Create ArcMap Annotation
January 4, 2009 by Timothy
Filed under ArcGIS, Cartography, GIS Tips
Annotation is a valuable resource for creating labels. Annotation can be created in two ways: either manually through the labeling tool or by converting the dynamic labels into annotation. The later is a big time saver when creating a lot of labels.
When creating labels through conversion, you are given the option to save the annotation in a geodatabase or the map document. If you will be using the annotation in another map project then use the geodatabase option. Otherwise, saving in the map would be fine. When you convert to annotation, the labels are created at the current scale.
1. Set desired font and layout.
2. Turn on labels.
3. Right click on layer to have labels converted.
4. Set annotation settings.
5. Select storage type and which features to create annotation for.
Notice the reference scale on the top right. This is the scale at which the annotation will be view correctly. Learn how to change this in the ArcMap Annotation Properties.
6. Click Convert.
The labels have now been converted to annotation. You can select the text and change its location along with other properties as well.
One thing to note with annotation is that if you change the scale, the annotation does not adjust. You can delete the annotation and recreate it using the previous steps. However, there is an easier way by following the steps in the ArcMap Annotation Properties post! You can also learn how to turn on/off map annotation without having to delete it.
Related Books
Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS
Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users
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
December 10, 2008 by Timothy
Filed under ArcGIS, ArcToolbox, Data Management, GIS Tips, Videos
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.
- Add CAD file to ArcMap
- Select by Attribute desired layers
- Export selected features to shapefile or feature class
- Add new layer to map
You can also use ArcToolbox to convert from CAD
- ArcToolbox -> Conversion Tools -> Import From CAD
- Select Input CAD File
- Input New Geodatabase Name
- Select Coordinate System (optional)
- 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!?
Excel in ArcGIS Desktop
You may not realize it, but you can actually add Excel spreadsheets to ArcMap without having to convert it to a *.dbf. ESRI has made it possible in the ArcGIS 9.2 version and higher. This is a big time saver. There have been many times that I have had non-spatial data that I would like to join up to a feature class. I used to open the excel document and do a save as .dbf and then add the .dbf to my map to complete the join. Now you can add an individual sheet. I would go into details about this, but ESRI has a blog post entitled: Formatting Excel Data for Use in ArcGIS Desktop that covers it just as well as I could do.
Also note that Excel 2007 does not allow a file to be saved as a .dbf. Adding the actual excel file in this situation is the simplest way to integrate this data.
The Formatting Excel Data for Use in ArcGIS Desktop post has a main focus on formatting your excel data to be uses efficiently in ArcGIS. Towards the end of the post there are some basic instructions to adding the data to you map document.
A few things that were not mentioned that I would like to point out:
- If you add and excel sheet to ArcMap, make sure that you do not have it open. Although it will work fine and the data will update as you change it in excel, this could form issues. If you do keep it open, you must open the excel file before adding it to the map (see next item).
- If you have added an excel sheet to ArcMap then go to open the excel file, excel will say that the file is already open and only allow it to be viewed in read only format.
- Make sure the fields you use to join are formatted with the same field types as the joined feature class.
Learn how to Create Point File from XY Data that you add in from excel or a *dbf.
Related Blog Posts
ArcGIS and Excel are Worthwhile
New Attribute Data Collection Tool for ArcGIS Users
ArcMap Symbology by Quantity
November 25, 2008 by Timothy
Filed under Cartography, GIS Tips
Symbolizing features is an important part to cartography and map making. Most GIS users symbolize based up one symbology type or unique values. Although this may be appropriate in most cases, you also have the capability to symbolize based upon numeric values within the attribute table of a feature class.
Begin by reviewing your attribute table. Find the numeric attribute you would like to symbolize by. Now notice in the first image, the parcels layer is symbolized with a single symbol.
Double click the layer or right click the layer and choose properties to open up the layer properties. With this dialog open you will see many tabs. Choose the Symbology tab. This will bring up many options to symbolize by. On the left, you have the options of Features, Categories, Quantities, Charts, and Multiple Attributes. Take time to study these areas as they will open a multitude of symbology option.
However, for this demonstration click on Quantities. Select Graduated Colors. Notice The Fields area. Select the attribute that you would like to symbolize by. Normalization is an important feature to keep in mind. You can normalize by percent of total or another field. You can select the number of classes as well. Then select the color range that you desire.
The output will reflect the options that you select. The table of contents will show this symbolization as will the legend.
I hope this tip helps further your use of ArcGIS. Enjoy!
If you have a question, feel free to ask!
Related Sites
Related Book
Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS
How to Lie with Maps (2nd Edition)
Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users
Add VBA Code to ArcMap
November 22, 2008 by Timothy
Filed under ArcGIS, GIS Tips, Programming
Once you find a some quality VBA code for your GIS application, you can begin thinking how to put the code to use. Check out my VBA Code Resources post for great resources.
So now that you have that block of code or *.dll file, what do you do with it? Well, here are two quick videos to show how to implement VBA code.
Add VBA Code to Toolbar Button
Add DLL File
Note: Videos are broadcast through youtube.com. Some browsers may block this content.
Related Blogs
Intro to Programming with ArcObjects
ArcObjects Tutorial I-Create Custom Command
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ArcMap Definition Query
November 22, 2008 by Timothy
Filed under GIS Software, GIS Tips, Videos
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
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
Start Programming in GIS
November 10, 2008 by Timothy
Filed under ArcGIS, GIS Tips, Programming
GIS in and of itself is a very technical system. Just think about the visual part of a map and then add in the data that lies behind the visualization. Then on top of everything, add the ability to do extensive analysis with the data. Each of these parts are held together with a Graphic User Interface such as ArcGIS, MapInfo, or GoogleEarth. While already being overwhelmed by the data alone, think about the programming that goes into these GUI’s. You may tell yourself that programming is an area that you plan to stay far away from; however. I believe that there are extremely great benefits to knowing a little bit about programming.
In order to get your feet wet in GIS programming, I would suggest learning a little bit about Visual Basic for Applications. VBA is an event driven form of Visual Basic. It usually relies on applications to serve as its host as it does not work independently. Microsoft Software is the main housing unit for VBA, but it does come with other software packages such as AutoCAD, WordPerfect, and ArcGIS. VBA allows the user to perform repetitive and/or extensive tasks in a simple to use format. These formats can include but are not limited to a Button, Tool, Form, and Macro.
To Begin, find where the Visual Basic for Applications program is located. In ArcMap or ArcCatalog click Tools -> Marcos -> Visual Basic Editor… (This is basic for all applications with VBA). The shortcut is Atl+F11. This will open Microsoft Visual Basic in a new window.
Start by exploring the various areas presented. Familiarize yourself with the Menu bar. Many of the options will be completely foreign, but you will learn how to apply them to programming eventually.
Next, you should see a Project Explorer Window (If you do not see this window, click View -> Project Explorer). Read more
VBA Code Resources
November 10, 2008 by Timothy
Filed under ArcGIS, GIS Tips, Programming, Websites
Finding resources for programming with VBA in GIS is a challenging task. I have search high and low, and still I have found very little resources. Here is what I have found so far:
1. ArcScripts
This the best place to find code. Since it is maintained by ESRI, there is no larger collected anywhere online. The GIS community uplaods various scripts and the site puts them in an easy to search format. Many programming languages are available.
Here are a few of my favorite:
