Introduction to GIS

Using ArcGIS Desktop 10

http://www.lib.umd.edu/binaries/content/assets/public/gov-info-gis/research-and-instruction/
introduction-to-gis-workbook.pdf
Last Modified: January 2012

This reference and training manual was produced by

the University of Maryland Libraries.
Permission to reproduce this manual or any of its parts for non-commercial, educational purposes is
granted. Appropriate citation is appreciated.

University of Maryland Libraries

U.S. Government Information, Maps & GIS Services
McKeldin Library, Room 4118
College Park, MD 20742-7011

www.lib.umd.edu/GOV/

Table of Contents
GIS Facilities at the University of Maryland ................................................................. 1
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 2
Components of ArcGIS Desktop 10 .............................................................................. 3
ArcCatalog ..................................................................................................................... 4
ArcMap .......................................................................................................................... 8
Symbology and Labeling ...18
Performing Analysis in the Map Display .27
Queries ....................................................................................................................... 35
Layouts ....................................................................................................................... 40
More Training ............................................................................................................ 44

GIS Facilities at the University of Maryland

McKeldin Library
There are two GIS workstations located in the Government Documents GIS & Computer Lab on
the fourth floor of McKeldin Library. They are available on a walk-in basis when the Library is
open. In addition, there are available datasets for other parts of the world including suburban
Maryland; Washington, DC; the Washington Metropolitan Area; Europe; etc. Color printing is
available in McKeldin Library.
The instruction labs on the sixth floor of McKeldin Library (6101, 6103, and 6107) are restricted
access during the earlier part of the semester, but open to the public during the later part of
the semester. ArcGIS software is installed on all computers in these labs, and can be used when
they are open. Please see the following website for more information on the instruction labs:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/UES/labs.html

Other Facilities
There are other departmental (e.g., anthropology, architecture/urban planning, civil
engineering, landscape architecture, and geography) GIS laboratories on campus that are
restricted to faculty, staff, and students in each of those disciplines. Additionally, the Office of
Information Technology's software licensing program (http://www.oit.umd.edu/slic) offers
ArcGIS and ArcInfo for various platforms at special/reduced rates for faculty and staff at the
University of Maryland.

Introduction
A GIS (Geographic Information System) is a powerful tool used for computerized mapping and
spatial analysis. A GIS provides functionality to capture, store, query, analyze, display and
output geographic information.
For this seminar we will be using ArcGIS Desktop 10, the newest version of a popular GIS
software produced by ESRI. This course is meant to teach some fundamental GIS operations
using ArcGIS. It is not meant to be a comprehensive course in GIS or ArcGIS. However, we hope
this seminar will get you started using GIS and excited about learning more.

Definition of GIS
(Geographic Information System)

A computer-based system
that stores geographically
referenced data, links it
with non-graphic attributes
(data in tables) allowing for
a wide range of information
processing including
manipulation, analysis and
modeling. A GIS also
provides for map display
and production.

Data Model of Reality

Graphic Source: ESRI, Inc.

Components of ArcGIS Desktop 10

ArcMap, ArcCatalog, (and ArcToolbox)
ArcGIS Desktop is comprised of a set of integrated applications, which are accessible from the
Start menu of your computer: ArcMap and ArcCatalog.
ArcMap is the main mapping application which allows you to create maps, query
attributes, analyze spatial relationships, and layout final projects.
ArcCatalog organizes spatial data contained on your computer and various other
locations and allows for you to search, preview, and add data to ArcMap as well as
manage metadata and set up address locator services (geocoding).
ArcToolbox is the third application of ArcGIS Desktop. Although it is not accessible from
the Start menu, it is easily accessed and used within ArcMap and ArcCatalog. ArcToolbox
contains tools for geoprocessing, data conversion, coordinate systems, projections, and
more. This workbook will focus on ArcMap and ArcCatalog.

Software Products (Licensing Levels)

ArcMap is made up of three software product levels: ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo. These
products share a common architecture but provide increasing levels of functionality. ArcView
provides the base mapping and analysis tools. ArcEditor provides all ArcView capability and
includes additional processing and advanced editing. ArcInfo provides all ArcEditor capability
plus advanced analysis and processing. While these levels are crucial to consider when
purchasing software, it is also important to be aware of the limitations of the level you are
using. We are using the ArcInfo level.
Look at the menu bar at the top of the window in either ArcMap or ArcCatalog to see which level you
have.

Data Management ArcCatalog

Searching and Content
Finding and using data is at the center of any GIS project. Lets get started by opening
ArcCatalog:
1. Double-click with the left mouse button on the ArcCatalog icon on the desktop, or from the
Windows Start menu, select Programs > ARCGIS > ArcCatalog

After opening the software, you will be greeted by screen like this one:

The left side of the screen lists a set of possible locations for data in the Catalog Tree. Dont
worry if yours does not look exactly the same. It is easy to add directories for data by clicking on
the Connect to folder icon on the top left toolbar.

