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

What's new in ArcGIS 9.2
Migration guides
Getting started
Fundamentals of GIS data

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
Introducing ArcGIS Desktop
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 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
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
Mapping and visualization
An overview of mapping and visualization
Using ArcMap
Working with layers

Adding layers to a 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
GIS service 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
Getting started with laying out and printing maps
Map elements
Grids and graticules
Rulers and guides
Working with data frames in layout view
Creating interactive and paperless maps
Map output
Working with graphs and reports
Editing and data compilation
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
Batch processing with geoprocessing scripts
Messaging and script tools
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
Keeping track of geoprocessing history

An overview of geoprocessing history

History logging and the History toolbox

Managing history

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
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
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
Metadata toolset
To CAD toolset
To Coverage toolset
To dBASE toolset
To Geodatabase toolset
To Raster toolset
To Shapefile toolset
Coverage toolbox

An overview of the Coverage toolbox
Analysis toolset
Conversion toolset
Data Management toolset
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
Linear Referencing toolbox

An overview of the Linear Referencing toolbox

Understanding linear referencing

Creating route data

Creating and editing event data

Linear Referencing sample applications
Tools
Multidimensional toolbox

An overview of the Multidimension toolbox
Tools
Military Analyst toolbox

An overview of the Military Analyst toolbox
Data Management toolset
Geometry toolset
Utilities toolset
Military Overlay Editor toolbox
Network Analyst toolbox
Server 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
Analyzing Patterns toolset
Mapping Clusters toolset
Measuring Geographic Distributions toolset
Utilities toolset
Samples toolbox

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

An overview of geodatabase design

Geodatabase design steps

Using ArcGIS Data Model designs

Documenting your geodatabase design

Modeling feature classes

A note about the use of UML for geodatabase design

Design Tips
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

An overview of working with a geodatabase using SQL

Spatial relationships

Spatial operations

SQL implementation differences
Using spatial types with SQL
SQL functions reference
Data management with ArcCatalog
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 translations
Geoprocessing tools for CAD translation
Common CAD data workflows
Coverages

What is a coverage

Summary of coverage feature classes

Coverage resolution (precision)

How coverages are stored

Creating a new coverage

Understanding and maintaining attributes in a coverage

About fields (items) in coverage attribute tables

Creating a new INFO table

About the coverage extent

Coverage tics

Defining a coverage's coordinate system

Coverage topology

Coverage tolerances

Coverage relationships and relationship classes

Coverage data limitations

Importing an ArcInfo interchange file (E00)
NetCDF: multidimensional, time series data
Raster data
Understanding raster data
Properties of raster data
Designing a raster database
Building and managing a raster database
Raster display and visualization
Raster analysis and geoprocessing
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
Tables and attribute information
Terrains
Extensions
Geocoding and address management
Linear referencing
Network analysis

Using the Network Analyst extension
Analyzing geometric networks
Mobile GIS
Interoperability and standards support
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
Extending ArcGIS desktop applications
Guide to data that comes with ArcGIS
Licensing and desktop administration
ArcGIS Image Server
GIS Servers and services