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Welcome to ArcGIS Desktop Help
Copyright information
Acknowledgements
GIS Dictionary
What's new in ArcGIS

What's new in ArcGIS 9.3

What's new in ArcGIS 9.3.1
Migration guides
Getting started
Map projections and coordinate systems
Getting started with map projections
Geographic coordinate systems

About geographic coordinate systems

Spheroids and spheres

Datums

North American datums

What happens to features at +/-180 (dateline)?

GCS_Assumed_Geographic_1
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

List of supported map projections

Aitoff

Alaska Grid

Alaska Series E

Albers Equal Area Conic

Azimuthal Equidistant

Behrmann Equal Area Cylindrical

Bipolar Oblique Conformal Conic

Bonne

Cassini-Soldner

Chamberlin Trimetric

Craster Parabolic

Cube

Cylindrical Equal Area

Double Stereographic

Eckert I

Eckert II

Eckert III

Eckert IV

Eckert V

Eckert VI

Equidistant Conic

Equidistant Cylindrical

Equirectangular

Fuller

Gall's Stereographic

Gauss-Krüger

Geocentric Coordinate System

Geographic Coordinate System

Gnomonic

Goodes Homolosine

Great Britain National Grid

Hammer-Aitoff

Hotine Oblique Mercator

Krovak

Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area

Lambert Conformal Conic

Local Cartesian Projection

Loximuthal

McBryde-Thomas Flat-Polar Quartic

Mercator

Miller Cylindrical

Mollweide

New Zealand National Grid

Orthographic

Perspective

Plate Carrée

Polar Stereographic

Polyconic

Quartic Authalic

Rectified Skewed Orthomorphic

Robinson

Simple Conic

Sinusoidal

Space Oblique Mercator

State Plane Coordinate System

Stereographic

Times projection

Transverse Mercator

Two-Point Equidistant

Universal Polar Stereographic

Universal Transverse Mercator

Van der Grinten I

Vertical Near-Side Perspective

Winkel I

Winkel II

Winkel Tripel
Vertical coordinate systems

About vertical coordinate systems

Vertical datums

Geoid
Mapping and visualization
An overview of mapping and visualization

An overview of ArcMap

Data frames

Map layers

Symbols and styles

Text on maps

Cartographic representations

Map layouts and map printing

Graphs, reports, and animations

Common tasks within ArcMap

Keyboard shortcuts for use within ArcMap

ArcMap application patterns
Using ArcMap

Layers, data frames, and the table of contents

Starting ArcMap

Creating a new map

Opening a map

Using the table of contents

About coordinate systems and map projections

Specifying a coordinate system

Referencing data in the map

Working with data frames

Pausing the map's drawing

Saving a map and exiting ArcMap

Saving to previous versions of ArcGIS

Keyboard shortcuts in 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
Navigating maps and layout pages
Interacting with maps
Adding graphics and text to maps
Working with graphics
Working with text
Symbolizing data
Animation
Getting started with animation
Animation concepts
Building animations
Playing animations
Editing animations
Saving, exporting, and loading animations
Common animation work flows
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

An overview of GIS Web map layers

Working with ArcGIS Server in ArcGIS Desktop
Using services from ArcGIS Server
Using services from ArcIMS
Using OGC Services
Using KML
Using ArcGIS Online
Using image service layers
Working with service layers in the table of contents
Printing and exporting maps containing service layers
Publishing optimized map services in ArcGIS
Editing and data compilation

