Collapse all Welcome to ArcGIS Desktop Help Copyright information Acknowledgements GIS Dictionary

What's new in ArcGIS

Getting started

Fundamentals of GIS 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 Core ArcMap toolbars ArcCatalog toolbars Extension toolbars ArcScene toolbars ArcGlobe toolbars ArcReader 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

Getting started with map projections An overview of map projections Projection basics the GIS professional needs to know About the geoid, ellipsoid, spheroid and datum, and how they are related Identifying an unknown coordinate system Converting Degrees Minutes Seconds values to Decimal Degree values Geographic coordinate systems Projected coordinate systems About projected coordinate systems About map projections Projection types Planar projections Conic projections Cylindrical projections Other projections Projection parameters Geographic transformations Geographic transformation methods Equation-based methods Grid-based methods Supported map projections Vertical coordinate systems About vertical coordinate systems Vertical datums Geoid

Mapping and visualization

Editing and data compilation

Tables and attribute information

Understanding tables and attribute information An overview of tables and attribute information About tabular data sources Common tables and attributes tasks Keyboard shortcuts for working with tables Creating tables and managing attribute information Displaying 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 An overview of using tools Using the tool dialog Managing toolboxes Managing tools and toolsets Batch processing Using tools in the command line Tool layers Automating your work with models 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 An overview of documenting tools and toolboxes An overview of the Documentation Editor Entering topics in the Documentation Editor Using the page editor Documenting models Documenting scripts Viewing documentation for tools Changing tool dialog appearance Referencing a compiled help file Exporting tool documentation to an HTML file 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 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 Overview of input and output data considerations Geoprocessing considerations for subtypes Geoprocessing considerations for attribute domains Geoprocessing considerations for shapefile output Geoprocessing considerations for cartographic representations 3D Analyst toolbox Analysis toolbox An overview of the Analysis toolbox Comparison poster of Overlay and Extract tools Analysis toolbox sample applications Extract toolset Overlay toolset Proximity toolset Statistics toolset Business Analyst toolbox An overview of the Business Analyst toolbox Analysis toolset Customer Setup toolset Modeling toolset Reports toolset Segmentation Analysis toolset Segmentation Profiles toolset Store Setup toolset Thematic Maps toolset Trade Areas toolset Cartography toolbox An overview of the Cartography toolbox Cartography toolbox sample applications Graphic Quality toolset Masking toolset Representation Management toolset Symbolization Refinement toolset Conversion toolbox An overview of the Conversion toolbox From Raster toolset From WFS Metadata toolset To CAD toolset To Coverage toolset To dBASE toolset To Geodatabase toolset To Raster toolset To Shapefile toolset To KML toolset Coverage toolbox An overview of the Coverage toolbox Analysis toolset Conversion toolset Data Management toolset Data Interoperability toolbox An overview of the Data Interoperability toolbox Tools 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 Geostatistical Analyst toolbox Linear Referencing toolbox Military Analyst toolbox Mobile toolbox An overview of the Mobile toolbox Tools Military Overlay Editor toolbox An overview of the Military Overlay Editor toolbox Utilities toolset Multidimensional toolbox An overview of the Multidimension toolbox Tools Network Analyst toolbox An overview of the Network Analyst toolbox Analysis toolset Network Dataset toolset Turn Feature Class toolset Server toolbox An overview of the Server toolbox Caching toolset Schematics toolbox Spatial Analyst toolbox Spatial Statistics toolbox Samples toolbox An overview of the Samples toolbox Conversion Data Management Tracking Analyst toolbox Environment Settings Environment settings General settings Cartography settings Coverage settings Geodatabase settings Geostatistical Analysis settings Raster Analysis settings Raster Storage settings Tool errors and warnings

Geodatabases and ArcSDE

An overview of the geodatabase Architecture of a geodatabase Architecture of a geodatabase Geodatabase storage is based on relational principles Where does the application logic belong? The geodatabase is object-relational Geodatabase storage in relational databases Geodatabase transaction management Geodatabase XML Designing a geodatabase Building a geodatabase Data management workflows, transactions, and versioning Getting started with editing and maintaining data Working with non-versioned data Working with versioned data Managing Distributed Data Archiving data Geodatabase data storage and schema Administering ArcSDE geodatabases 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 An overview of working with ST_Geometry storage using SQL Spatial relationships Spatial operations Geometry properties SQL implementation differences for the ST_Geometry type Using spatial types with SQL SQL functions reference

