ESRM 250/CFR 520 Autumn 2009 Phil Hurvitz

ESRM 250 & CFR 520: Introduction to GIS

© Phil Hurvitz, 1999-2009

ESRM 250/CFR 520Autumn 2009Phil Hurvitz

Project Management in GIS

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Managing non-ArcInfo data setsManaging ArcInfo data setsManaging GeodatabasesCopying & moving ArcMap documentsGeodatabases

Overview

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Overview

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General system file managementSetting the working directoryRenamingCopyingArchiving

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Managing non-ArcInfo data sets



GIS is more file-intensive than most other computer applications

Knowledge of OS file system operation is critical

Disk, directory, and file management skills Disk space Directory structure & nomenclature

File nomenclature, file sizes, multiple-file data sets

Where (file system-wise) is every file in the current project?

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General system file management



Default location for new filesSet the working directory early Avoids major headache laterHave no doubt about where new files

will be placedTIPs: Create a new directory for each project Set working directory to the new directory

New data sets can be easily archived

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Setting the working directory



Geoprocessing environment: default output directory, etc.

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Setting the working directory



Be careful about renaming & copying filesEvery file of a multiple-file data source

must be renamed/copiedFiles that are renamed/copied will not be

“found” in map documents Files to be copied/renamed cannot be in

use in current projectData sources are frequently composed of

multiple individual files Shapefiles are composed of at least 3 separate

files Image data sources are composed of at least 1

file, at most 48 of 26

Renaming & copying



Use OS find files functionality to identify all files in multiple-file data sources

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Renaming & copying



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Renaming - Use ArcCatalog

ArcCatalog renames all files withone operation



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Copying - Use ArcCatalog!

ArcCatalog copiesall files withone operation



ArcCatalog functionality applies to any supported data sets

Other files can be copied/moved/renamed using OS file management

images

text files

dBase files (that are not theme tables)

CAD files

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Renaming & copying



Create new “backup” directories, copy files

Write to stable media (tape, CD, DVD, etc.)

Use archiving tool, e.g. PKZip, WinZip, tar

create archive files copy to “safe” directories write to stable media

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Managing non-ArcInfo data sets: Archiving




Overview

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Supported data typesArchivingDealing with ArcInfo coverages

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Managing ArcInfo data sets



ArcCatalog will rename, copy, and move

Coverages grid data sources TIN data sources

Possible to convert any vector data format to and manage as shapefile or geodatabase

Possible loss of informational content

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Managing ArcInfo data sets: Copying & Renaming



Coverage, grid, & TIN themes Use standard ArcCatalog rename & copy Archive files as you would any other files

create archive files copy to “safe” directories write to stable media

NEVER attempt to manage ArcInfo (coverage, grid, or TIN) source files with the OS; you will corrupt your data

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Managing ArcInfo data sets: Archiving



ArcInfo File Structure

some of the files in the info directoryare associated with files in the

geodataset directory18 of 26

Dealing with ArcInfo coverages



ArcInfo data sets are somewhat problematic in ArcGIS

Cannot be edited without ArcInfo run level

Convert & manage as shapefile Loss of informational content if polymorphic

data set

Import to whole new directory/folder copy & archive entire directory

Do not alter Info directories/folders you will corrupt data

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Dealing with ArcInfo coverages




Overview

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ArcGIS map document files do not “contain” copies of data sets

ArcGIS map documents contain instructions that include pointers to data location

File locations are “hard coded” into project files

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Copying & Moving Map (.mxd) Documents



Copying & moving map documents does NOT copy or move data sets

Data sets must be either: Moved

Identical file structure

Copied Identical file structure

Specified Restructure your .mxd map document

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Map documents may specify absolute or relative path names to data sources

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Map documents may specify absolute or relative path names to data sources

With relative path names, if data sets are in the same folder as the map document, the entire folder can be moved, copied, or renamed.

With absolute path names, file structures must be recreated identically if map documents and data sets are to be copied to a different computer.

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Overview

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Geodatabases are the new preferred data storage standard for ArcGIS

A “container” for data sets feature classes (vector data) raster data tables

Two formats: MS Access mdb format (“personal

geodatabase”) 2 GB size limit

Special files in a folder (“file geodatabase”) 1 TB size limit

Manage with ArcCatalog26 of 26

Geodatabases

ESRM 250/CFR 520 Autumn 2009 Phil Hurvitz

Documents

Transcript of ESRM 250/CFR 520 Autumn 2009 Phil Hurvitz