ArcMap Erase Tool – Video Tutorial

The erase tool can help save a ton of editing time.  Its main purpose is to perform an overlay analysis.  The most common tool used for this is Clip, but output of this tool is just the overlap portion of your feature class.  To be able to carry out the opposite of this, you must use the Erase Tool.  The Erase Tool will remove the overlapped portion from the feature class and leave a shape that resembles a doughnut.

Although this demonstration show you how to use the erase tool at the ArcInfo license level, you can also do this at the lower levels such as ArcView or ArcInfo.  James Fee provided a great resource.  You can find the link at the bottom of this page.

To use the Erase Tool:

1. Open ArcToolbox -> Analysis Tools -> Overlay ->Erase Tool
2. Fill in Dialog Box
   • Input Features
   • Erase Features
   • Output Feature Class
3. Click OK

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.

Download the video to your computer: ArcMap Erase Tool

If you do not have access to the ArcInfo software license, you can also learn how to Perform an Erase in ArcView.

Utilizing the ArcMap Draw Toolbar

Creating and editing graphic elements can become very time consuming within ArcMap; however, there is a valuable help called the Draw Toolbar.  The tools within this toolbar will help you save time and become more productive with your work.  Your cartographic productions will benefit from these tools.

Learn how to quickly change an element’s properties without accessing the properties dialog.  Discover new techniques to manipulate each element and even convert them to a feature class.  Do more now by watching this video!

This video covers the following areas:

• Draw Menu
• Select Elements
• Rotate Elements
• Zoom to Elements
• Add Elements
• Change Element Size
• Change Element Color
• Change Annotation Font

Stop wasting your valuable time and learn a new tip today!

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.

Download the video to your computer: ArcMap Draw Toolbar

Related GIS Pathway Articles

ArcMap Annotation Properties

Create ArcMap Annotation

Saving New ArcMap Symbol

Related Readings

ESRI Mapping Center: Adding columns to text boxes

What’s new in ArcGIS 9.3 – Mapping

Enhance Your ArcMap Legends

The cartographic design of a map is an important part to the delivery of your information.   One of the key features is the legend.  It defines how the map is perceived.  If the legend is not presented in a helpful role, then the map is of no value.  There are many elements to a legend.  Understanding each area and how they work is important.  Here are some excellent insights to ArcMap legends that are within this video:

• Multiple Columns
• Titles
• Frames
• Drop Shadows
• Layers Swatches
• Font Types
• Description Layouts

Check it out and take your maps to the next level!

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.

Related Readings

Creating a Whole Page Legend in ArcMap

Multi-Lined Legend Labels in ArcMAP

ArcGIS Tutorial: Manually Editing the Legend in ArcGIS/ArcMAP

Related Books

Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS
Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users

CAD to GIS Shapefile

CAD files are created with extreme detail, but how can you use them in GIS?  These files do not work quite like GIS feature classes or shapefiles in spatial analysis.  They can be converted to a usable format through a few basic steps.

1. Add CAD file to ArcMap
2. Select by Attribute desired layers
3. Export selected features to shapefile or feature class
4. Add new layer to map

You can also use ArcToolbox to convert from CAD

1. ArcToolbox -> Conversion Tools -> Import From CAD
2. Select Input CAD File
3. Input New Geodatabase Name
4. Select Coordinate System (optional)
5. Click Ok

Here is a video for further demonstration.

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.

ESRI also has some good courses for working with CAD files in GIS on their training website.

Related Readings

KarelCAD provide inputs on CAD and Geographical Information Systems

“What is spatial design, and how can it be applied to sustainability problems?”

What – There is a Better AutoCAD!?

Import From CAD and Chainsaws

ArcMap Definition Query

The ArcMap Definition Query is a tool that not many people know about.  The tool takes the simple query interface and applies it to the visible extent of a data layer.  The example shown isolates New Zealand from a layer of countries.  Check it out and tell me what you think.

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.

Related Posts

Organizing CAD Data In ArcGIS: Part 5/7 Definition Query

Quick rant on joins in ArcMap

Related Books

ArcMap Interface Tutorial

ArcMap can be very overwhelming to the new user.  Understanding what each feature does and how it applies is important.  Here are some of the areas that are covered in this tutorial video.

Data View

• Add Data
• Scale
• Toolbars
• Data Frame
• Layers
• Zoom
• Pan
• Selection
• Identify

Page Layout

• Data Frame
• Title
• North Arrow
• Scale Bar/Text

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.

Download the video to your computer: ArcMap Interface

Related Books

Calculate Lat/Long for Shapefile

Ever needed to add XY or Latitude/Longitude values to you shapefiles or feature classes?  Well, what seems to be a mystery can easily be done with just a few clicks.

The easiest way to get the lat/long values is to right click the field and select “Calculate Geometry…”. You can define whether to calculate x or y along with other geometries too.

Here is a more extensive video tutorial.

Read more

ArcToolbox Batch Tool Process

Have you ever needed to run an ArcToolbox tool multiple times?  Here is an illustration for adding multiple fields to multiple shapefiles within one simple process.  The demonstration uses the ArcCatalog interface and uses the batch process to carry out the desired task.

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.

What’s New in ArcGIS 9.3

Now that ArcGIS 9.3 has been out a few months, people are starting to migrate over to the new version.  So what is new?  ESRI has put together a few videos to show what cool additions they have added.  Check them out!

ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Options for Working with Graphics
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Layer Legend Enhancements
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Bookmark Manager
ArcGIS 9.3: ESRI Resource Centers
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Pause Labeling
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Geoprocessing Tool Progress and Messaging
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: New KML Export Support
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Improved KML Support
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: WYSIWYG Representation Editing
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Identify Tool Enhancements
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: New HTML Popup Tool
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Table Enhancements
ArcGIS Desktop 9.3: Custom Relative Scales

Blogs:

• ESRI Seminar on New Features in ArcGIS 9.3
• ArcGIS 9.3 Now Exports Geo PDF Maps (ESRI)

Press Releases:

• ArcGIS 9.3 Improves Your Entire GIS Workflow
• ESRI Offers a Free ArcGIS 9.3 Seminar for Improving an Entire GIS Workflow

Create Point File from XY Data

Collecting X and Y coordinates are becoming easier and easier with all of the new GPS technology.  Getting the collected data into GIS can be done without adding each point by hand.  Here is a simple tutorial on creating a point shapefile from a table with XY coordinates.

Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com.  Some browsers may block this content.