Collapse all

Welcome to ArcGIS Desktop Help
Copyright information
Acknowledgements
GIS Dictionary
What's new in ArcGIS
Getting started
Fundamentals of GIS

Three views of GIS

How maps convey geographic information

Georeferencing and coordinate systems

Elements of geographic information

How GIS represents and organizes geographic information

How ArcGIS users work with geographic information

Users work with many data types and data formats in ArcGIS

Comparing Geoprocessing and Spatial Analysis
Introducing ArcGIS Desktop

What is ArcGIS 9.3

An overview of ArcGIS Desktop

Using ArcGIS Desktop

Mapping and visualization in ArcMap

The geodatabase

Workspace and dataset management with ArcCatalog

Data compilation and editing

Geoprocessing and analysis

Tips and tricks within ArcGIS
Tutorials
Toolbars
Getting more help

Using this Help system

Getting help within the applications

ArcGIS Desktop Resource Center

ArcGIS Desktop Documentation Library

Accessing ESRI Software Training

Using the GIS Dictionary

Contacting Technical Support

Support for users located outside the United States

Contacting ESRI
Map projections and coordinate systems
Mapping and visualization
An overview of mapping and visualization
Using ArcMap
Working with layers

Adding layers to a map

Adding a layer package to your map

Adding x,y coordinate data as a layer

Changing a layer's drawing order

Changing a layer's text description

Setting layer properties

Managing group layers

Saving a layer to disk

Copying layers

Displaying layers at certain scales

Displaying a subset of features in a layer

Repairing broken data links

Viewing a layer's metadata in ArcMap

Setting HTML pop-up properties for feature layers
Navigating and interacting with maps
Adding graphics and text to maps
Symbolizing data
Applying symbology
Styles and symbols
Animation
Using cartographic representations
Page layout and map composition
Working with graphs and reports
Looking at data with graphs
(Pre-ArcGIS 9.2) Looking at data with graphs
Creating reports
Working with web maps in ArcGIS
Publishing optimized map services in ArcGIS
Editing and data compilation
Tables and attribute information
Geoprocessing

What is geoprocessing?

A whirlwind tour of geoprocessing

Geoprocessing tools

Geoprocessing framework

Frequently Asked Questions about geoprocessing
Fundamental tool concepts

An introduction to the fundamental tools

Overlay analysis

Proximity analysis

Table analysis and management

Surface creation and analysis

Statistical analysis

Extracting data
Using geoprocessing tools
Automating your work with models

An overview of models

Opening ModelBuilder

Creating a simple model

Saving a model
Model concepts and terms
Using ModelBuilder
Controlling the flow of processing
Model Iteration
Automating your work with scripts

An overview of writing geoprocessing scripts
Getting started with writing geoprocessing scripts
Accessing tools within a geoprocessing script
Creating script tools
Batch processing with geoprocessing scripts
Data properties and access when scripting
Working with AMLs
Scripting object: Properties and Methods
Geoprocessing environments

An overview of geoprocessing environments

Environment levels and hierarchy

Script environments

Specifying application environment settings

Specifying tool environment settings

Specifying model environment settings

Specifying model process environment settings
Environment categories
Documenting tools and toolboxes
Sharing tools and toolboxes

An overview of sharing tools and toolboxes

Methods for distributing tools

Pathnames explained: Absolute, relative, UNC, and URL

A structure for sharing tools

Sharing and connecting to UNC pathnames

Accessing ArcSDE data in tools

Techniques for sharing Python scripts

Managing intermediate data in shared models

Sharing stylesheets

Checklist for sharing tools and toolboxes
Geoprocessing with ArcGIS Server

An overview of geoprocessing with ArcGIS Server

Key concepts for geoprocessing services

Guide to related geoprocessing with server topics

Input and output data types

Creating models for geoprocessing services

Preparing map documents containing tool layers

Defining output symbology for geoprocessing tasks

Defining symbology for input feature sets

Publishing geoprocessing services

Managing the jobs directory

Deploying services on multiple computers - LocalJobsDirectory

Data access considerations for geoprocessing tasks

Creating tasks for the UNIX/Linux environment

Creating script tools for geoprocessing tasks

Using geoprocessing tasks in Python scripts

Spatial reference considerations for geoprocessing services

Performance tips for geoprocessing services

Checklist for authoring and publishing geoprocessing services

Python scripts to zip and unzip data
Geoprocessing service examples
Keeping track of geoprocessing history
Advanced modeling through simulations
Geoprocessing tool reference

