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INTRODUCTION TO A R C G I S - 1 0
This training session provides an overview of ArcGIS, and the basic functionality of ArcMap and ArcCatalog. This document will go over what is
GIS and why to use GIS, what is ArcGIS Desktop, and system requirements for installing the software. This document will give an outline of
various components of ArcGIS and its interfaces. It will also cover how to open GIS dataset, examine layers, data and metadata, connect to
folder, add/remove data, examine attribute table, understand Data View and Layout View, finalize map and save/export the map.

1. INTRODUCTION

Roadmap:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

INTRODUCTION
ARCGIS DESKTOP COMPONENTS
EXAMINING DATA USING ARCCATALOG
LAUNCHING ARCGIS DESKTOP
UNDERSTANDING THE INTERFACE
BRINGING DATA INTO ARCMAP
VIEWING DATA
FINALIZING / SAVING MAP

Illustration:
Point (landmark, tree, etc.)
Line (street, river, stream,
etc.)
Polygon (land parcels,
buildings, etc.)
Topography (terrain,
contours, etc.)
Raster Image (satellite
imagery, historic photos, etc.)
Integrated representation and
management of data

What is GIS? Geographic Information System

Definition: A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware,
software, and data to capture, store, analyze, manage, and display
various forms of geographically referenced information.
Todays GIS involves collaboration of various technologies and disciplines
like geography, cartography, surveying, remote sensing, satellite
imagery, photogrammetry, spatial statistics, mathematics, geometry,
topology, computer science, information science, library science, webtechnology, etc.
Why GIS?
There are several applications of GIS technology. It can be used for urban
planning, historic mapping, archeology, environmental studies,
transportation studies, emergency management, health studies,
ecological studies, asset management, natural resource management,
marketing, economic studies, demographic studies, crime-stats mapping,
affordable housing analyses, and many other purposes.
GIS integrates variety of data with a spatial component regardless of its
source. It stores and manages the data, analyzes the data as a whole and
display it in various formats, leverages visualization to make critical
business and planning decisions, and saves tremendous time and money.

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1. INTRODUCTION

1. INTRODUCTION

ArcGIS Desktop packages:

What is ArcGIS Desktop?

ArcGIS Desktop is a GIS product created by ESRI (Environmental Systems
Research Institute) that allows you to analyze your data and author
geographic knowledge to examine relationships, test predictions, and
ultimately make better decisions.
It is a family of three packagesArcInfo, ArcEditor, and ArcViewthat
share the same core applications, user interface, and development
environment. Each package provides an additional GIS functionality as
you move from ArcView to ArcEditor to ArcInfo.

System Requirements:

Operating System:
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate,
Enterprise, Business,
Home Premium (32-bit
and 64-bit (EM64T))
Windows Vista
Ultimate, Enterprise,
Business, Home
Premium (32-bit and
64-bit (EM64T))
Windows XP
Professional Edition,
Home Edition (32-bit
and 64-bit (EM64T))

Min. Version

Max. Version

SP1

SP2

SP2

SP2

SP2/SP3

SP2/SP3

Memory: 2 GB RAM or higher

Processor: Intel Core Duo, Pentium 4 or Xeon Processors
CPU Speed: 2.2 GHz dual core or higher
Display Properties: 24 bit color depth
Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768 recommended or higher at
Normal size (96dpi)- 24 bit capable graphics accelerator
Disk Space: 2.4 GB+

Key Features:
ArcGIS allows performing basic visualization (map authoring), spatial
query, editing and data integration, and basic modeling and analysis of
your data.
Visualization: Map authoring: e.g. predefined map templates to save
time, easy to create a consistent style maps, etc.
Spatial query: e.g. measure distances and areas, find features in the
map, select data by location or attribute, switch the selection, access
layer properties, etc.
Simple feature editing and data integration: e.g. create/edit point,
line, and polygon features and attributes, integrate variety of data
types including demographics, facilities, CAD drawings, imagery, web
services, and multimedia.
Basic modeling and analysis: e.g. model spatial relationships, generate
charts/reports from findings, etc.
Ready-to-Use Datasets: e.g. ESRI Data & Maps Media Kit, which is
updated annually and preconfigured to work specifically with ESRI
software.
Enabled for extensions: e.g. add even more capabilities - Analysis,
Productivity, and Solution-based extensions perform extended tasks
such as raster geoprocessing and three-dimensional analysis.

