ArcGIS 9'0

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ArcGIS 9.0

• Tips and Tricks

March 2005Tina CallahanIT User Services
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Outline

• ArcCatalog
• ArcToolbox
• ArcMap
• General
• ESRI Resources
• UD Resources

• NOTE
• This is not a comprehensive Tips and Tricks
  Workshop. There are many facets, components, and
  items to learn in ArcGIS Desktop. This workshop
  is to spark your imagination.

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Review of ArcGIS Desktop
ArcMap
explore and analyze data and make maps
ArcToolbox
tools for GIS tasks
Each Contain
ArcCatalog
manage data
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ArcCatalog Tips and Tricks

• Review of interface functions, toolbars, options
• Thumbnails
• Folder connections
• Working with layers and non-spatial file types
• Search functions
• Basic Customization

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ArcCatalog Review
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ArcCatalog Review
Contents tab shows a list or thumbnail graphics
of folders and files.
The Metadata tab shows information that has been
documented for a dataset.
The Preview tab shows the geographic and tabular
information for a dataset.
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ArcCatalog Create Thumbnails
View Thumbnails
Creates thumbnails. You must be in preview to
create the thumbnail.
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ArcCatalogConnect directly to subfolder

• Remove connection to the C\ drive
• Use the Connect to folder icon to connect
  directly to subfolders you will be accessing.
• Reduces search time of the larger C\ volume.
• Inlcudes these folders in the search function.

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ArcCatalogTools Options Dialog
Select only the necessary file types and entries
you wish ArcCatalog to show.
Uncheck these boxes to save processing time.
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ArcCatalogTools Options Dialog
Add file types that you work with frequently. As
long as these file types are registered in the
windows registry, these files will still be
launched by their respective applications.
Avoid creating duplicate types that are already
supported by ArcGIS Desktop.
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ArcCatalogWorking with Layer Files

• Layer and Group Layer Files
• Can be created in ArcCatalog.
• Help decipher what data looks like without
  opening it in ArcMap.
• Saves time.

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ArcCatalogSearching
Content-Sensitive Help

• Search By
• Name Location
• Geography
• Date
• Advanced

Save search to a new name or overwrite with next
search.
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ArcCatalogSearching
Search Results are listed as shortcuts to the
data.
Index grid showing the bounding extent of results.
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ArcCatalogAdd Functionality

• Add new tools, buttons, and toolbars to the GUI
  with the customize dialog. (Found under the
  Tools menu.)

Oops! To return to default, delete Normal.gxt.
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ArcCatalog

• Demo and Exercise

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ArcToolbox Tips and Tricks

• Review of interface and functions
• Create a new toolbox
• Adding Tools and Models
• Environment Settings
• Documentation of Tools, Models, and Toolboxes

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ArcToolbox

• The number of tools available depends on your
  ArcGIS license
• ArcView supports a core set of GIS tools
• ArcEditor adds more
• ArcInfo provides the most comprehensive set of
  tools

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ArcToolboxCreate a New Toolbox
Make a new toolbox that contains some of your
favorite functions.
Create your own tools through scripting.
Create a Model and place it in your toolbox.
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ArcToolbox
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ArcToolboxDocument Your Tools

• Add author, title, keyword, abstract, and other
  details to help others that plan to share newly
  created tools and models.

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ArcToolbox

• Did you know that you could
• Export models as scripts?
• Write help documentation that can be used for
  helping others to use your tools?

