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Starting ArcMap
Release 9.2 Last modified November 7, 2007	Print all topics in : "Using ArcMap"

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About starting ArcMap

You can access ArcMap from the Start button on the Windows taskbar. You can only work on one map at a time in an ArcMap session, and each map has one layout; however, you can work with several maps by starting additional ArcMap sessions.

After you start ArcMap, you can decide if you want to see the splash screen and Startup dialog box. If you don't want to see them, click the Tools menu, click Options, click the General tab, and uncheck the Show splash screen and Show startup dialog check boxes.

When you exit ArcMap, the interface is saved to the default map template, Normal.mxt. Therefore, when you start ArcMap, it opens with the same interface—toolbars in their same position, new tools that were added to toolbars, or other customizations—as when you last used ArcMap.

Learn more about map templates
Learn more about working with layouts

How to start ArcMap

Starting ArcMap from the Start menu

Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar.
Point to Programs.
Point to ArcGIS.
Click ArcMap.

Starting ArcMap from ArcCatalog

Click the Launch ArcMap button in ArcCatalog.

Tips

You can also start ArcMap by opening an existing map. Double-click a map in ArcCatalog or Windows Explorer to launch ArcMap and display the map.
You can only work on one map at a time in a single ArcMap session. ArcMap will close any open map before opening another one.

Turning on or off the splash screen

Click the Tools menu and click Options.
Click the General tab.
Check Show splash screen to turn on the splash screen; uncheck it to turn it off.
Click OK.

Turning on or off the Startup dialog box

Click the Tools menu and click Options.
Click the General tab.
Check Show startup dialog to turn on the Startup dialog box; uncheck it to turn it off.
Click OK.