Common GIS File Types

TECHTALK
Geodatabase The personal geodatabase, or geographic database, file is called the modern
container for GIS data and is specific to ArcGIS. Geodatabases define, manage, process and
store all the types of data that can be used in ArcGIS (i.e., feature, rasters, relationships,
measurements, attributes, etc) inside either a Microsoft Access database (.mdb) or a full
relational database (SQL Server, Oracle, Informix or DB2).
Shapefiles ArcGIS shapefile format is a widely adopted standard and comprises three or
more associated files. Be careful copying this data to a disk. You must get all of the files
associated with a single layer. They will have a variety of file extensions: .shp, .shx, .dbf and
sometimes others. If you are copying shapefiles, we recommended that you use the File >
Data > Export Data function in ArcMap or through ArcCatalog. This will automatically
copy all files associated with a layer. Also, be aware that some of these files may be very large
in size.
Layer According to ESRI, the layer file (.lyr) stores symbology, symbology classifications,
labeling properties, scale dependency, and definition. If you save something in this format it
means that, unlike shapefiles, colors and other characteristics are saved and will appear the
same every time you open it.
Coverages A coverage stores a set of thematically associated data considered to be a unit. It
usually represents a single layer, such as soils, streams, roads, or land use. In a coverage,
features are stored as both primary features (points, arcs, polygons) and secondary features
(tics, links, annotation). Source: ESRI Data Dictionary.
CAD (computer-aided design) A computer-based system for the design, drafting, and
display of graphical information. Although most commonly used to support engineering,
planning, and illustrating activities, these files can be used in a GIS. Source: ESRI Data
Dictionary.
Image formats ArcGIS accepts and uses a variety of image files (.tiff, .jpg, .jp2, .png, etc).
Text files (with x,y coordinates)
Many others

ArcGIS Terminology
Term
View

Definition
a collection of themes

Example
Washington, DC

Theme

a single layer of data

Housing

Attribute

a defined characteristic of a
theme

Year Built

Value

a specific quality or quantity 1920

assigned to an attribute, for
a specific instance.

Previewing Data
From the catalog tree on the left side, navigate to C:\ESRI\GIS_WRKSHP\. You will see a list of
shapefiles. The .shp extension of the file means that these files are in shapefile format and thus
can be read by ArcGIS. Although this is not the only file format ArcGIS can read, it is a popular
format.
1. To view file extensions, navigate to Customize > ArcCatalog Options > and under the
General tab unclick Hide file extensions and hit OK.

NOTE: This is what shapefiles look like in Windows Explorer a combination of 3 to 7 individual files
make up one shapefile. You should view GIS data in ArcCatalog.

TECHTALK
There are two kinds of data that can be viewed in ArcGIS vector and raster. Vector data is
a format whereby points, lines, and polygons are used to represent real features on the
earths surface such as an address location, a street or a zip code area. Raster data is a
continuous image of a portion of the earths surface and is made up of grid cells or pixels as
in an aerial or satellite image. If both vector data and raster data are georeferenced to the
same position, they can be used in the same view.
2. After locating data, it is possible to preview it before adding it to ArcMap. Click once with
the left mouse button on mdcounties.shp and then select the Preview tab.

This will allow you to look at the mdcounties file. We will return to these files later.

Metadata
Metadata is loosely defined as data about data. This is important, especially in a geospatial
context, because it contains information about the source, author, creation, and geographic
referencing. ArcCatalog allows you to view and manage metadata.
1.

Click on the Description tab.

This section provides a description of the files,

spatial information, and a list of all of the attributes
associated with the file.

Organization of ArcMap
ArcMap can be opened from multiple locations. This time, we will open it from ArcCatalog. It
can also be opened from the start menu or an icon on the desktop.

Beginning with a Blank Project

1. From ArcCatalog, click on the ArcMap icon:
Upon opening ArcMap you may see the following startup window:

This is a new feature with version 10 of ArcGIS software that allows you to make a shortcut to
your most-used data location. Since were just beginning, we are going to skip this option and
simply use the default. Click on Cancel.
ArcMap makes a default geodatabase in the C:\My Documents\ArcGIS folder.

Now you will be in a new, blank document in ArcMap.

This area is known as the Map Display. This display area is where map features are drawn.
Menu Bar

Basic
Toolbar
Map Display
Table of Contents

When you begin, the menu bar changes to show the menu functions available. You can change
the way the ArcMap looks by moving or hiding toolbars. Docking toolbars in another location
can be done by clicking on the vertical gray bar at the left edge or top and dragging it to a new
location.
To hide or show toolbars, click Customize (on the menu bar) > Toolbars and check or uncheck the
name.

Any changes made to the interface will be kept and applied every time you use ArcMap. Please
note that some toolbars are dependent upon the license level. Some toolbars and extensions
will be visible, but the user will not be able to access the functionality if they do not possess the
required license.
At this point, most of the icons of the button bar and tool bar are grayed out because we do not
have any data in our view. Lets add data to see what functions are available to us.

Adding Data through ArcCatalog

There are two main ways to add data. We will begin with adding two data files md_cities.shp
and md_interst.shp from ArcCatalog.
1. Click on the ArcCatalog tab icon at the top right of the display. You will see the catalog tree.
2. Navigate to the data you want to add. For us, that is under Folder Connections
C:\ESRI\GIS_WRKSHP
3. We will add two layers: md_interst and md_counties. Drag and drop it into the Table of
Contents under Layers.

10

Adding Data through ArcMap

In addition to ArcCatalog, it is possible to add data directly through ArcMap.
1. Select the Add Data button.
If you selected the drop-down, choose the first
option, Add Data. Or, from the menu bar, select File > Add Data > Add Data.
2. Change directories until you find C:\ESRI\GIS_WRKSHP\
3. Select md_cities.shp and click the Add button.

