How symbology works in ArcPad

ArcPad has two levels of symbology: simple and complex. Simple symbology refers to the basic style of the symbol. For example, a line layer’s simple symbology can be set in ArcPad as a dashed line, a thickness of three pixels, and the color red. Complex symbology refers to symbology that is specified using a choice of marker (point), line, and fill (polygon) symbols from standard Style sheets or in the ArcPad Layer file (.apl) using the ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS Desktop. ArcPad supports most of the symbols available in ArcGIS Desktop therefore making the transition from your desktop GIS to the field much easier.

Simple symbology

Simple symbology is specified and changed in ArcPad using the Point, Line, or Polygon Style page of the Symbol Properties dialog box. The Symbol Properties dialog box is accessed via the Legend in the Table of Contents, the Symbology tab in the Layer Properties dialog box, or via the Symbology page in the Feature Properties dialog box.

The Style page can be defined for point (marker), line, and polygon (fill) layers. Once the style is set for a layer or for a subset of features within a layer, all the features in that category will have the same symbol.

The following styles can be set depending on the type of layer:

Point Layer: In ArcPad, you can set the point marker to be a circle, square, triangle, cross, star, or diamond. In addition, you can set the outline color, the fill color, and the size of the marker.
Line Layer: In ArcPad, you can set the line style to be solid, dash, dot, dash dot, or dash dot dot. In addition, you can set the thickness and the color of the line.
Polygon Layer: In ArcPad, you can set the polygon to be filled or unfilled. In addition, you can set the outline style (solid, dash, dot, dash dot, dash dot dot), thickness, and color, as well as the fill color of the polygon.

Use the Set to Default Point (Line, Polygon) Style button to clear any symbology setting for the layer before setting new simple symbology settings.

Complex symbology

ArcPad supports a wide range of complex symbols making the transition from your desktop to the field much easier. With the capbility to use the same symbology from your desktop GIS in the field with ArcPad, you can maintain a mapping standard across your office and mobile GIS applications.

ArcGIS Desktop (ArcView 9, ArcEditor 9, or ArcInfo 9) includes more than 18,000 predefined symbols, the majority of which can be used in ArcPad either via predefined styles or via styles exported with the ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS Desktop

Working with styles and symbols

Styles are a collection of predefined colors, symbols, and properties of symbols that allow you to maintain a mapping standard and promote consistency in your organization’s mapping products, whether you are working on the desktop or in the field. By default, ArcPad includes the text, marker, line, and fill symbols from the ESRI.Style, allowing you to select from an extensive list of commonly used symbols. Changes to symbology can be made directly in ArcPad with the use of Styles.

In addition, you can create your own styles or export any of the other styles that are available in ArcGIS Desktop including commonly used symbols for conservation, forestry, and utility applications or projects. This gives you field access to almost all of the symbology available in your desktop GIS applications. Refer to Using ArcMap for more information about styles and the range of symbols supported by ArcGIS Desktop.

Exporting symbology from ArcGIS Desktop

Complex symbology can also be created by exporting the legend information from ArcGIS Desktop to an ArcPad Layer file (.apl) using the ‘Export shapefile symbology for ArcPad’ or the ‘Get Data for ArcPad’ tools in the ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS Desktop. This enables a seamless integration between the maps you create on your desktop to ArcPad and the field. Refer to ‘ArcPad Data Manager for ArcGIS’ section for more information on how to export symbolgy from ArcGIS Desktop.