An overview of editing and data compilation
Getting started with editing

About editing your geodatabase in ArcMap

Adding the data you want to edit

Editing ArcSDE geodatabases

The structure of vector datasets

Adding the editing toolbars

Starting and stopping an edit session

The sketch construction tools

Using the snapping environment

About setting distance units

Setting direction measuring systems and units

Editing features that have z-values

Shortcut keys for editing in ArcMap

Frequently asked questions about editing
Common editing tasks

Common point editing tasks

Common line editing tasks

Common polygon editing tasks

Common annotation editing tasks

Common multipoint editing tasks

Editing data in a different projection
Creating new features

About creating new features

Creating point features and vertices

Creating lines and polygons

Creating segments using angles and lengths

Creating segments using angles from existing segments

Creating segments that are circular arc curves

Creating segments by tracing features

Creating buffers

Mirroring features

Combining features from different layers

Intersecting features

Merging and separating features

Copying parallel line features

Creating a fillet curve between two lines

Creating cul-de-sac lines

Creating lines with the Traverse window

Creating lines with the 2-Point Line window

Creating lines with the Offset Line window
Editing existing features

Moving features

Rotating features

Copying and pasting features

Deleting features

Adding and deleting vertices

Moving vertices

Editing attribute values of a vertex

Reshaping lines and polygons using a sketch

Splitting polygon features

Splitting line features

Trimming lines

Extending lines

Flipping lines

Scaling features

Clipping features

Stretching a feature's geometry proportionately

Simplifying and smoothing features
Editing attributes
Editing annotation

An overview of editing annotation

Creating new annotation features

Creating and editing annotation that follows features

Editing the size and position of annotation features

Editing annotation in the Attributes dialog box

Editing the appearance of annotation features

Editing feature-linked annotation
Editing dimension features

About editing dimension features

Creating dimension features

Modifying a dimension feature's geometry and style
Using a digitizer

About digitizing

An overview of preparing to digitize

Registering the paper map

Digitizing features on a paper map
Spatial adjustment

An overview of spatial adjustment

Adding the Spatial Adjustment toolbar

Setting up the spatial adjustment

Working with links

Working with link files and control point files

Previewing and performing the adjustment

Transferring attributes between features
Editing topology
Editing relationships and related objects
COGO

An overview of COGO

Common COGO workflows

About COGO descriptions

Adding COGO fields to a feature class

Traverse file format

Offset points file format

Applying a ground to grid correction

Reporting COGO descriptions

Using the Curve Calculator command

Using the COGO Area command

Splitting features into COGO lines
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
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

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
Geoprocessing environments
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

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

An overview of geoprocessing history

History log files

Geoprocessing history in metadata
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
Business Analyst toolbox
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
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
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
Mobile toolbox
Military Overlay Editor toolbox
Multidimensional toolbox
Network Analyst toolbox
Server toolbox

An overview of the Server toolbox
Caching toolset
Schematics toolbox
Spatial Analyst toolbox

An overview of the Spatial Analyst toolbox

Solving problems in Spatial Analyst

Understanding raster data

Performing analysis in Spatial Analyst

Spatial Analyst toolbox sample applications
Conditional toolset
Density toolset
Distance toolset
Extraction toolset
Generalization toolset
Groundwater toolset
Hydrology toolset
Interpolation toolset
Local toolset
Map Algebra toolset
Math toolset
Multivariate toolset
Neighborhood toolset
Overlay toolset
Raster Creation toolset
Reclass toolset
Solar Radiation toolset
Surface toolset
Zonal toolset
Spatial Statistics toolbox

An overview of the Spatial Statistics toolbox

Modeling spatial relationships

Spatial Statistics toolbox sample applications

What is a Z score What is a p-value
Analyzing Patterns toolset
Mapping Clusters toolset
Measuring Geographic Distributions toolset
Modeling Spatial Relationships toolset
Rendering toolset
Utilities toolset
Samples toolbox

An overview of the Samples toolbox
Conversion
Data Management
Tracking Analyst toolbox

An overview of the Tracking Analyst toolbox
Tools
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

An overview of the geodatabase

Essential readings about the geodatabase

Table basics

Feature class basics

Raster basics

Types of geodatabases

Client and geodatabase compatibility

Common geodatabase tasks
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
Creating a geodatabase
Defining the properties of a geodatabase
Adding datasets and other geodatabase elements
Working with geodatabase datasets
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
Working with geodatabases using SQL
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

About folders and file types

Managing folder connections

Creating and accessing geodatabases

Creating spatial database connections

Adding OLE DB connections

About database server connections

About GIS servers and services

Connecting to GIS servers

Working with database connections

Hiding folders and items

Altering the data formats read by ArcCatalog

Working with file types

Accessing delimited text file data
Managing the Catalog's contents

The Contents tab

Working in Details view

Changing the columns in Details view

Modifying the default settings for exploring contents

Exploring an item's properties

Organizing your data

Converting data to a different format
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