On the left-hand side of the view the three selected layers are displayed in the views table of
contents. Each layer has a little check mark in the box to its left. This means they are turned
on and being displayed. If you uncheck them, that layer is no longer visible.

The colors of your layers and their order may differ from the example on the instructors
screen, but you should have all three datasets. Each of these layers contains geometric objects
that represent some real world entity. Points are used in the md_cities layer to represent
Maryland cities. (At a larger scale cities could be represented by polygons.) Lines are used in the
md_interst layer to represent the interstate highways in Maryland, and polygons are used in
the mdcounties layer to represent Maryland counties.
Notice how most of the button and tool bar functions are available to us now. Also notice the
scale display next to the Add Data button.
This display tells you what the scale value is of the current view. If it displays the value 1:
2,922,847 that means that every one unit on the map is equal to 2,922,847 units in the real
world. As you zoom in and out of the map the scale will change dynamically. Scale is an
important concept in computer mapping. The scale of the map often determines the amount of
information that can be shown without the map becoming too busy.
11

Also notice the position display at the bottom right of the screen. As you move the cursor
around the view these units change dynamically according to your cursors position. Your map
units are likely in decimal degrees.

Moving Around the Map Display

Now lets examine ways of zooming in and out and panning. The Tools toolbar contains eight
buttons that provide zooming functions and allow you to define a custom view of the layer
data. Some of the most useful ones are illustrated here.

Zoom In zooms the view window in to a user-defined area. To use:

1.

Select the Zoom In tool with the left mouse button. Notice the cursor changes to the

magnifying glass with the + sign icon.

2.

3.

Go to one corner of the area you would like to zoom in on and click with the left mouse
button. While holding down the mouse button, move the cursor to the opposite corner that
defines the area you want to magnify.
Release the mouse and the view window should zoom in to your defined area and redraw.

Zoom Out zooms the view window out from the point clicked. To use:
1.

Select the Zoom Out tool with the left mouse button. Notice the cursor changes to the

magnifying glass with the - sign icon.

2.

With the left mouse button click the area of the map you want to zoom out from. The view

window should zoom out, centering on the area that you clicked.

12

Pan moves all the view layer layers in the direction you move your mouse. It is a useful tool
when viewing data that is larger than the view window, and you do not want to change your
scale or loose detail by zooming out. To use:
1.
2.

Select the Pan tool with the left mouse button. Notice the cursor changes to a hand.
Click a spot on the view with the left mouse button, and while holding down the button move
the mouse away from the direction you want to move the view and release the button. The

view should move and redraw the view in the new location once the mouse button is
released.
Full Extent zooms the view window to the full extent of all layers shown in the view. This is
very handy when you want to get back to the way things looked when you first added the layer.
Zoom to Previous Extent zooms the view window back to the previous view window extent.
Practice using the zooming and panning tools to view the Maryland data. You may also zoom in
and out by using the wheel on your mouse. You can always return to the initial view by pressing
the Full Extent button; so dont be afraid to move around!

Identifying Objects
Now lets examine the identify tool. This tool helps us to identify the objects of a layer. It is
located on the Tools toolbar and it has the icon with the letter i in a blue circle. This tool will
display the attributes of a particular layer object. These attributes are actually located in a table
that we will discuss later.
To use the identify tool:
1.

Click the identify tool with the left mouse button. Your cursor changes to a cross hair with

the i icon.
When you click on a feature in the map, the Identify Results window will open and you can
choose what layers you would like to be able to identify or see what you have identified.

13

Setting Map Units, Display Units and Map Projection

One of the very first things that you should do after adding data is to set the map and display
units. It is also a good idea to set the projection (if desired) at this stage as well. Setting these
units will allow you to measure distances or compute areas. Display units should also be set if
you are planning to create a map layout with a distance scale. To set the map and display units:
1. Right click on the data frame Layers at the top of the legend and scroll down to Properties.

The Data Frame Properties dialog box pops up. You should be in the General tab. Take a look
at the Units portion of the dialog box. As you can see, the map units are already determined
in this case, but you can choose what units you would like to use for display. The map units
here are decimal degrees because all of the ESRI data is shipped in decimal degrees. Not all
data is in decimal degrees. Some data, especially images, are in other map units such as meters.
1.

Lets change our display units to Miles.

14

Because our data is in decimal degrees, it is considered unprojected. We want to give our view
a standard projection. For Maryland, the Maryland State Plane 1983 NAD projection is typically
used. Lets set our data frame to this projection.
2.

Click on the Coordinate System tab.

Notice that it states that our current coordinate system is a geographic coordinate system,
which is not projected.
Lets select a projected coordinate system.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Click on Predefined.
Click on Projected Coordinate System.
Scroll down and click on State Plane.
Click on NAD 1983 (Feet).
Scroll down and choose NAD_1983_StatePlane_Maryland_FIPS_1900 (Feet).
Click Apply and then OK.