Aug. 2012 | Data Service Studio, 5th Floor, Bobst Library, New York University | data.service@nyu.edu | (212) 998-3434 | Source: ESRI

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3. ARCGIS DESKTOP COMPONENTS
ArcGIS Desktop has 4 components:
-

ArcMap
ArcCatalog
A r c T o o l b ox
Search

2. EXAMINING DATA USING ARCCATALOG

ArcCatalog can be launched by clicking Start > Programs > Statistics >
ArcGIS > ArcCatalog. ArcCatalog can also be launched by clicking on the
icon on the Standard tool bar in ArcMap.
Main Menu toolbar

Standard toolbar

A r c M a p : Integrated map display, editing, and production

environment. ArcMap is used to display, query, edit, create,
and analyze your geographically referenced data.

A r c C a t a l o g : Data management application. ArcCatalog

helps users to browse, search, explore, view, and manage data
(with metadata creation and editing capabilities) and maps. It
also helps GIS database administrators maintain spatial and
tabular GIS data for use by others in their organization.

A r c T o o l b o x : Geoprocessing tool. ArcToolbox helps users

to perform geoprocessing operations such as data conversion,
overlay processing, buffering, proximity analysis and map
transformation. Each tool has a menu-driven interface with
wizards or dialogs.

S e a r c h : Allows to find data, maps and tools by keywords or

data types.

Catalog Tree

Contents/Preview/Metadata (CPM) window

Main Menu:

default tool bar with pull-down menu that contains: File,

Edit, View, Go, Tools, Windows and Help.
Standard:
allows connecting to any folders on hard drive as well as
folders on the network drives, copying, pasting, deleting,
viewing and searching files and folders.
Catalog Tree: displays all connected files and folders, and their
directory tree.
CPM Window: allows examining name and type of the file, previewing
content (geography and tabular data) and viewing
metadata of the file

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3. EXAMINING DATA USING ARCCATALOG

Connect to Folder:
Click on the File tab on the Main Menu toolbar and select
Connect to Folder or Click on the icon Navigate to the
desired folder in the Connect to Folder dialog box and click OK.
For instance, C:\Users\Poonam\Documents\Him.

3. EXAMINING DATA USING ARCCATALOG

Click on the Preview tab in the C/P/M Window. Click on Geography tab
from the pull down menu at the bottom of the C/P/M Window to view
the physical shape of the file. Click on the Table tab from the pull down
menu at the bottom of the C/P/M Window to view the tabular data
associated with that geography/shape.

Preview spatial data and metadata:

Select the shapefile (e.g., select "Woodside_Lots_2007") in the
Catalog Tree to preview its spatial data and meta data.
Click on the Content tab in the C/P/M Window to view the
name of the file and the type of the file.

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3. EXAMINING DATA USING ARCCATALOG
Click on the Metadata tab in the C/P/M Window to view the
metadata of the file. Description tab displays brief description
(Abstract, Purpose, Supplemental Information, Place, Status of
the Data, Time Period, etc.) about the shape file. Spatial tab
displays information about various coordinate systems used to
create the shape file, coordinates, and sources of the file.
Attributes tab displays features and attributes of the data
associated with the shape file.

4. LAUNCHING ARCGIS DESKTOP

Launch ArcGIS Desktop Application:
ArcMap can be launched by clicking Start>Programs>ArcGIS>ArcMap
Click on Blank Map under New Maps. You can specify the default
geodatabase (where any new files will automatically be directed)

5. UNDERSTANDING THE INTERFACE

Title bar and toolbars:

Title bar:
Toolbars:
Main Menu:

Draw:

displays the name of the ArcMap document.

contains many toolbars viz.
default tool bar with pull-down menu that contains: File,
Edit, View, Insert, Selection, Tools, Windows and Help.
Click on these menus to select various options within
each menu.
allows drawing and editing graphics/text on the map and
layout.