Data management with ArcCatalog

An overview of ArcCatalog About workspaces Getting started with ArcCatalog Starting ArcCatalog Browsing through the Catalog What's in the Catalog Repositioning the Catalog tree Stopping ArcCatalog Building the Catalog Managing the Catalog's contents Exploring an item's geography Searching for items About search results Finding items using the Search tool Searching with geographic criteria Searching with temporal criteria Searching with keywords Working with search results Working with 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 Designing a raster database Design methodology for a raster database Why store rasters in a geodatabase Example raster case studies including the storage decisions Raster datasets as attributes More details about rasters in ArcGIS Building and managing a raster database Raster display and visualization Displaying rasters Adding a raster dataset to a map Adding a raster catalog to a map Saving a raster dataset or catalog layer file About setting default raster display options Choosing which raster formats can be viewed Setting the default bands to display multiband rasters Displaying the raster's spatial resolution Georeferencing a raster dataset Georeferencing video sample Orthorectifying a raster dataset About projecting raster datasets on the fly Improving the display of raster data Color correcting using raster data Working with the histogram when displaying raster data Changing the appearance of background values Symbolizing values of NoData in raster datasets Interactively viewing pixel values using the Pixel Inspector Interactively reveal rasters using the Swipe Layer tool Panchromatic sharpening Performance tuning for displaying raster data Raster analysis and geoprocessing Serving raster data Serving raster data

Data support in ArcGIS

An overview of data support in ArcGIS Data formats supported in ArcGIS CAD data The composition of a CAD drawing Working with CAD data in ArcGIS Displaying CAD features Georeferencing CAD data CAD feature attributes and queries CAD data translation Geoprocessing tools for CAD translation Common CAD data workflows Coverages NetCDF: multidimensional, time series data An overview of netCDF data Understanding netCDF data Working with netCDF data in ArcGIS Shapefiles About shapefiles, dBASE tables, and file types Shapefile file extensions Creating new shapefiles and dBASE tables Adding and deleting fields in shapefiles Creating and updating indexes in shapefiles Defining a shapefile's coordinate system How to salvage a corrupt shapefile Terrains An overview of terrain datasets FAQs for terrain datasets Terrain dataset troubleshooting Known limitations of terrain datasets Understanding terrain datasets Properties of terrain datasets Building terrain datasets Managing terrain datasets Terrain analysis Terrain visualization

Extensions

Geocoding and address management

Linear referencing

Getting started with linear referencing An overview of linear referencing Common tasks in linear referencing Some linear referencing scenarios Linear referencing datasets in ArcGIS Designing a linear referencing system in your geodatabase Creating route feature classes An overview of creating route feature classes Creating route feature classes Defining the measure properties of your m coordinates Using existing linear features to create routes Creating routes from existing lines About calibrating route measures using points Calibrating routes with points Migrating route features to a geodatabase Accessing the Create Routes wizard Accessing the Calibrate Routes wizard Displaying and querying route feature classes An overview of displaying and querying route feature classes Working with route feature classes in ArcMap Setting the route identifier field Querying route feature classes Displaying route measure anomalies About hatching route feature classes Hatching options Displaying hatches Manipulating the text on hatches Working with hatch styles Displaying and querying route events Editing routes Creating and editing event data An overview of creating and editing event data Creating event tables in ArcCatalog About locating features along routes Locating features along routes Editing event tables in ArcMap Working with route event data An overview of working with route event data About overlaying event data Overlaying events About aggregating event data Aggregating route events About transforming event measures Transforming event measures Accessing the Route Events Geoprocessing wizard

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

Interoperability and standards support

Overview of interoperability Overview of OGC and ISO support ESRI protocols and programming interfaces GML support in ArcGIS An overview of GML support in ArcGIS How to work with GML in ArcGIS Using the GML simple features profile Using supported GML profiles Adding new GML profiles Working with WFS within ArcGIS WFS support in ArcGIS WCS support in ArcGIS WMS support in ArcGIS KML support in ArcGIS An overview of KML support in ArcGIS KML elements Why share GIS data as KML? Translating ArcGIS information to KML Preparing your map documents in ArcGIS for KML publishing Creating KML files Serving KML with ArcGIS Server KML examples Using folders to organize KML content Frequently asked questions about KML

Customizing and developing with ArcGIS

An overview of customizing ArcGIS Customizing the user interface About customizing the user interface Basic user interface elements Hiding and showing toolbars Creating custom toolbars Changing a toolbar's or menu's contents Changing a command's appearance Creating shortcut keys Setting toolbar options Saving your customizations Writing macros using VBA Getting started with VBA Creating, editing, and running macros Creating custom commands with VBA and UI Controls Adding custom commands and toolbars from .dlls Updating the ArcID module Locking documents and templates Changing VBA security Sample VBA code Extending ArcGIS desktop applications About extending ArcGIS

Guide to data that comes with ArcGIS

ESRI Data and Maps 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