15

TECHTALK
The Maryland State Plane is a Lambert Conformal Conic Projection. This projection
preserves shape and maintains accurate distance in an east-west direction for the lower 48
states, but only at the expense of direction (north, south, east and west) and area. Other
projections such as Mercator preserve direction and shape, but sacrifice accurate distance
and area. Depending on the use of your data, some projections may be more suitable than
others. Much of the data that you buy commercially is stored in decimal degrees, thereby
allowing you to select and change projections. However, data from governmental sources is
usually stored in a projection.
When you first add a layer to ArcMap, it is shown based on its coordinate system
(geographic or projected). When you add additional layers that have different coordinate
systems, ArcMap creates an on-the-fly projection and changes it to match the first. This
does not change the projection of the data itself, but rather the way it is displayed in the map
display. On-the-fly projection works best of layers are based on the same coordinate
system. If the coordinate systems are different, you will get a warning. You can display the
data, but the spatial alignment may be off. The differences are small, but if you need
precise results you may need to do a geographic coordinate system transformation.

For more about map projections, consider this website:

http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/MapProjections/projections.html
Or this book:
Flattening the earth: two thousand years of map projections / John P. Snyder
University of Chicago Press, 1997
McKeldin Library Stacks GA 110 .S576 1997

16

Measuring in the Map Display

Now that we have set the map and display units, lets make some measurements. On the tools
toolbar there is a button that allows you to measure elements of the layers. The measure tool
is the button having the icon composed of a question mark within an arrow over the ruler.

1.

Click the measure tool with the left mouse button. Your cursor changes to an L-shaped

2.
3.

Move the cursor to the point on the map where you want to start measuring and click.
Now move the cursor to the point where you want to stop measuring and double-click.

ruler with cross hairs and you get a pop-up window.

Observe in the window the measurement you just made. This measurement is composed of a
segment length and total length. It also indicates the display units of measurement. To change
the units, click on the drop-down arrow next to the sum symbol.

You can take measurements that are composed of multiple segments that do not follow a
straight line. To do so:
1.
2.
3.

Click the measure tool with the left mouse button.

Move the cursor to the point on the map where you want to start measuring and click once.
Now move the cursor to the next point along your defined path and click once. The first

segment is defined.
4.

Now move to the second point along your defined path and click once.

The second segment is defined.

5.

Repeat this process until you reach the point where you want to stop, and double-click.

Try measuring different parts of Maryland. What is the length of its border along the MasonDixon line? How wide is the Chesapeake Bay near Baltimore? What is the length from the
Prince Georges County side of Washington, DC to its opposite end in Montgomery County?
If you wish to measure in some other format (for example, kilometers instead of miles), you can also
go back to the data frame > Properties > and change the display units.

17

Symbology and Labeling

When a shapefile is opened in ArcGIS, symbols, styles and colors used to display the objects of a
layer are randomly chosen. This symbology may not be (and usually is not!) the representation
we wish to use for our map. We can modify the symbology so that our map is more presentable
and readable. Lets start by changing the colors of the Maryland cities:
1.

Click once, with the left mouse button, the dot below md_cities in legend/ table of contents
to bring up the Symbol Selector.

The Symbol Selector window opens.

The symbol selector has several features that allow you to edit each layer symbology regardless
of type (i.e. point, line and polygon.) You can change the symbol, color, size, and angle as well
as add more specific symbols to your list.
Lets change the styles and colors of our view layers. Well begin with cities.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Click, with the left mouse button, on the shape Triangle 1.

In the options box, click on the drop down box for color and choose a dark blue.
Change the size to 10.
Click OK.

Repeat for the other two layers.

1. Click on the line under md_interst layer name to edit the Maryland interstate layer.
2. Choose Highway. Because this is already established as an accepted style, the color and

size of the line will automatically be added.

3. Click OK.
4. Click on the polygon under the mdcounties layer name to edit the Maryland counties layer.
5. Select a neutral color like gray or beige.
6. Click OK in the Symbol Selector window box to apply your changes.
18

Now we have a much more attractive view. You can experiment with different colors and
patterns until you find the right ones to suit your final map.

Saving ArcGIS Projects

As with most computer projects, it is a good idea to save your work. To do so:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Select File > Save As from the menu bar.

You will save all your work for this workshop to the GIS_TEMP folder on the desktop. Click on
Desktop and double click on the GIS_TEMP folder, or navigate to it through the drop-down.
Type a name for your project in the Save dialog box that appears and press OK.
Check to see that your file is where you expect to see it.

Note that your saved file has an .mxd extension. This stands for map document, and it is a GIS-specific
file type. If you try to open this document without using GIS software, it wont work!

TECHTALK

An ArcGIS project or map document is a file instructing ArcGIS on what data to use and
how to display it. The data layers are not stored with the .mxd file. If you copy your
project file to a disk you must also copy all of the dataset files used in your project to that
disk as well or reset the location from the layer properties, source tab.

19

Labeling: Dynamic labels

There are three types of labels available: dynamic, interactive, and annotation. Dynamic labels
are created at once and operate as a group. ArcMap will adjust the label according to the scale
so that the labels are visible. Although you can set rules for display, ArcMap decides where to
place them. As a default, labels will not overlap. In addition, you can not individually select or
change them unless you convert them to annotation. This will be discussed later.

Before we label, its important to set the rules and choose label position and priorities. Let
begin with the md_cities layer.
1.

Right click on md_cities to open the Context Menu. Many operations in ArcMap are

performed through this menu.

2. Scroll down to Properties. This opens the Layer Properties window.
3.

Under the Labels tab choose the Placement Properties icon to open the Placement
Properties window. The default priority location for labels is in the upper right corner.

Lets change the location to the top center.

20

4.
5.
6.

