TASK

HOW TO

Open ArcMap

Start/ Programs/ArcGIS/ArcMap.

Open ArcCatalog

Start/ Programs/ArcGIS/ArcMap or the ArcMap icon that looks like a world coming out of a file cabinet.

Save Map Document

File/ Save or the Save icon.

This function creates an .mxd file, which only contains instructions for displaying spatial data.  It does NOT save feature data, raster images, or create a map image.

Add Data

File/ Add Data, or the yellow icon with the black plus sign.

Coverage Data

Coverages are native to Arc/INFO.  They are formatted as a single subdirectory with the coverage name, and another subdirectory named INFO.  Within both of these subdirectories are a multitude of various files that make up the coverage.  Coverages can be viewed in ArcMap, but must be converted to Shapefiles or Geodatabases to be edited.

Shapefile Data

Shapefiles contain feature data, which are vector files expressed as either points, lines, or polygons.  Shapefiles are native to ArcView but can be viewed and edited in ArcMap.  They exist as 3-7 different files including .shp (features), .dbf (attributes), and .shx (index).

Raster Data

Raster data includes ERDAS Imagine (*.img) files, Arc/INFO GRIDs, GeoTiffs (*.tif), JPEGs (*.jpg), and many others.  ArcMap recognizes these formats automatically if it can view them.

Start/ All Programs/ ArcGIS/ Desktop Administrator

Import Arc/INFO Interchange File

An ESRI Interchange File (*.e00) is a text file that allows for Arc/INFO Coverages to be sent via FTP or email. Often they are within compressed files (*.zip, *.gz, or *.Z), which must first be uncompressed using Windows compression utilities such as WinZip.  To use the interchange files, they must first be Imported to a Coverage. 

If you are running the ArcInfo module, you can import interchange files from the Toolbox:

Coverage Tools/ Conversion/ To Coverage/ Import From Interchange File. 

If you are running ArcView, you can import .e00 files in ArcCatalog.  First you must acquire the toolset by displaying the ArcView 8.x toolbar:

View/ Toolbars/ ArcView 8.x Tools

Then you select the Import from Interchange File dialog from the toolbar.  Be sure to define the output coverage directory and filename.

Examine Data Properties

For each data layer you add to a Data Frame in ArcMap, you can view the properties by selecting the data frame name, and right-click/Properties.  Several tabs are available for examining the source files, spatial projection, attributes, and symbology.

Examine Data Frame Properties

The Data Frame itself has properties as well as individual data layers.  The Data Frame adopts the projection system of the first data layer added in.  You may want to reset the Data Frame Coordinate System by right-clicking on the Layer name and selecting Properties (Coordinate System tab).

Change Layer Symbology

Right-click on Layer Name, select Properties, Symbology tab.

Re-order Layers

Select and drag Layer Name up or down in table of contents.

Show/Hide Layers

Turn on/off display check box in table of contents.

Open ArcToolbox

Window/ArcToolbox in ArcMap, or the red icon that looks like a toolbox.

Create New Shapefile

In ArcCatalog, File/New/Shapefile.  Be sure to name the shapefile, designate the vector type (point, line, or polygon), and set the projection information by Editing the Spatial Reference (See Define Projection below). 

Create Shapefile Attributes

After creating a new shapefile, in ArcCatalog, Right-click/Properties, and add attribute field names and data types.  If new fields cannot be added, you may need to close the shapefile if it is open in ArcMap. If that doesn't work, you can Add Fields from the Attribute Table in ArcMap.

Import GPS Coordinates or other Spatial Data into a Point Feature Shapefile

Tabular data containing point locations and attributes can be quickly imported into ArcMap and saved as a shapefile or layer:

Tools/ Add XY Data

If for some reason that doesn't work, here is the long method.  Make sure you know the Projection & Datum that the GPS unit is set to (a standard is Geographic DMS, WGS84).  Create an Excel spreadsheet with column headings for ID, X (long.), and Y (lat.), plus any other attributes you want to import.  Remember that Longitude in the Western Hemisphere is negative.  Save the data as Excel first (*.xls); be sure to Format Cells for the correct number of decimal places and select the text you want to keep.  Export (Save As...) the Excel spreadsheet to DBF 4 (dBASE IV) format (*.dbf).  Excel can be very stubborn about this conversion so make sure that it worked.  If it refuses to work, Save As... to a Text (*.txt) file instead, and follow the directions below.

Add Data to get the DBF or TXT file into ArcGIS.  Examine it to make sure it worked.  Right-click on the filename to Display XY Data and Edit the Spatial Reference of Input Coordinates to set the Projection and Datum.  Check to make sure points are in correct location and Export/Data the Event Theme to create a Shapefile.  You can then Define Projection if still needed, and attach more attributes from another file.

Import Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks from Garmin MapSource

In Garmin Map Source:
Transfer/Receive from Device to import GPS waypoints, tracks, and routes
Export to DXF (this will export all points, not just those selected).  Choose between Geographic or UTM coordinates and set XY Scale = 1.

In ArcGIS:
Add Data/double-click inside DXF folder to open the point or line feature type.  Right-click/Data/Export to Shapefile.

Import Attributes from a Table and Join to an existing Feature Set

Load the feature file into ArcGIS.  Its attribute table must contain a unique numeric ID field that relates precisely to the join table.  Load the join table into ArcGIS as a DBF or TXT table.  Right-click on the feature shapefile filename/Joins and Relates/Join.  Join attributes from a table; select the ID field in the feature, the join table, and the ID field in the join table.  The Join is a part of the ArcMap Document; if you want the join to be permanent as a new shapefile, Data/Export Data to create a new shapefile.

