Collapse all Welcome to ArcGIS Desktop Help Copyright information GIS Dictionary

What's new in ArcGIS

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 What is ArcGIS 9.2 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 ArcGIS Desktop extensions Tips and tricks within ArcGIS Tutorials Toolbars Core ArcMap toolbars ArcCatalog toolbars Extension toolbars ArcScene toolbars ArcGlobe toolbars ArcReader toolbars Getting more help

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 About geographic coordinate systems Spheroids and spheres Datums North American datums What happens to features at +/-180 (dateline)? Projected coordinate systems Geographic transformations Supported map projections Vertical coordinate systems

Mapping and visualization

An overview of mapping and visualization An overview of ArcMap Data frames Map layers Symbols and styles Text Cartographic representations Map layouts and map printing Graphs, reports, and animations Common tasks within ArcMap Shortcuts for common tasks within ArcMap 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 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

Editing and data compilation

An overview of editing and data compilation Getting started with editing Common editing tasks 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 Editing attributes Editing annotation Editing dimension features Using a digitizer About digitizing An overview of preparing to digitize Registering the paper map Digitizing features on a paper map Spatial adjustment Editing topology Editing relationships and related objects COGO

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 Creating a simple model Model concepts and terms Using ModelBuilder Controlling the flow of processing Model Iteration Automating your work with scripts 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 Managing intermediate data Accessing ArcSDE data in tools Sharing Python modules Sharing tools on an ArcGIS Server Keeping track of geoprocessing history Advanced modeling through simulations

Geoprocessing tool reference

Geodatabases and ArcSDE

An overview of the Geodatabase Architecture of a geodatabase 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 How geodatabases are stored in a DBMS Feature geometry and raster data storage Inside a geodatabase in Oracle Inside a geodatabase in SQL Server Inside a geodatabase in DB2 Inside a geodatabase in Informix Administering ArcSDE geodatabases An overview of ArcSDE geodatabase administration What is ArcSDE? Installing and upgrading ArcSDE Configuring an ArcSDE geodatabase Creating and administering user accounts 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 personal geodatabases File geodatabases and the file system 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 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 Understanding terrain datasets Designing and managing terrain datasets Geoprocessing and terrain analysis

Extensions

3D Analyst ArcGIS Data Interoperability extension An overview of the ArcGIS Data Interoperability extension Key concepts of the Data Interoperability Extension Using the Data Interoperability Extension tools Common tasks using the Data Interoperability Extension ArcGIS Publisher ArcScan Business Analyst Geostatistical Analyst Maplex Getting started with Maplex Using Maplex to set label positions Label fitting strategies Resolving label conflicts Military Analyst Getting started with Military Analyst What's new in Military Analyst 9.2 Data Management Coordinate tool Terrain Analysis tools Geodesy tools The conversion tools MA catalog wireframe symbology Military Analyst in ArcGlobe Military Analyst tools reference Military Overlay Editor About MOLE What's new in this release Installation and setup Accessing the MOLE getting started guide MOLE documentation and additional ways to get help MOLE considerations for ArcView users 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 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 What's new in PLTS for ArcGIS Getting started with PLTS Managing hard-copy and data products Creating geodatabases with PLTS Creating features Editing features in PLTS for ArcGIS Editing feature attributes in PLTS Symbolizing data (PLTS) Validating data with GIS Data Reviewer Generating grids with the Grid Manager Creating map series with MPS-Atlas Working with cartographic elements in PLTS Geoprocessing in PLTS for ArcGIS PLTS for ArcGIS Aeronautical Solution PLTS for ArcGIS Defense Solution PLTS for ArcGIS Nautical Solution PLTS for ArcGIS product specification development Schematics Spatial Analyst Survey Analyst An overview of Survey Analyst Survey Editor Cadastral Editor 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

Getting started with geocoding An overview of geocoding Definition of the address locator Understanding geocoding Preparing for geocoding Building an address locator Locating addresses Additional geocoding techniques Keeping an address locator current Distributing your address locator Deciding to share an address locator Collecting address locators Making your address locator public Accessing distributed address locators Sharing pre-9.2 address locators Adjusting your address locator file Exploring the address locator file Why change your address locator file? Changing default settings Changing default settings in the address locator template file Table schema and the locator file Accommodating alternative reference table schema Modifying the query Accommodating changes in the geocoding rule base files Address Locator Properties dialog box About StreetMap data About StreetMap data

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

GPS Tablet PC An overview of Tablet PC technology ArcGIS and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 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

Customizing and developing with ArcGIS

An overview of customizing ArcGIS Customizing the user interface Writing macros using VBA Extending ArcGIS desktop applications

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 USA World Europe Canada Mexico Elevation and image data Working with StreetMap data

Licensing and desktop administration

Administering the ArcGIS License Manager 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

ArcGIS Image Server

About the ArcGIS Image Server Configuration and licensing Designing an image service About the image service and the definition file About the image service properties About the service table Pixel size ranges used Supported raster data file types About the ArcGIS Image Server process chain About the raster process definition About combining service definitions Creating an image service Adding the Image Service Editor toolbar Working with the Image Service Editor The workflow to create an image service Creating a new image service About the New Image Service Wizard parameters Making a copy of an image service Descriptions of the image service properties The image service file structure Working with image service group layers Working with raster data in a service Adding and removing raster data in a service About the Add Data Wizard parameters Selecting rasters in a service An overview of raster properties Working with transparency in an image service Working with the image service Image service processes Publishing and administering the ArcGIS Image Server ArcGIS Image Server Seamline extension ArcGIS Image Server Ortho extension About the ArcGIS Image Server Ortho extension The orthorectification parameters Using an elevation image service as the DEM input ArcGIS Image Server workflows ArcGIS Image Server Clients Image Server Viewer Image Server ArcGIS Clients Image Server MicroStation Client Image Server AutoCAD Client

GIS Servers and services

An overview of GIS services Servers and the services they provide User, author, administrator, and developer roles Types of ArcIMS services Types of services in ArcGIS Server WMS service Using GIS Services in ArcGIS Desktop applications Thinking about maps in web-enabled GIS applications Understanding map caches in ArcGIS Managing server connections in the GIS Servers folder Authoring and publishing services Administering ArcGIS Server with ArcCatalog