Click on the Change Location icon, with the left mouse button to open the Initial point
placement window.
Scroll up and choose Top Only, Prefer Center.
Press OK in this box as well as on the Placement Properties box and Layer Properties box.

Now that we have set the properties, lets label.

1.
2.

Right click on md_cities to open the Context Menu again.

Scroll down and click on Label Features.

Lets also label the md_interst as well.

1.
2.

Right click on mdinterst to open the Context Menu again.

Scroll down and click Label Features.

Notice that some of the labels for md_cities have moved to make way for the new interstate
labels.
It is possible to set your labels in a predefined style.
1.
2.
3.

Right click on md_interst to open the Context Menu again.

Scroll down and click on Properties.

Under the Labels tab there should be an icon Label Styles in the
bottom right corner under the heading Pre-defined Label Style.
Click on the Label Styles button.
21

This brings you to the Label Style Selector window.

1.

Choose the U.S. Interstate HWY symbol in the upper right corner and click OK.

Unfortunately, the labels are too much all together.

1.
2.

We can set priority for viewing by right clicking on md_cities > Properties > Placement
Properties.
In the Placement Properties window click on the Conflict Detection tab.

From here it is possible to define the priority of the labels. Labels for layers marked with a
High weight will be less likely to be overlapped by other layers. It, however, is not necessary in
this case as dynamic labels are not flexible enough for our needs.
To be able to individually move labels we can convert the dynamic labels to annotation or use
interactive labels.

22

Converting Dynamic Labels to Annotation

By converting dynamic labels to annotation we are able have all features labeled at once and
also have the ability to move them individually. Lets convert the md_cities labels to
annotation.
1.
2.
3.

Close any extra dialog boxes if necessary. Right click on the md_cities layer to open the
context menu.
Scroll down to Convert Labels to Annotation.
If you get an overflow annotation dialog, just close it.

The Convert Labels to Annotation dialog opens.

The default option for storing
annotation is in a geodatabase.
Because our data is not in a
geodatabase, we will opt to store it
In the map.
1.
2.

Click the radial button In the

map.
Click the Convert button.

Our labels are no longer dynamic and

will no longer move according to
scale, etc. Lets move some of our
labels.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Click on the Select Elements tool.

Click on a label. An aqua dotted line should surround the label.

As you put the cursor over the label it will turn into cross-hairs. Click and hold the mouse
button, move the label, and then release the mouse button.
Double click on the label with the aqua line still surrounding it to access the Properties
dialog. Here you can change the text, font, and symbology.

23

Labeling: Interactive Labels

Like annotation, interactive labels are graphics.
Interactive labels can be added and moved
individually from the Draw toolbar. This allows you
to place custom-created text on the map.
1.
2.

If necessary, use the menu bar to click on Customize > Toolbars > Draw to display the
Draw toolbar.
Click on the New Text button, which looks like an A. When the cursor changes to a cross
hairs with an A click on the map and add text. This works for anywhere on the map.

There are 6 other options for the custom creation of text also available.
3.

To access these, click on the drop down box (arrow pointing down) to the right of the New
Text button, which looks like an A.

Once you use any of these tools to create a graphic object, little boxes or handlebars will
appear around that object surrounded by an aqua colored line. That tells you that the object is
selected. If an object is selected you can move the object to a different location with the Select
Elements tool . Click on the Select Elements tool, move it over the selected object, then
press the left mouse button and drag the object to the new location. Once the object is moved
to the location desired, you deselect the object by clicking anywhere in the view. The
handlebars should disappear. You can reselect the object with the Select Elements tool by
clicking on it with the left mouse button. The handlebars will reappear. If you want to delete an
object just press the delete key with the object selected.
To use, select the appropriate tool with the left mouse button.

24

To use the New text and Label tools you simply select the tool and click the spot on the view in
which you want to place the text. A text window will appear allowing you to type in your text.
Type the text and press OK.

To use the callout tool you must first click the point where the line pointer will begin. While
holding down the mouse button, drag the pointer in the direction the text will appear. Release
the button at the spot where the actual text will begin. A text window will appear allowing you
to type in your text. Type the text and press OK.

To use the splined text tool click at the point where the text will begin. Use the tool to draw a line
(does not have to be straight) by clicking at each segment point and double-clicking at the end. A
text window will appear. Type the text and press OK. The splined text tool is ideal for

labeling text in a non-linear fashion such as along a river.

To create new circle text, move to the spot on your view that will be the center of your circle.
Click and hold down the mouse button while moving away from the circles center until you reach
your preferred radius. Release the mouse button at the radius position and add text. The text will

fill a circular area.

To create new rectangle text, move to the spot on your view that will define a corner of the
rectangle. Click and hold down the left mouse button while moving to the opposite corner of the
rectangle. Release the button at the opposite corner and add text. The text will fill the

designated rectangle.

To create new polygon text, move to the spot on your view that you want to begin your polygon
and click with the left mouse button. Move the cursor to the endpoint of the first polygon side
and click once. The first side is defined. Now move the cursor to the endpoint of the second side
and click once. The second side is defined. Repeat this process until your polygon is complete,
then double-click to end the polygon and add text.

Once a graphic object is drawn, it is possible to edit its features.

1.

With the drawn object selected i.e. the handlebars displayed around the object, right click
with the mouse.

25

From this window you can also select other options that enable you to:

Change the order of the graphics (send to front, back, etc.)

