Tips and Tricks for ArcGIS Users

Tips and Tricks for ArcGIS Users Steven Mann

Presenter: STEVE MANN ESRI Authorized Instructor ArcGIS 9.2 (Desktop I and II) ArcGIS 9.3 Desktop: Tools and Functionality ArcView 3.x Instructor for all P2ES GIS Software Products (LandGIS, TGS, CTK, TDT, and Tobin data workflows)

Presentation Topics Data Management Working with ArcMap Data Frames Working with Layers Labeling and Annotation Time Saving Features Layouts and Templates

Data Management 4 8/16/2014 • What map data formats are you using • Shapefiles • Geodatabase (Personal, File, or Enterprise [SDE] ) • CAD • Image data • Where is your data • Local or network share • How often is it updated • Coordinate System(s)

Data Management How should I store the data? By Geographic Region (State, County, Offshore) By Data Type (Survey, Well, Lease, Imagery, etc..) By Data Delivery (Annual, Quarter, Weekly , Daily) By Vendor (Tobin, Tobin, Tobin, other?) Which is the best method? All of these are good Combination of all

Data Management Keep your data maintenance deliveries separate from the data store accessed by the End User Data Delivery Store: Same structure as the delivery method for ease of maintenance Geographic region (State/County) Data Type (Survey data, Well data, etc..) End User Store: What works best for application access and user workflows

ArcGIS Desktop - ArcMap • Common Navigation Tools • Common Zoom Tools • Continuous Zoom Tool / Pan • Full Extent: Use other extent • Bookmark enhancements in 9.3 • Overview Window

Data Frame ArcMap – Data Frames • Data Frame Overview • Container for Layers you use in your map • Control which coordinate system you will be using • Map and Display Units • Defines the extent of your map …and much, much more!

ArcMap – Data Frames • Coordinate System properties • Set by the first layer added (if a coordinate system was defined for the layer) • Set prior to loading the first layer • Set by the user at any time • Standard Tobin data deliveries are in N.A. Geographic NAD 27 • Using Multiple Data Frames • Index Map • Display a montage of maps in a layout • Ease of switching to other geographic regions or other coordinate systems without leaving your Map.

ArcMap – Working with Layers • Layer Management • Layers Properties define how your layer will display • Definition Queries (Filters) • Creating dynamic layers from selected features • Relating layer attributes to external tabular data sources • Group Layers • Creating Layer and Group Layer files • Layer files store the source data location and layer properties • Layer Group files store a collection layer files

ArcMap - Labeling Function FindLabel ( [LEASE_NO], [EXP_DATE] ) if ([EXP_DATE] > 20031231) and ([EXP_DATE] < 20040701) then FindLabel = "<CLR red='255' green='0' blue='0'>" &[LEASE_NO] & vbnewline & [EXP_DATE] &"</CLR>" else FindLabel = [LEASE_NO] & vbnewline & [EXP_DATE] end if End Function • Label by Feature Classes • Each feature classification has its own label properties • Use Label Expressions to: • Create Stacked labels • Conditional Expression (Only label leases that expire in the next 90 days and color them RED

ArcMap - Labeling 12 8/16/2014 • Annotation - (a snapshot of the labels) • Map Annotation • Feature Annotation • (ArcInfo Feature Linked Annotation) • Tobin Annotation to enrich your map • Lease Annotation • Ownership Annotation • Survey Annotation

ArcMap – Time Saving Features • Viewer Window – • Snapshot of an extent • View more than one Data Frame at a time • Magnifier Window - Good for editing • Measuring Tool - Snaps to features • Effects Tool (Transparency / Fading) • Works in Magnifier Window • Graphic to Feature tool (9.3) • Convert selected graphics to a feature class (Shapefile) • TGS Graphic to Feature tool vs ArcMap’s

ArcMap – Layout View • Page setting • Default: a map's page size is the same as your system printer's default page size. • First choose your printer, then select the page size and orientation • Scale Map Elements and Use Printer Paper Settings check boxes checked, and your map page will automatically scale and adjust to your new page size • Warning: Some map elements may need to be adjusted (Border padding) • All map elements will be resized…even those outside the page margin

ArcMap – Layout View • Making the map page size independent of the system printer: • Right-click the virtual page in layout view and click Page and Print Setup or click File and click Page and Print Setup. • Uncheck the Use Printer Paper Settings check box. • Click the Standard Sizes drop-down arrow and click the page size that's appropriate for your map. • Optionally, type the page size for your map in the Width and Height text boxes to define a custom page size

ArcMap - Templates Templates store both map data reference and a map layout (including all map elements) Templates help standardize company maps Templates can be loaded into other Maps in order to share GUI customizations and/or map layouts Maps cannot be load into other Maps (MXD). They must be saved as a template(.MXT).

Tips and Tricks for ArcGIS Users