Edit Shapefiles

Load shapefile into ArcMap.  View/Toolbars/Editor.  From Editor toolbar, choose Start Editing, and make sure that the Target is set to the proper shapefile.  Use the Sketch Tool to create features, or the Vertex Tool to modify existing features. 

Create Features

The Sketch Tool allows you to make points, lines, and polygons.  You must be sure to specify the Task and the Target.   

Snapping

To set the Snapping Environment, select Editor/Snapping, and check on/off boxes for Vertex, Edge, and/or End snapping.  Then select Editor/Options, and specify the Snapping Tolerance.

Attribute Features

Attribute Fields must be added in ArcCatalog or ArcMap before attributes can be attached to point, line, or polygon features.  Be sure to select the correct attribute data type.

Once you are editing, you can input string or numeric data within each field for a selected feature.  After creating a feature, click on the Attribute icon on the Editor toolbar, or keep the Attribute Table open.  Type the attribute into the field for that feature. 

Modify Features

Modify points, lines, and polygons by adding, deleting or moving vertices.  Select the Vertex Tool and set the Task = Modify Feature.  The feature must be selected before vertices can be moved.  Add or delete a vertex by Right-clicking on the selected line or polygon.

Cut lines using the Split Tool, which is the icon just to the right of the Target on the Editor Toolbar.  Select the line segment first, and then choose the Split Tool and click at the point you want to split the line.  You can use snapping and view the vertices by holding down the 'v' key.

Cut polygons into pieces using 'Cut Polygon Features' in the Editor Task bar.  Be sure to have the polygon you want to cut selected, and use the Sketch Tool to draw a new border inside the polygon.  Start the line and finish it outside the polygon; both new polygons will have the same attributes.

Identify

Select Identify icon from
Tools toolbar (round blue dot with ‘i’) 

Measure

Select Measure icon from Tools toolbar (ruler with ?) 

Calculate/update line length

Right-click the shapefile layer you want to edit and click Open Attribute Table.

Right-click the field heading for length and click Calculate Values.

If there is no field for length values, you can add a new field for length by clicking the Options button and selecting Add Field.

1. Click Calculate Values.

2. Check Advanced.

3. Type the following VBA statement in the first text box:

4. Dim dblLength as double
   Dim pCurve as ICurve
   Set pCurve = [shape]
   dblLength = pCurve.Length

5. Type the variable dblLength in the text box directly under the length field name.

6. Click OK.

Note: Geodatabases automatically calculate line lengths and polygon areas and perimeters.

Add/Update Polygon Area

Spatial Statistics Tools/Utilities/Calculate Areas.  ArcGIS requires you to create a new feature class if you use this tool. 

There is another way to do it in an attribute table, similar to the example above for calculating line length.

Note: Geodatabases automatically calculate line lengths and polygon areas and perimeters.

Select

Select Features icon in Tools toolbar (white arrow with blue and white polygons) 

Attribute Query

Selection/Select by Attributes.  The SQL expression you create allows you a wide range of options.  Be certain to select the correct Method to achieve the correct results.

Location Query

Selection/Select by Location.  Again, the options are very specific, and you may need to experiment with the settings to achieve the desired results.  Adding a buffer can allow for digitizing errors.

Export Data to Shapefile

With the desired features selected (highlighted in view and in attribute table), Right-click on Layer Name/Data/Export Data.  Choose whether to export all or just the selected features.

Clip

ArcToolbox/Analysis Tools/Extract/Clip 

Intersect

ArcToolbox/Analysis Tools/Overlay/Intersect 

Union

ArcToolbox/Analysis Tools/Overlay/Union 

Buffer

ArcToolbox/Analysis Tools/Proximity/Buffer 

Define Projection

Data Management Tools/Projections and Transformations/ Define Project.  The projection and datum are chosen using the Spatial Reference Properties dialog.  Use the Select button to choose a predefined projection system, or Import the system from another data layer.

Reproject Shapefile

Data Management Tools/Projections and Transformations/ Feature/Project.  A data layer must have a projection defined before it can be re-projected to another projection or datum.  The projection and datum are chosen using the Spatial Reference Properties dialog.  Use the Select button to choose a predefined projection system, or Import the system from another data layer.  For conversion between NAD27 and NAD83, use the Geographic Transformation 'NAD_1927_To_NAD_1983_NADCON' for the conterminus U. S.

Map Generation

In ArcMap, View/Layout View. Be sure to set Page Size using File/Page and Print Setup.

Insert Map Features

Insert necessary Title, Text, Neatline, Legend, North Arrow, Scalebar, Scale text using Insert menu.  

Export Map

File/Export Map.  The default is a Windows Metafile (*.wmf), but generally you should export maps to JPG (*.jpg) format.  If the map  has a lot of text, you might use the GIF (*.gif) format instead.  You can set the output pixel density to maintain file size (set to 75 dpi for web images and at least 200 dpi for print images).

Examine Metadata

If HTML metadata isn’t attached to the shapefile or coverage as a separate file, be sure to examine the Metadata tab in ArcCatalog for that data layer.  Many newer data layers have metadata stored inside the layer as XML (*.xml) metadata.  You can create, edit, and export metadata files.  You may also import a template metadata to add to a new coverage.