Nudge the graphic up, down, to the left, or to the right.
Align to the top, bottom, or other directions.
Distribute horizontally or vertically; make the same size/height/width; or fit to margins.
Change properties, including color, font, and font size.

2.

To change properties, click on Properties > Change Symbol. This window will let you

change color, font, and font size.

We wont need our labels at this time, so lets delete them. We can individually select them
with the mouse button or we can do it all at once.
3.

Click on Edit on the menu bar > Select All Elements and hit the delete button on your
keyboard.

We have learned how to use some of the buttons and tools to view and edit our data. Now,
lets begin to perform some analysis with our data.

26

Performing Analysis in the Map Display

One way to perform analysis in ArcMap is to map certain attributes of layer data. For each
element or object that composes a single layer there is a set of characteristics or attributes
associated with that object. These attributes, also called fields, are stored in a table that is
linked to the graphic object. Thus each object in our layer is associated with a record in the
layers attribute table. Lets view the attribute table for the mdcounties layer.
To open the attribute table:
1.

Right click on mdcounties to open the Context Menu. From the menu, click on Open
Attribute Table.

A table opens showing all the attributes stored with each of the Maryland County polygons.

Lets just briefly examine the attributes in the layer table window:
2.

Move the mouse to the scroll bar at the bottom of the table. Using the left mouse button
click the scroll arrow to the right to view more attributes.

One of the first fields is Name which is the name of the county. Other attributes stored for
each county include Area, Pop90, Males, Females, White, Black, Married,
Medianrent, and so on. Much of this data is Census data and includes numerical data that we
can use in our analysis. Notice at the bottom it says Records (0 of 24 Selected). Its tells us we
have a total of 24 items in our table. There are 23 counties in Maryland plus Baltimore City.

27

3. Move the mouse to the top of the table. Right click on the
Name field. It should open a window:
4. Click, with the left mouse button, the sort ascending or the
sort descending options on the button bar.

Notice how the names of the counties will sort themselves

according to alphabetical order. When ascending, it will sort from
A-Z or 0-9, when descending it will sort from Z-A or 9-0. Try it
with the other columns, preferably those with integers. Such a
quick organization of data is beneficial in understanding the
range of data.
Other options to summarize, calculate values, freeze/unfreeze a
column, and delete a field are also in this window.
Options for selecting and querying data are also possible from the attribute table. These will be
discussed later in the workbook.

Mapping by Category: Unique Values

It is possible to assign different colors according to values in the attribute table. Lets make
every county in Maryland a different color.
1.
2.
3.

Hide the md_cities and the md_interst layers by unchecking the boxes next to their names.
Right click on mdcounties > Properties.
Click on the Symbology tab once with the left mouse button.

7
5

4. On the left side click on

Categories and then click on
Unique values.
5. Choose CNTY_FIPS in the
drop down box under Value
Field.
6. Click on the Add All Values
button (bottom left)

28

7. Choose any color ramp in the drop down box in the top right side.

If you want to control the colors assigned to each county, double click on the colored symbol. It
will allow you to change the color.
8. Click the OK button.

Each county will be given a different color. This is useful for distinguishing differences based on
attributes.

Mapping by Quantity: Color Maps

Now lets perform some analysis using a common mapping technique called color or choropleth
maps. These maps are ideal for showing all sorts of data including both numerical and
descriptive text. We will use the Maryland county layer again for our analysis:
1.
2.

Right click on mdcounties > Properties.

Click on the Symbology tab once with the left mouse button. This takes us again to the

section of Layer Properties that allows us to change symbols.

3.
4.

This time, click on Quantities in the window on the left and choose Graduated colors.
Under the section for Fields choose Females in the drop down box and click OK.

The map changes to

display the counties
according to the
number of females:
In the example, the
lighter colors
represent counties
where the number of
females is low
(relatively speaking)
such as western
Maryland or the
Eastern Shore. The
darker colors
represent areas
where the female
population is high
Baltimore City,
Montgomery County and Prince Georges County. Try this again with Pop1990 and see if it the
results with females are the same as the population in general.
29

Lets look at the Layer Properties more closely to examine other ways to portray this data.
1. Right click on mdcounties > Properties again to bring up Layer Properties. It should
automatically come up in symbology mode. If not, check the symbology tab.
2. Look in the Classification area of the window in the upper right corner. It identifies that we
are classifying by natural breaks and have 5 classes.
3. Click on the Classify button.

The Classification window will appear:

The Classification Statistics window in the upper right corner provides useful statistics that
may help in our analysis such as the minimum value, maximum value, mean and standard
deviation. The chart at the bottom shows you where the breaks will occur. You change these
manually by clicking on a line with the left mouse button, holding it, moving it to the new area,
and releasing it.
Now lets reclassify the same data to portray a different view:
The Classification section in the upper left allows you multiple ways to classify the data. You can
choose the type of classification, number of classes and a rounding value. Lets try a different
classification scheme.
1.
2.
3.

From the Method drop-down box select Equal Interval and from the Number of classes
drop-down box select 4.
Click OK to close the Classification window.
Click OK on the Layer Properties window to change the map.

30

The view is now changed to display four colors representing the four classes:

The new classification changes the groupings of our color map resulting in fewer categories and
differences in which categories the counties fall into. Experiment with the different
classification systems to see their effect on the data.
TECHTALK
The classification options are defined (by ESRI) below. Some of the methods are not
suitable for certain types of data.

