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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

[TODO: FILL IN — exact entry point for the bulk-edit dialog from a 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.