An overview of commonly used tools

Geoprocessing commands quick reference guide

Licensing for geoprocessing tools

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters
Input and output data considerations
3D Analyst toolbox
Analysis toolbox
Business Analyst toolbox
Cartography toolbox
Conversion toolbox
Coverage toolbox
Data Interoperability toolbox
Data Management toolbox

An overview of the Data Management toolbox
Data Comparison toolset
Database toolset
Disconnected Editing toolset
Distributed Geodatabase toolset
Domains toolset
Feature Class toolset
Features toolset
Fields toolset
File Geodatabase toolset
General toolset
Generalization toolset
Indexes toolset
Joins toolset
Layers and Table Views toolset
Projections and Transformations toolset
Raster toolset
Relationship Classes toolset
Subtypes toolset
Table toolset
Topology toolset
Versions toolset
Workspace toolset
Geocoding toolbox

An overview of the Geocoding toolbox

Understanding geocoding

Preparing for geocoding

Building an address locator

Locating addresses

Keeping an address locator current

Distributing your address locator

Geocoding toolbox sample applications
Tools
Geostatistical Analyst toolbox

An overview of the Geostatistical Analyst toolbox

Understanding geostatistical analysis

Working with a geostatistical layer

Creating a grid from a geostatistical layer

Geostatistical Analyst toolbox sample applications

Parallel processing with multiple CPUs
Tools
Linear Referencing toolbox
Military Analyst toolbox

An overview of the Military Analyst toolbox
Analysis toolset
Data Management toolset
Geometry toolset
Utilities toolset
Mobile toolbox

An overview of the Mobile toolbox
Tools
Military Overlay Editor toolbox
Multidimensional toolbox

An overview of the Multidimension toolbox
Tools
Network Analyst toolbox
Server toolbox
Schematics toolbox
Spatial Analyst toolbox
Spatial Statistics toolbox
Samples toolbox
Tracking Analyst toolbox
Environment Settings
Tool errors and warnings
Geodatabases and ArcSDE
An overview of the geodatabase
Architecture of a geodatabase
Designing a geodatabase
Building a geodatabase
Data management workflows, transactions, and versioning
Geodatabase data storage and schema
Administering ArcSDE geodatabases

An overview of ArcSDE geodatabase administration

What is ArcSDE?

Administering ArcSDE for DB2

Administering ArcSDE for Informix

Administering ArcSDE for Oracle

Administering ArcSDE for PostgreSQL

Administering ArcSDE for SQL Server

Administering a database server
Installing and upgrading the ArcSDE component
Configuring an ArcSDE geodatabase
Creating and administering user accounts

An overview of user accounts

Adding users to an ArcSDE geodatabase

Adding and removing users or groups for ArcSDE database servers

Grouping users by access needs

The ArcSDE administrative account

User permissions

Administering user permissions for ArcSDE database servers

Granting and revoking privileges on datasets
Connecting to an ArcSDE geodatabase
Maintaining a geodatabase
Tuning an ArcSDE geodatabase
Scaling and moving your geodatabase
Administering File and Personal geodatabases

An overview of administering file and personal geodatabases

File geodatabases: compressing vs. compacting

Compacting file and personal geodatabases

About compressing file geodatabase data

Upgrading file and personal geodatabases

File geodatabases and Windows Explorer

File geodatabase size and name limits

File geodatabases and locking
Working with geodatabases using SQL
Data management with ArcCatalog

An overview of ArcCatalog

About workspaces
Getting started with ArcCatalog
Building the Catalog
Managing the Catalog's contents
Exploring an item's geography
Searching for items
Working with metadata

About metadata

Metadata standards and the ArcGIS metadata format

ArcGIS support for the ISO 19139 metadata standard

Exploring an item's metadata

Changing the default stylesheet

Printing metadata

Creating and updating metadata

Metadata synchronization

Writing metadata documentation

Importing and exporting metadata with ArcCatalog

Importing and exporting metadata

Editing metadata

Using the FGDC metadata editor

Using the ISO metadata editor

Managing enclosures

Requirements for publishing metadata to an ArcIMS Metadata Service

Adding information required by the ArcIMS Metadata Service

Publishing metadata to an ArcIMS Metadata Service

Managing published metadata documents

Changing a published document's properties

Adding custom places to a Gazetteer Metadata Service

Customizing metadata
Image and raster data management
Understanding raster data

What is raster data?