Natural Breaks - This is the default classification method in GIS. This method
identifies breakpoints between classes using a statistical formula (Jenks optimization).
Natural Breaks finds groupings and patterns inherent in your data.
Quantile - In the quantile classification method, each class contains the same number of
features.
Equal Interval - The equal interval method divides the range of attribute values into
equal sized sub-ranges. The features are classified based on those sub-ranges.
Standard Deviations ArcGIS finds the mean value and then places class breaks above
and below the mean at intervals of either 1/4, 1/2, or 1 standard deviations until all the
data values are contained within the classes.
Manual and Defined Interval ArcGIS allows you to set your own classification
methods.

31

Mapping by Quantity: Dot Maps

Lets analyze a different attribute using another type of map the dot or dot density map. It is
ideal for mapping numerical data.
1.

Right click on mdcounties >

Properties again to bring up
Layer Properties. It should

automatically come up in
symbology mode. If not, click
the symbology tab.
2.
3.
4.

Click on Quantities and then Dot

density.
Under the Field Selection list click
on Vacant.
Click on the right arrow button to
add it to the box on the right.

Notice that the Dot Value comes

up as 300.
5.

The following dot density map appears:

32

Click OK.

Notice how the number of vacant housing differs dramatically between counties. Some
counties, like Baltimore City have a lot of vacant housing. Others, like Calvert County, have very
few. The dots do not represent the actual location of vacant homes. They are randomly
placed in each county. Remember that each dot represents 300 vacant homes, not a single
vacant house, so some generalization occurs.

Chart Maps
This third type of analysis overlays a chart onto our map. It is a good mapping technique when
you want to display and compare multiple values or values for each layer object. In our chart
map we will examine the number of homeowners vs. renters.

1.

Right click on mdcounties >

Properties again to bring up
Layer Properties.

2.

Click on Charts and then

Pie.

3.

From the Field Selection list

on the left-hand side scroll
down until you find
Owner_occ and
Renter_occ.

4.

Select both fields (by holding down the Ctrl button while clicking) then click the right arrow
button.

5.

Click OK.

If your pie charts are too large:

6.
7.
8.

Re-open the Layer Properties.

In the Symbology tab, click on the Size button and change the symbol size to 20.
Click OK twice to close the open windows.

Our view changes to a chart map depicting the breakdown in renter versus owner occupied
housing in Maryland. Which county appears to have the most renters in the state? Which
county appears to have the most owners? Can you see any spatial patterns in homeownership?

33

Lets change our map back to Single Symbol.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Right click on mdcounties > Properties again to bring up Layer Properties.

Click on Features. This will remove all symbology.
Change the color, if desired, by clicking on the Symbol box.
Click OK to close the window.

34

Queries
The real power of GIS lies in the queries that can be performed on the data. Through queries
we can find precise information quickly. We can also ascertain patterns in the data such as the
location of customers or low-income residents.

Attribute Queries
There are two main ways to create attribute queries. The first way is through the menu bar.
1.

Click on Selection and then Select by Attribute to open the Select by Attributes window.

The query window lets you choose which layer you would like to select from and changes the
list of layer attributes below depending on what you pick in the drop down box. It also contains
a set of operational tools in the middle left and all the table values for each attribute on the
middle right. The operational tools including the standard mathematical ones =, >, <, etc. as
35

well as the Boolean operators and, or and not. You build a query by first selecting an attribute
and then an operation you wish to perform with its values.
Lets start with a very simple query that locates an object:
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Change the Layer list drop down box to mdcounties.

Under Method choose Create a new selection.
Double-click the attribute Name.
Then single click the = sign operation.
Click on the Get Unique Values button. A list of attributes will appear in the box on the

right.
7.

Finally, in the box listing the attributes, scroll down until you find the name Prince Georges
and double-click the name. Each time you click or double-click the name or symbol

should appear in the query builder box below.

8.

Verify that your query looks the same as the example box on the previous page and click OK.

The boundary of Prince Georges County is highlighted in the aqua. ArcMap always highlights
selected objects in aqua as a default, which is why it is good to have a gray or darker
background for queries.

36

Creating a New Map Layer

Now that Prince Georges County has been selected it can be exported from the map and added
as its own layer. To do this:
1. Right click on mdcounties to open the context menu.
2. Scroll down to Data > Export Data. This opens the Export Data window.
3. Within this window choose to export selected features and use the same coordinate system
as the data frame.
4. Save the file in the appropriate folder (GIS_TEMP on the desktop) and give it a meaningful
name.
5. Click OK and you will then be asked if you wish to add the exported data to the map as a
layer. If you choose yes Prince Georges County will appear in the map as a new layer.

C:\Documents and Settings\Desktop\GIS_TEMP\PGcounty.shp

Check that your file appears in the folder you designated.

37

Spatial Queries
We examined simple queries about location and character using attribute data. Now lets look
at queries that consider the spatial relationship between objects or layers. This is where the
true power of a GIS is demonstrated.
Perhaps we want to locate all of the cities within Prince Georges County so that we may export
them as a new layer file as well.
1.

From the menu bar select Selection > Select by Location.

The Select By Location window opens.

2.

From the first drop-down box labeled I want to: choose the option select features from.

3.

Check the box md_cities under the option the following layer(s).

38

4.

