Using ArcGIS Desktop

The parcels within 100 feet of a park have been selected and are highlighted in
blue on the map.

Once selected, you can create a layer from the features or you can export the selected
features to a new dataset. ArcMap also includes tools to summarize or get statistics on
attribute values, such as the minimum and maximum parcel sizes. These tools are available
on the layers attribute table.
Edit geographic data

ArcMap is where you create new features in a dataset, or modify the shape or location of
existing features. You also add and edit attributes in tables, and can create editable map text
(annotation). Most of the time the data in the map document is essentially lockedyou can
change its appearance (via layers on a map) but not its shape or position. To delete features
or move a features coordinates, you start an edit session. You open the edit session, specify
the layer to edit, create or modify features, save them, and close the edit session when
youre done. Even though you specify a layer on the map to edit, the edits are made to the
underlying data source. Editing is discussed in Chapter 3, Data Compilation and Editing.

Use the Editor toolbar in ArcMap to start an edit session and

interactively create or modify features.

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1 Introduction

ArcCatalog The ArcCatalog application helps you manage your GIS informationGIS datasets, map

documents, layer files, and much more. GIS data comes in a variety of data formats and file
types. There is also associated descriptive information about the geographic features (stored
in tables) and information about the datasets, such as when the data was collected, when
it was updated, and how accurate it is. Much of this data and information youll compile
from various sources. ArcCatalog was designed to help you organize and manage your
geographic data in all its various forms.

ArcCatalog has two main windows in which you work: the catalog tree view, and the
display window.
Catalog Tree

Display Window

Viewing data in ArcCatalog

ArcCatalog displays folders, databases, and other items for which connections are currently
established. When you open ArcCatalog, connections are automatically established to
folders on your local disk drives. You can add connections to subfolders to make them
easier to access. You can also add connections to databases on shared database servers or
on the internet.

Once a connection to a folder, GIS database, or GIS server is established, you can browse
through its contents with ArcCatalog. You can look for the map you want to print, draw a
dataset, examine the values in a table, and find out which coordinate system a raster uses or
read its metadata document to learn about how it was created.

When you close ArcCatalog, all the current connections are retained and are available the
next time you open ArcCatalog. The connections are also available when browsing for
data in ArcMap and ArcToolboxeven if ArcCatalog isnt currently open. (You can also
establish new connections when browsing for data in ArcMap and ArcToolbox.)

The ArcCatalog interface

The Catalog tree view shows the current connections in ArcCatalog. Add and remove
connections using the Connect and Disconnect buttons. The tree view shows you how
your data is organized in folders and subfolders, and lets you reorganize it. Right-click a
top-layer folder, point to New, and click Folder to create a subfolder. The tree view is also
where you perform basic data management tasks, such as moving, copying, deleting, or
renaming datasets and files.
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