Raster bands

Cell size of raster data

Representing features in a raster dataset

Discrete and continuous data

Raster dataset zones and regions

Raster dataset attribute tables

Raster data organization

Gathering basic raster dataset information
Supported raster data
Properties of raster data

About raster dataset properties

Raster pyramids

Raster dataset statistics

Raster compression

About reduced resolution dataset files

About auxiliary files

About proxy files

Defining a raster's coordinate system

Raster dataset colormaps

Bit depth capacity for raster dataset cells

NoData in raster datasets

World files for raster datasets
Designing a raster database
Building and managing a raster database
Raster display and visualization
Raster analysis and geoprocessing

About analyzing raster data

Making selections using the geodatabase raster catalog

Raster conversion

Core geoprocessing tools for raster data

About environment settings for raster data

Specifying raster storage environment settings

Specifying raster analysis environment settings

Specifying the snap raster environment setting
Serving raster data
Serving raster data
Data support in ArcGIS
Extensions
Geocoding and address management
Linear referencing
Network analysis

Using the Network Analyst extension
Analyzing geometric networks

What is a geometric network?
Creating and managing geometric networks
Editing geometric networks
Analyzing geometric networks
Mobile GIS

An overview of Mobile GIS
ArcGIS Mobile integration

Introduction to ArcGIS Mobile

Design and create Mobile maps

Building effective data models for field data collection

Deploying maps to mobile devices

Managing field updates using ArcGIS Desktop

Geoprocessing support for ArcGIS Mobile
GPS
Tablet PC

An overview of Tablet PC technology

Adding the Tablet toolbar

Pen tool

Highlighter tool

Eraser tool

Commands on the Tablet toolbar
ArcPad integration

An overview of ArcPad

Adding the ArcPad toolbar

About managing data in ArcPad

Getting data for ArcPad

Checking in edits from ArcPad

Undoing a checkout for editing
Interoperability and standards support

Overview of interoperability

Overview of OGC and ISO support

ESRI protocols and programming interfaces
GML support in ArcGIS
WFS support in ArcGIS
WCS support in ArcGIS
WMS support in ArcGIS
KML support in ArcGIS
Customizing and developing with ArcGIS
Guide to data that comes with ArcGIS
ESRI Data and Maps
Getting started with ESRI Data and Maps
United States (census)
United States (hydrography)
United States (landmarks)
United States (transportation)
United States (other)
StreetMap North America
World
Europe
Mexico
Elevation and image data
Working with StreetMap data
Getting started with StreetMap
Geocoding addresses with StreetMap North America data
Finding a route using StreetMap North America data
Licensing and desktop administration

Administering the ArcGIS License Manager

Setting up license managers for ArcGIS 93 concurrent use products

Checking license availability

Viewing and changing the license manager

Common license manager problems and how to solve them

Setting the software product

Registering ArcView or ArcEditor and extensions

Evaluating an ArcGIS Desktop extension

Error reporting for ArcGIS software crash data

Frequently asked questions about error reporting
GIS Servers and services

An overview of GIS servers used with ArcGIS
Using ArcIMS with ArcGIS Desktop
Using ArcGIS Server with ArcGIS Desktop
Authoring and publishing services for ArcGIS Server

An overview of authoring and publishing services

Data access considerations for ArcGIS Server

Publishing resources
Administering ArcGIS Server with ArcCatalog

Overview of ArcGIS Server administration in ArcCatalog

Connecting to a GIS server

Running ArcCatalog under a different operating system account

Adding a server object container

Adding a new service

Adding multiple services at once

Removing a service

Starting, stopping, and pausing services

Displaying server statistics

Creating a server directory

Specifying the log file location

Using a proxy server to connect to the Internet

Setting the capacity of a server object container

Creating a map cache

Publishing a resource to ArcGIS Server

Creating a globe cache

Adding and removing folders
Creating and publishing web maps for ArcGIS Server