ArcGIS 10.4.1: Split Polygons by Polygons

Question

I'm attempting to split a feature class of polygons by another set of polygons. The steps I've taken are synonymous with those here. I select the polygons I want to use as the split, and edit using the "split polygons" tool the feature class I am trying to split. I end up with funky results as I show in the following picture:

Wherein the red lines are the polygons I want to use to split the black polygons. The selected polygons are a single selected polygon I am using to demonstrate the funky result I am having. Additionally, some other polygons split like they should normally, though replicate themselves multiple times in the results.

Answer 1

What you call funky polygon is a multipart polygon. You can convert those polygons into sets of single parts polygons using the "explode" tool in an edit session. Alternatively, you can also use "convert multipart to single part" tool from the toolbox to convert all multipart polygons of a layer into multiple single part polygons.

That being said, you could also use the union tool to create new polygons every time there is an intersection between red and black polygons. Then select by attribute and remove those that only contain 'black polygon" attribute, which will result in the contours of black polygons divided by red polygons. This would be much faster the edit tools if you have a large number of "splits".