An overview of the new functionality in ArcGIS Desktop 9.1
Release 9.1 Last modified April 27, 2005	Print all topics in : "What's new in ArcGIS Desktop 9.1"

ArcGIS 9.1 introduces the new ArcGIS Network Analyst extension, improves quality, and adds important new capabilities. It includes everything in the ArcGIS 9.0 service packs. These topics guide you through the key new features of ArcGIS 9.1 compared to ArcGIS 9.0.

Click here to view the What's New in ArcGIS Desktop 9.1 PDF. If this link doesn't work, you can open the document (Whats_New_In_ArcGIS_Desktop_91.pdf) from the \ArcGIS\Documentation folder in your ArcGIS Desktop install location.

To view this document, you need a copy of Adobe Reader, which you can download free from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

If you are upgrading to ArcGIS 9.1 from ArcGIS 8.3 you can find out what changed from 8.3 to 9.0 in the What was new in ArcGIS Desktop 9.0 section of the ArcGIS Desktop Help, or the Whats_New_In_ArcGIS_Desktop_90.pdf in your \ArcGIS\Documentation folder. Both of these resources are available after you've installed ArcGIS 9.1.

ArcGIS core highlights

• Backward compatibility of files. You can now save map documents (.mxd files), layer files (.lyr files), and scenes (.sxd files) so they can be opened in ArcGIS 8.3. Maps, layer files, scenes, and globes created in ArcGIS 9.1 are directly compatible with ArcGIS 9.0.
Learn more about saving to previous versions of ArcGIS

• More geoprocessing tools for ArcView and ArcEditor users. Licensing for geoprocessing tools has been enhanced so that if functionality is available in the core ArcGIS user interface for a particular license level, its corresponding geoprocessing tool will now be available at the same license level. This provides ArcView users with almost 50 more tools than they had access to at ArcGIS 9.0, and ArcEditor users with 70 more.
• New geoprocessing tools. A Merge tool has been added into the Data Management \ General toolset that lets you combine multiple inputs into a new output. A new system toolbox called Samples can be added into your ArcToolbox window. This provides tools for performing overlays on very large datasets using a new tiling scheme, new conversion tools for raster and CAD data, and a tool for defining coordinate systems in batch.
• StreetMap USA data and functionality can now be used by everyone free of charge. The StreetMap extension has become part of the core functionality in ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Engine, and ArcGIS Server, and is no longer a separate extension. This enables all ArcGIS users to perform nationwide geocoding and routing with the StreetMap USA data that comes with ArcGIS. Street data for other countries is available separately.


• ArcPress can now be used by everyone free of charge. The ArcPress for ArcGIS extension has become part of the core functionality in ArcGIS Desktop and is no longer a separate extension. ArcPress is a rasterizer that supports high-quality printing on a wide range of printers.
• ArcView users can now create and edit subtypes in personal geodatabases. Subtypes are subsets of features in a feature class or records in a standalone table that share the same attributes.
• All linear referencing functionality is now provided for ArcView and ArcEditor users. ArcView and ArcEditor users can now use the full range of linear referencing functionality, including creating routes, editing routes, and performing geoprocessing on linear referenced data.


• Improved quality. ArcGIS 9.1 includes all the quality improvements from the 9.0 service packs. Additional quality improvements and user interface enhancements have been made in a number of areas. ArcGIS 9.1 also includes support for Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC) Web Map Service (WMS) data, which was originally introduced in 9.0 Service Pack 2.

ArcGIS extensions highlights

• New ArcGIS Network Analyst extension. This new extension lets you create, manage, and analyze transportation networks to solve problems, such as finding routes, closest facilities, and service areas. The extension includes interactive tools in ArcMap along with geoprocessing tools for scripting and modeling. Network Analyst applications can be delivered using ArcGIS Engine or put on the web with ArcGIS Server.


• New release of ArcGIS Schematics extension. With this extension, you can generate schematic diagrams representing the connectivity of linear and network data in your GIS. This new release features tighter integration with the ArcGIS Desktop environment and adds the ability to store schematic datasets in the geodatabase. It is now part of the ArcGIS Desktop setup and no longer has to be installed separately.


• ArcGIS Publisher now lets you publish ArcGlobe documents. The ArcGIS Publisher extension is now supported in ArcGlobe, enabling you to publish ArcGlobe documents (.3dd files) as .pmf files so they can be viewed with ArcReader. New 3D navigation tools have been added to ArcReader to support viewing globes.
• ArcScan for ArcGIS extension. The ArcScan for ArcGIS extension can now be used by ArcEditor and ArcInfo users at no additional charge.
• Maplex For ArcGIS extension. This extension can now be used by ArcInfo users at no additional charge. Significant improvements have also been made to the scalability, performance, and quality of the Maplex labeling engine.

Getting more information

• Look for the ESRI Software Documentation Library CD included in the software media kit; it provides the ArcGIS books in PDF format.


• Use the ArcGIS Desktop Help. You can open this from the Windows Start menu or by choosing ArcGIS Desktop Help in any ArcGIS application.


• In addition to the ArcGIS Desktop Help, ArcGIS 9.1 introduces ArcGIS Desktop Help Online, an Internet-based version of the ArcGIS Desktop Help system. ArcGIS Desktop Help Online is integrated with the ESRI Support Center and provides up-to-date information. ArcGIS Desktop Help Online is accessible from the Help menu in any ArcGIS Desktop application. It is also accessible from the ESRI Support Center.
• The ArcGIS Tutorial Data (ArcTutor) now includes the tutorials in PDF format. You can find the PDFs that accompany the data in the new ArcTutor\Tutorial_Docs folder after you've installed ArcTutor.


• Get detailed context-sensitive help about tools, commands, and dialog boxes as you use the software.


• To get help on a command in a dropdown menu or a button on a toolbar, click the What's This button , then click the item.


• To get help on a command in a context menu (menu launched by right-clicking), highlight the command and press Shift + F1.


• To get help on an option on a dialog box, click the ? (Help) button at the top of the dialog box and click the option.


• Some dialog boxes have a Help or About button that opens a topic to give you quick information and tips.


• To get help on a window, such as the table of contents or Identify Results windows, click the window and press Shift + F1.


• To get help on a control in a geoprocessing dialog box in the ArcToolbox window, click the control and click the Show Help button to expand the Help panel. When the Help panel is expanded, click the Help button at the top of the panel to open the Desktop Help topic for the tool.

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