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ArcToolbox

• Demo and Exercise

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ArcMap Tips and Tricks

• Review of Interface
• Keyboard Shortcuts
• Data Frame and Layout Tips
• Labelling Toolbar
• Expressions
• Label Classes
• Set Scale Reference
• Customizing and Adding Functionality

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ArcMap Review
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ArcMap Review

• Display or Layout View
• Table of Contents Tabs
• Display
• Source
• Selection

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ArcMapUse Keyboard Shortcuts

• Menu Commands
• File gt New (CtrlN)
• File gt Open (CtrlO)
• ArcGIS Desktop Help (F1)
• Whats This? (ShiftF1)
• Docking and undocking
• Hold Ctrl while drag
• Drag and drop
• Between data frames and other ArcMap sessions

• Navigate the TOC
• Spacebar toggle on/off
• F2 to rename
• F12 or Enter opens properties dialog
• Mouse Shortcuts
• Ctrlclick on (/-) to expand or contract all
• Ctrl click on check box toggles layer displays

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ArcMapData Frame and Layout Tips

• Set Selectable Layers
• Set Reference Scale
• Use Overview Magnifier instead of zooming in
• Name Layers and each symbol for better legends
• Review Symbology options
• Add an extent rectangle to the layout
• Use Map templates or create your own

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ArcMapData Frame and Layout Tips (cont.)

• Layout Mode Toggle Draft
• Export Options for Maps
• PDF, JPG, TIF, PNG, BMP, EPS (some of these come
  with their respective world files)

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ArcMapLabelling Toolbar

• Provides easier access to all label properties.
• Label ranking
• Label locking
• View unplaced labels

• Maplex Extension
• Easier labelling
• Less time spent

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ArcMapExpressions and Label Classes

• Use SQL Queries to subset your layer for
  labelling.
• Create label classes to allow for different label
  properties within the same layer.
• Use expressions to make labels more accurate.
• Name NAME vbNewLine
• Population POP vbNewline
• Density Round (POP/Area,3)

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ArcMapGeneral

• MXD Defragmentor
• MXD Doctor

• Set Environment settings before using ArcMap
  (indivdual session or global changes)
• Save to relative paths

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ArcMapCustomize or add functionality

• Add existing ArcMap functions to toolbars (ex.
  Pause drawing)
• Download new scripts for buttons and toolbars
• Write your own code and add to toolbars

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ArcMapAdvanced Settings (Global)
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ESRI Resources

• Online Help Documentation
• Software Manuals (PDF) with tutorials

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ESRI Resources

• ArcGIS Developers Kit
• ArcGIS Developer Online (http//arcgisdeveloperonl
  ine.esri.com)
• ...a comprehensive site that contains, free code
  samples, DLLs created by developers at ESRI, and
  much, much more!

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ESRI Resources

• ArcScripts Online (http//arcscripts.esri.com/)
• houses thousands of samples and tools that help
  you search the available samples.
• Search by software type, programming languages,
  and keywords.

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ESRI Resources

• ESRI Knowledge Base (http//support.esri.com/knowl
  edgebase)
• an online warehouse of technical articles,
  white papers, and product documentation gathered
  by ESRI's Technical Support team.
• Although customization is not its main focus, the
  site does contain sections that provide sample
  code and instructions on how to use it.

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ESRI Resources

• User Forums (http//support.esri.com/forums)
• an environment for the ESRI user community to
  ask questions, give answers, and exchange ideas
  related to using ESRI products.
• You can find code samples and solutions to
  challenges you may encounter while customizing
  ArcGIS.

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ESRI Resources

• ESRI Virtual Campus Courses (short list)
• ArcCatalog Tips and Tricks
• Editing Spatial Data in ArcMap Tips and Tricks
• Labeling Tips and Tricks
• ArcGIS Annotation Tips and Tricks
• Customizing ArcGIS 9
• Customizing ArcMap Easy ways to Extend the
  Interface
• The 15-Minute Map Creating a Basic Map in ArcMap
  
• Instructor-Led Courses

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GIS_at_UD

• GIS_at_UD Web Site (http//www.udel.edu/gis/)
• GIS Workshops
• UD-GIS mailing list.
• To subscribe visit http//udel.edu/mailman/listin
  fo/ud-gis
• Questions? Contact
• John Callahan (RDMS), diodata_at_udel.edu
• Christina Callahan (RDMS), tinytina_at_udel.edu
• Shelly McCoy (Morris Library Digital User
  Services), smccoy_at_udel.edu
• Need help? Contact gis-info_at_udel.edu.