Aug. 2012 | Data Service Studio, 5th Floor, Bobst Library, New York University | data.service@nyu.edu | (212) 998-3434 | Source: ESRI

Standard Toolbar

Main Menu
Toolbar

Title Bar

Layout Toolbar

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Tools
Toolbar
Table of
Contents

Layers

Data Frame

Search

Catalog

Status Bar

Data View tab Layout View tab

Shapefiles

ArcToolBox

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6. UNDERSTANDING THE INTERFACE
Layout:
Standard:

Tools:

TOC:

Data Frame:

Status Bar:
Layers:

allows display, zoom and scale layouts.

allows creating a new document, opening an
existing document, saving and printing a
document, editing functions, adding/editing
map and data, opening ArcCatalog and
ArcToolbox, opening Model Builder, and
activating help.
allows working with data view frame or work
space viz. displaying, zooming, selecting,
identifying, finding and measuring features.
Several other toolbars can be made active by
right-clicking on the Main Menu toolbar or by
clicking on Main Menu/View/Toolbars
Table of Contents (TOC) displays and manages
(group, ungroup, activate, access layer
properties, etc.) all the layers (and its source)
and symbology of the layers. The layers can
also be displayed by their source location.
work space that allows displaying and working
with maps. Data Frame displays maps as layers
that are checked in the Table of Contents. Each
displayed layer does not store the actual
geographic data but it references data stored in
shapefiles, geodatabases, etc.
displays coordinates/units of the cursor in the
Data View or Layout View.
A layer contains information about how to
display the dataset, but not the dataset itself.
Each data frame contains one or more layers.
Any datasets you add to the map are
represented as layers in the Table of Contents.
Checking the box next to each layer will display
the map elements. The order of the layers will
display map elements in that order.

5. BRINGING DATA INTO ARCMAP

Bringing data into ArcMap by adding layers.
Add and remove layers:
To add layers for display click on Add Data icon
Standard Toolbar.

located on the

There are three ways to add data: adding a shapefile stored on your
computer, adding a streaming basemap, or using an online search
feature to add data.

i. Add Data stored on a local drive:

Choose the Add Data option. In order to navigate to the location, first
connect to the folder where the data is stored by clicking on the
Connect to Folder icon. When prompted, choose the folder or drive
where the data is located and click OK. Navigate and select the file;
click Add.

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6. BRINGING DATA INTO ARCMAP
ii. Add a Basemap:
Choose the Add Basemap option. Select the preferred map
(aerial, road map, physical). Click Add.

7. VIEWING DATA
Notice that all the layers are added to the Table of Contents as well as
displayed (if checked) in the Data View or Layout View (whichever is
active). Every time you bring in any layer, it will be displayed with
random colors, which can be changed.
Remove Data from the Map:
Select the layer then right click on the layer and click on remove.

iii. Search and Add Data Online:

Choose the Add Data from ArcGIS online option. Enter a
search for data (i.e. counties, watersheds, zip codes). Select the
desired search result and click Add.

View data examine Attribute Table of a layer:

Select the layer and right click on the layer and then select open
Attribute Table. Examine the table rows and corresponding columns.

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7. VIEWING DATA
Examine Layer Properties:
Right click on a layer and click on the Properties. This will
display Layer Properties window. You can view, edit and
change various properties of the layer.

8. FINALIZING / SAVING MAP

Data View and Layout View:
Data View: allows displaying, editing, analyzing and working geographic
data. Layout View: allows preparing finished maps for printing and
publishing. Click on the icon
for Data View &
for Layout View.

Finalize and save the map

On the Layout View, you can insert toolbar title, legend, scale and north
arrow, via Insert tab on Main Menu, to finalize the map.
Save the map by clicking on the File tab on the Main Menu toolbar. The
Save dialogue box will pop up. Name the document, navigate to the
location and click Save. The map will be saved as ArcMap Document
(.mxd), which will contain all the working layers and referenced data.
- General tab allows changing the name of the layer, adding
description, and make the layer invisible at a certain scale.
- Source tab allows viewing the metadata and editing the data
source of the layer.
- Selection tab allows customizing selection symbology.
- Display tab allows changing transparency of the layer.
- Symbology tab allows customizing and importing symbology
of the layer via Features, Categories, Quantities, Charts and
Multiple Attributes.
- Fields tab allows displaying fields.
- Definition Query tab allows to write scripts to query the data
via Query Builder.
- Labels tab allows displaying, changing symbology, and
defining placement, scale and style of the labels.
- Join & Relates tab allows joining various datasets.
- HTML Popup tab allows showing the content of the layer
using HTML Popup tool.
- etc...

To save the map as PDF or JPG, click on File tab on the Main Menu
toolbar and click on Export Map. Navigate to the location, select the
type as PDF or JPG from pull down menu, and click Save.

Aug. 2012 | Data Service Studio, 5th Floor, Bobst Library, New York University | data.service@nyu.edu | (212) 998-3434 | Source: ESRI