In the next two drop down boxes choose are completely within and then PGCounty.

5.

Click the Apply button.

All of the Maryland cities (in this dataset) that are within Prince Georges County are selected.
Now try exporting the selected cities as a new map layer. See the previous section for
instructions.

39

Layouts
Layouts are a way of allowing you to make professional quality presentations. You can also
include tables and charts in a layout as well. To make the transition from view to layout easier,
you should remember to do a few things while in the Map Display:

Set the map and display units first. This needs to be done before a scale is placed on the
layout. (Right click on Layers > Properties > General tab)
Choose appropriate colors for your map. Otherwise you will have to return to your map to
make changes.
Give your view and layers meaningful names. These will be the names the layout uses to
title your map and label the legend.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Clear all of your selected objects.

Make sure that your layers have appropriate colors.
Make sure that the map and display units are set.
Label any features on the map that you want labeled on your layout.
Provide meaningful names to the layers.

To do so:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Right click on PGCounty > Properties

Click on the General tab.
Under Layer Name: change it to read Prince Georges County
Click OK.

40

Repeat this process with the PG Cities layer. An alternate method for changing the name of a layer is
to click on it once, then pause and click on it again. Youll see an editable box.

Now we are ready for layout.

1.

From the main menu, click View > Layout View. You must be in layout view to add legend
items to your map.

The view of our map is now visible as a layout. Notice that the layout toolbar is now visible.

From here it is possible to zoom in, zoom out, pan, fixed zoom in , fixed zoom out, zoom to
whole page, zoom to 100%, go back and forward between extents, and change the percentage
of your zooming. Practice using these tools.

Adding a Title, Scale Bar, North Arrow, and Legend

1.

From the menu bar, click on Insert. This box allows you to add various

elements to the layout.

2.

Click on Title and a little box will appear on the layout with the name you
chose when you saved your project. It is possible to change the name by

clicking on the box and typing in new text.

3.

Add the North Arrow and Scale bar by clicking on those options from the
menu bar. For each of these you will be given a range of choices.
4. Pick the one that looks best to you and click OK.

41

For the legend we will be using the Legend Wizard. It opens by asking you what layers you want
in the legend.
From the top menu, choose Insert > Legend.
Only choose the new layers you added to the map yourself, PG County and PG Cities.
Remove the other layers by highlighting them and clicking on . The two layers you
want in your legend should appear in the Legend Items area on the
right.
3. The next box allows us to decide properties for our legend title. The
default options are good, except we would like to have our legend
centered. Under Title Justification choose the option to center and click
1.
2.

Next.

The next box deals with the legend frame. At the top drop down box,
choose any type of border and click Next.
5. We will go with the default in the next two boxes for the symbol patch
and spacing. Click Next twice.
4.

From here we have most of the elements but they are not in the right place.

Moving Graphics and Layout Objects

To move a graphic object:
1. Select it with the Select Elements tool so that its handlebars appear.
2. The cursor will change to an arrow cross when placed over the graphic. Simply click and drag the
object to its new location and release the mouse button. You can select multiple objects to

move at once by holding down the shift key when selecting the objects.

Enlarging and Reducing Graphic Object Size

To enlarge or reduce the size of a graphic object:
1. Select the object so that the handlebars appear.
2. Move the cursor so that it is over one of the handlebar squares until it changes to a double arrow.
3. Click and drag the handle bar square away from the graphics center to enlarge. Drag the handle
bar square into the graphics center to reduce.
4. Release the cursor when the graphic is at the appropriate size.

42

Grouping and Ungrouping Graphic Objects

To group multiple objects together as one:
1. Select each object while holding down the Ctrl key.

2. Right click anywhere on the layout and choose

To ungroup objects select the
consolidated object, right click anywhere on the layout and choose Ungroup.

Adding Text and More Graphics

Add additional text and graphic objects using the draw toolbar just as you would in the Map
Display or from the Insert menu. Lets add a text box for source as well as author/date.
1.

From the menu bar, click on Insert > Text. In one box type Source: ESRI Data & Maps
2001. In the other type your name and the date.

Toggling Back and Forth (Layout View/Data View)

It is possible to go back and forth between the Map Display and the layout view by using the
buttons located at the bottom left of the view window.

Printing/Exporting the Layout

1.
2.

Once your layout is finished you can print it by pressing the print button or from the menu
bar select File > Print.
When the print window opens press OK.

It is also possible to save the layout in a variety of file types.

1.

From the menu bar select File > Export Map.

From here you can choose the location to save it, alter the resolution, and
select a file type.

43

More Training and Information

UM students, faculty and staff have access to free online courses provided by ESRI. These cover
a wide range of GIS topics and skills. To sign up for a class, please contact [email protected] with
the name of the course you are interested in and your UMD e-mail address to obtain a
registration code.
Course list: http://training.esri.com/gateway/index.cfm?fa=aul.premiumCourses
University of Maryland Libraries GIS Data Repository: http://libraries.umd.edu/gis/
The data used in this workshop and some of the GIS data in the Libraries collection are
available for downloading from this site (because of licensing restrictions, for some data
you will need to authenticate with your directory ID and password before downloading).
University of Maryland Libraries Maps and GIS Website:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/GOV/geospatial.html
At this site, you can access guides to finding GIS data and maps, as well as the slides and
workbooks from the Libraries series of GIS workshops.

44