1. Working with ArcGIS Data Data Management and Tips Your friend…..ArcCatalog

2. File Types Shapefiles –Contain one feature class –Points, lines, or polygons Coverages –Contain multiple feature classes Multiple files on disk for each coverage file May cover multiple folders as well

3. File Types Geodatabase Contain multiple feature classes including tables not linked to spatial data Can store topological relationships between features and feature classes Also store rules and dictate how features behave Personal Geodatabases Enterprise Geodatabase

4. File Types Layer file Raster Grids Tables CAD Drawings

5. Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H. Price 2-5 File Types Stores collections of data for repeated viewing and analysis Contains one or more data frames Stores current properties for each layer (symbols, etc) Stores a page layout for printing Stores references to files--not the actual data C:\mgisdata\usa\states.shp The map document

6. Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H. Price 2-6 Map docs and data files Same data can be used by many map documents Edits made in one document appear in ALL Shipping map document without its data is useless Changing locations of document or data can cause problems Files on disk Points to data

7. Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H. Price 2-7 Causes of broken data links Some causes –Data were moved or deleted –Drive not available –Map document copied to different computer –Data not sent with map Broken data links occur when a map document cannot find data using the stored pathname C:\mgisdata\usa\supersites.shp ?? D:\mgisdata\usa\supersites

8. Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H. Price 2-8 Pathnames Usa MapDocuments mgisdata C:\ --States --Cities --Counties --ex_1.mxd --ex_2.mxd --ex_3.mxd Absolute paths always start at the top of the data tree C:\mgisdata\usa\states.shp Relative paths start at the location of the map document..\usa\states.shp.. Means go up one level Broken data links occur when a map document cannot find data using the stored pathname ?

9. Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H. Price 2-9 When to use… Absolute paths –Data placed on central server for access by many –Data will never be moved or rearranged –You want to be able to transfer map docs without transferring data also Relative paths –When you plan to keep data with its map documents and move them together as a set –When you want to distribute maps/data to other organizations

10. Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H. Price 1-10 Connecting to folders

11. ArcCatalog Should always be used to delete, copy, rename and modify GIS data Allows users many different ways to view data –Contents –Preview –Description

12. Contents Metadata Preview

13. Description Contains important information about data –Who created it, where it came from, coordinate system, etc. Metadata has hundreds of pieces of information –Much of the metadata is entered by ArcGIS itself.

14. ArcCatalog Windows Explorer

15. Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H. Price 1-15 AVOID SPACES IN FOLDERS and FILENAMES Spaces are Evil