   Style = SimpleLineSymbolStyle.Solid,
                   Color = System.Drawing.Color.Blue,
                   Width = 2.0
               };
   
               // Create a point graphic with the geometry and symbol.
               var pointGraphic = new Graphic(dumeBeachPoint, pointSymbol);
   
               // Add the point graphic to graphics overlay.
               malibuGraphicsOverlay.Graphics.Add(pointGraphic);
   

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4. Click Debug > Start Debugging (or press <F5> on the keyboard) to run the app.

   More info

   If creating apps for Android or iOS, you will need the appropriate emulator, simulator, or device configured for testing (see System requirements for details)

You should see a point graphic in Point Dume State Beach.

Add a line graphic

A line graphic is created using a polyline and a line symbol. A polyline is defined as a sequence of points.

1. Create a Polyline and a SimpleLineSymbol. To create the Polyline, provide an array of MapPoint as the constructor argument.

   More info

   Line graphics support a number of symbol types such as SimpleLineSymbol and TextSymbol. Learn more about Symbol in the API Reference documentation.

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               // Add the point graphic to graphics overlay.
               malibuGraphicsOverlay.Graphics.Add(pointGraphic);
   
               // Create a list of points that define a polyline.
               List<MapPoint> linePoints = new List<MapPoint>
               {
                   new MapPoint(-118.8215, 34.0140, SpatialReferences.Wgs84),
                   new MapPoint(-118.8149, 34.0081, SpatialReferences.Wgs84),
                   new MapPoint(-118.8089, 34.0017, SpatialReferences.Wgs84)
               };
   
               // Create polyline geometry from the points.
               var westwardBeachPolyline = new Polyline(linePoints);
   
               // Create a symbol for displaying the line.
               var polylineSymbol = new SimpleLineSymbol(SimpleLineSymbolStyle.Solid, System.Drawing.Color.Blue, 3.0);
   

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2. Create a Graphic with the polyline and polylineSymbol. Display the Graphic by adding it to the GraphicsOverlay.Graphics collection.

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               // Create a symbol for displaying the line.
               var polylineSymbol = new SimpleLineSymbol(SimpleLineSymbolStyle.Solid, System.Drawing.Color.Blue, 3.0);
   
               // Create a polyline graphic with geometry and symbol.
               var polylineGraphic = new Graphic(westwardBeachPolyline, polylineSymbol);
   
               // Add polyline to graphics overlay.
               malibuGraphicsOverlay.Graphics.Add(polylineGraphic);
   

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3. Click Debug > Start Debugging (or press <F5> on the keyboard) to run the app.

You should see a point and line graphic along Westward Beach.

Add a polygon graphic

A polygon graphic is created using a polygon and a fill symbol. A polygon is defined as a sequence of points that describe a closed boundary.

1. Create a Polygon and a SimpleFillSymbol. To create the Polygon, provide an array of MapPoints.

   More info

   Polygon graphics support a number of symbol types such as SimpleFillSymbol, PictureFillSymbol, SimpleMarkerSymbol and TextSymbol. Learn more about Symbol in the API Reference documentation.

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               // Add polyline to graphics overlay.
               malibuGraphicsOverlay.Graphics.Add(polylineGraphic);
   
               // Create a list of points that define a polygon boundary.
               List<MapPoint> polygonPoints = new List<MapPoint>
               {
                   new MapPoint(-118.8190, 34.0138, SpatialReferences.Wgs84),
                   new MapPoint(-118.8068, 34.0216, SpatialReferences.Wgs84),
                   new MapPoint(-118.7914, 34.0164, SpatialReferences.Wgs84),
                   new MapPoint(-118.7960, 34.0086, SpatialReferences.Wgs84),
                   new MapPoint(-118.8086, 34.0035, SpatialReferences.Wgs84)
               };
   
               // Create polygon geometry.
               var mahouRivieraPolygon = new Polygon(polygonPoints);
   
               // Create a fill symbol to display the polygon.
               var polygonSymbolOutline = new SimpleLineSymbol(SimpleLineSymbolStyle.Solid, System.Drawing.Color.Blue, 2.0);
               var polygonFillSymbol = new SimpleFillSymbol(SimpleFillSymbolStyle.Solid, System.Drawing.Color.Orange, polygonSymbolOutline);
   

   Expand

2. Create an Graphic with the polygon and polygonSymbol. Display the Graphic by adding it to the GraphicsOverlay.Graphics collection.

   Expand

   Use dark colors for code blocks

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               // Create a fill symbol to display the polygon.
               var polygonSymbolOutline = new SimpleLineSymbol(SimpleLineSymbolStyle.Solid, System.Drawing.Color.Blue, 2.0);
               var polygonFillSymbol = new SimpleFillSymbol(SimpleFillSymbolStyle.Solid, System.Drawing.Color.Orange, polygonSymbolOutline);
   
               // Create a polygon graphic with the geometry and fill symbol.
               var polygonGraphic = new Graphic(mahouRivieraPolygon, polygonFillSymbol);
   
               // Add the polygon graphic to the graphics overlay.
               malibuGraphicsOverlay.Graphics.Add(polygonGraphic);
   

   Expand

3. Click Debug > Start Debugging (or press <F5> on the keyboard) to run the app.

You should see a point, line, and polygon graphic around Mahou Riviera in the Santa Monica Mountains.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional API features, ArcGIS location services, and ArcGIS tools in these tutorials:

• Add a feature layer
• Search for an address
• Find a route and directions