The MCHP GIS MANUAL - Saving Map Documents

         

Introduction   Contents


 USING ArcGIS: 
   
1. Basic Use of ArcMap 
   Creating a Map 
   Data Frame Tools
   Data Frame Properties
   Tables and Charts
   Layout View
   Saving Map Documents
   Activity 1

2. Map Projections
   Projections
   UTM
   Datums
  
3. ArcCatalog 
   Basic Uses    
   
4. ArcToolBox 
   Basic Uses    
   
5. Adding Spatial Information
   Georeferencing
   Adding Non-Spatial Data
   Dbase Files
   Activity 2

6. Selecting Data
   By Graphics
   By Location
   Activity 3

7.  Exporting Maps
   Exporting
   Activity 4
  
 
FURTHER INFORMATION:
   General Information
   Data Sets

BASIC USE: SAVING MAP DOCUMENTS

Saving Map Documents

A map file (.mxd) is saved by selecting ‘Save’ or ‘Save As…’ from the File menu. A map file contains only pointers to the actual tables and shape files on your computer. All of the views, layers, colours, joins, charts, layout arrangement, etc… are defined within the map file. This means when you re-open a project file all of the joins, and legends must be re-generated at that time. Saving a map file does not modify existing data. By default the map file contains absolute path names to each of the tables and shape files. This means if you move any of your shape files, tables, or change the name of any directories you will need to find them again when you try to open the project. When you open a map file, objects that are not found have an exclamation point ( ) beside them. You can re-assign the source location through the layer properties under the Source tab. If you want to use relative path names there is an option in the map properties found under the file menu.

Save the current file as RHA.mxd (we will be going back to it later).

Activity 1. Basic Mapping of WRHA

Create and save a new map called WRHA that shows the 12 community area (CA) regions (12regions2) of Winnipeg with Rivers (wpg_rivers, wpg_red_river) and roads (wpg_roads) added. The appropriate files are located in D:\GIS_course\wrha for shape files. Change the color of the rivers to blue. Change the colors of the major roads based on the Carto field (1- Residential streets, 2 – Access roads, 3 – Major through ways, 4 – Highway, 5 - path/lane).

You might want to change the maximum scale so the roads only show up on larger scale maps (e.g. 1:50000)

Try mapping premature mortality (PMR) values for each CA. The PMR values are already coded into the shape file.

Your map should look something like the following:

Introduction
Basic Use: Layout View
NEXT
Map Projections

Contact: Charles Burchill       Telephone: (204) 789-3429

Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba
4th floor Brodie Centre
408 - 727 McDermot Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3P5       Fax: (204) 789-3910
Last modified on Friday, 25-Aug-2006 08:06:00 CDT