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Feature editing

Bulk feature editing applies the same change to many features at once. The bulk-edit dialog supports type-code changes, explosive changes, and attribute changes — three flavors that share the same selection model but differ in what they can update. Together they replace what would otherwise be hundreds of single-feature edits across a busy project.

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you should be able to:

  • Bulk-update feature types across a selection
  • Bulk-update explosive entries
  • Bulk-update attributes
  • Recognize which fields can and cannot be bulk-edited

Selection first​

Every bulk edit starts from a selection made in the features list (or, for smaller selections, on the map). The bulk-edit dialog operates on whatever is selected at the moment you invoke it — there is no "edit all" shortcut that skips selection.

A common workflow:

  1. Filter the features list to the working set
  2. Select the rows you want to edit
  3. Invoke the bulk action
  4. Review the preview, confirm, and re-run analysis

Entry point: in the Feature List, turn on Bulk Select in the Options (gear) menu, select rows, then click the bulk actions button in the header and choose Edit Types, Edit Explosives, or Edit Attributes (the menu also offers Edit Notes, Edit Shapes, Move to Layer…, Analyze Selection, Site HD to DQ…, and Delete Selection).

Edit types (type code)​

Bulk-changing the type code on a selection is one of the most disruptive operations available — every selected feature reloads its attribute set, drops attributes that no longer apply, and falls back to defaults for any newly required attributes (see Calculator: Type codes).

When to use:

  • Reclassifying a set of features that were imported with the wrong type code
  • Switching all storage facilities from ECMU to ECM3 after a survey confirms the rating
  • Correcting a bulk-import classification mistake

When not to use:

  • When the selection is heterogeneous — bulk-changing types only works cleanly when every selected feature is becoming the same type code

[TODO: FILL IN — exact UI for the bulk type-code change, including any preview that shows which attributes will be dropped.]

After a bulk type-code change, expect to revisit attributes for the affected features — the defaults are rarely exactly right.

Edit explosives​

Bulk explosive edits update NEW values across the selection. Common patterns:

  • Setting a uniform NEW across a homogeneous group of magazines
  • Adding a new hazard division to a set of PESs (e.g., adding 1.3 quantities for a thermal evaluation)
  • Zeroing out explosives on features that were misclassified as PESs

[TODO: FILL IN — bulk explosive entry UI: scope selector (which divisions to update), validation against the project's Max NEQ, and any per-feature override behavior.]

Edit attributes​

Bulk attribute edits update one or more attributes across the selection. The attribute set available depends on the type code of the selected features — bulk-editing across a heterogeneous selection only exposes attributes shared by all selected types.

Common patterns:

  • Toggling Heavy Wall across all magazines after a construction survey confirms it
  • Setting Combustible on a layer of operating buildings
  • Reverting from Most Likely to Most Conservative for a specific subset of facilities

[TODO: FILL IN — bulk attribute UI, including any "leave unchanged" affordance for attributes you want to leave alone in this bulk edit.]

Editing across heterogeneous selections​

Bulk editing a heterogeneous selection has fewer levers than a homogeneous one — only the fields shared by every selected type are bulk-editable. If the selection mixes ECMs and IHBs, only attributes available on both will appear in the bulk-edit dialog.

A useful pattern for messy selections: filter the features list down to a homogeneous subset first, edit, then move to the next subset.

Try it​

In a project with at least a dozen ECMs:

  1. Filter the features list to Type Code = ECM7
  2. Select all visible
  3. Bulk-edit Heavy Wall to true
  4. Re-run analysis and verify the required distances on the affected features have shifted appropriately

This is the fastest way to feel the leverage of bulk attribute editing.