The right panel of ArcCatalog displays datasets in many different ways. You can click an object in the left panel to view it in the right panel. One of the views that can be useful when you want to select a particular map is the thumbnail view.

Previewing a map in ArcCatalog allows you to zoom in, zoom out, and pan around a map without opening ArcMap.

Sometimes you may want to start ArcMap without opening an existing map. You can start ArcMap by clicking the Launch ArcMap button in ArcCatalog.