Supported raster dataset file formats

Technical specifications for raster dataset formats

About the ESRI Grid format

About MrSID rasters

BIL, BIP, and BSQ raster files

Raster data with subdatasets

Building a customized raster format
Properties of raster data
Designing a raster database
Building and managing a raster database

How raster data is stored in a geodatabase

Exploring geodatabase raster catalogs

Creating raster datasets in a geodatabase

Creating raster catalogs in a geodatabase

Importing raster datasets

Exporting or converting raster datasets

Exporting raster catalogs

Mosaicking raster datasets

Persisting a transformation to a raster dataset without rectifying it

Migrating your 8.x raster catalog

Updating your geodatabase raster catalog footprints

Loading large raster datasets into ArcSDE

Transferring large raster datasets

Building large raster datasets-case studies

Raster data and disconnected editing
Raster display and visualization
Raster analysis and geoprocessing
Serving raster data
Data support in ArcGIS
Extensions

About ArcGIS Desktop extensions

Evaluating ArcGIS Desktop extensions
3D Analyst
Getting started with 3D Analyst
3D Analyst concepts
Creating 3D views
3D surfaces
TIN surfaces
Raster surfaces
Terrain surfaces
3D features
3D navigation
3D navigation tools
Displaying rasters, terrains, and TINs
Displaying features in 3D
3D symbology
Displaying 3D graphics
Interactive 3D analysis tools
Geoprocesing with 3D Analyst
Data Interoperability
ArcGIS for AutoCAD

What is ArcGIS for AutoCAD?

Who should use ArcGIS for AutoCAD

Installation

What is ArcGIS Online?
Map service layers
Feature class layers
Coordinate systems
Customization
Tutorial
Troubleshooting
ArcGIS Publisher
ArcScan
ArcSketch
Business Analyst
About ArcGIS Business Analyst
Business Analyst toolbar
Projects and Data Organization
Study Areas
Adding data to Business Analyst
Trade Areas - no customer data required
Trade Areas - customer data required
Trade Areas - monitor and manage
Analysis
Modeling
Tools
Tools - Geoprocessing in Business Analyst
Business Analyst Preferences
Working with maps
Reports - general
Reports - point and ranking based
Documentation - USA Data
Documentation - Canada Data
Business Analyst Server
Territory Design
Geostatistical Analyst
JTX
Maplex
Military Analyst
Military Overlay Editor

About MOLE

What's new in this release

Installation and setup

Accessing the Installing and Getting Started with Defense Solutions guide

MOLE documentation and additional ways to get help
Using MOLE with 2D maps
Using MOLE with 3D maps
The MOLE geodatabase schema
Using MOLE in terrain analysis
Tracking, real-time, and MOLE
Using MOLE with ArcSDE
Using MOLE with ArcIMS
Other ESRI applications compatible with MOLE
Advanced topics
Frequently asked questions
Network Analyst
Getting started with Network Analyst
Network dataset concepts
Designing the network dataset
Building and editing the network dataset
Performing network analysis
Migrating to ArcGIS Network Analyst
Network Analyst tools reference
PLTS
Schematics
Spatial Analyst
Getting started with Spatial Analyst
Solving spatial problems
Performing analysis in Spatial Analyst
The Raster Calculator
Analysis concepts
Spatial Analyst functional reference
Survey Analyst
Tracking Analyst
Getting started with Tracking Analyst
Working with temporal data
Symbolizing temporal data
Displaying temporal data
Tracking Tools
Charting temporal data
Creating and applying actions
Working with real-time data
Geocoding and address management
Linear referencing
Network analysis
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

Getting started with ArcMap GPS Support

Adding the GPS toolbar

Connecting to a GPS device

Simulating a connection to a GPS device

Using the GPS Position window

Changing the display options

Keeping the current location in the view

Adding a destination

Writing GPS locations to a log
Tablet PC
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

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

An overview of WFS support in ArcGIS

Adding support for WFS in ArcGIS Desktop

How to work with WFS using ArcGIS Desktop
WCS support in ArcGIS
WMS support in ArcGIS
KML support in ArcGIS
Customizing and developing with ArcGIS

An overview of customizing ArcGIS
Customizing the user interface
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
Guide to data that comes with ArcGIS
Licensing and desktop administration
GIS Servers and services