FAQ Sheet

KECK GIS Lab Commons

 

  1. Where can I save GIS work?

Several GIS servers have been created to thwart the problem of frequently large GIS files with not computer space to put them.  In addition, student access in particular to computers is rather limited (often the H: drive is too small and the C: drive is inaccessible).  There are GIS servers specifically for students, faculty, and classes (please see “What are all the GIS servers?” for a full list of those available to you).  Also, if you do not know how to connect to a particular server see “How do I connect to GIS servers?”

 

  1. How do I connect to GIS servers?

There are several GIS servers all of which can be connected to in the same way.  First, open any folder in Windows (for example My Computer or My Documents).  Click on “Tools” and then “Map

Network Drive” on the upper toolbar.   In the “Drive” drop down box, select the drive letter which corresponds to the drive you wish to connect to (for example, if you are connecting to the GIS Data server, select X:).  Note that it important within ArcGIS applications

that you do not choose a random drive but the listed with a particular

server.  Finally, type in the name of the drive you wish to connect to starting with two forward dashes (\\) in the “Folder” text box.  See “What are all of the GIS servers” for a list of all servers available.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. What are all of the GIS servers?

X:\\GISDataserv\gisdata

S:\\GISDataserv\Students

U:\\DISDataserv\Staff

V:\\GisDataserv\Faculty

Y:\\GIsdataServ\classes

Z:\\GisDataserv\workshops

 

  1. How often do things get deleted off of the GIS servers?

Items do not get deleted from the GIS servers on any regularly basis thus you can feel relatively safe that your data will stay on the server for a long period of time.  If you have data that you would like to keep for several years on a server, please talk with the GIS Technical Director for more information about securing your data.

 

  1. Why can’t I edit my work (especially when going through a class assignment)?

If you can’t edit a data layer, first make sure that you have clicked “Edit” and then “Start Editing” on your Editor Toolbar.  If you have done this and the program either will not let you start editing or not let you save your edits, check the location of the data you want to edit.  You cannot edit data on a CD, on the GIS data server (the X: drive), and sometimes even on the local C:/ drive if you do not have proper access to wherever the data is stored.  For instance, CDs store solely readable data, thus you cannot edit what is stored on a CD.  Similarly, you cannot edit data from the GIS data repository (X: drive) because if you did, you would in turn be altering the data of others currently using the same layer for their research.

 

To fix the problem simply copy and paste the data somewhere you know you have access (for example, the student or faculty GIS data servers).  If you have already started working with your data layers, sometimes it is easy to change the data source of a layer rather than starting over with a file all together.  To do this, double click on the name of the layer to open the Properties menu.  Click on “Source” and then click “Set Data Source…” (See illustration of following page).  Here you can change the data source from the old to the new, editable one. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


For more information about connecting to GIS Servers see question “How do I connect to GIS servers?”

 

  1. Can I access GIS from somewhere else on campus when the GIS lab is closed?

Yes.  You can access ArcGIS from almost any computer on campus.  It is by default installed on all computers.  There are, however, several drawbacks to using computers outside of the GIS lab you should be aware of.  Most importantly, computers in the GIS lab are faster than most computers on campus to capacitate GIS software and processes where as other computers on campus will be much slower.  Be prepared for longer waiting times when using GIS on slower computers.

 

  1. How do I open up my saved work outside of the GIS lab?  Are the GIS drives accessible all over campus?

You can connect to GIS servers on any computer on campus the same way you would in the GIS lab (see “How do I connect to GIS servers?”).

 

  1. How do I print to the color laser printer?

Printing to “GIS Color Laser” from any of the computers in the GIS lab will send your map to the color laser printer.  Please note that the printer is not hooked up to the CC network, thus you cannot map to the printer from computers outside of the GIS lab.

 

 

  1. Where is the nearest black and white printer?  What is its name?

The nearest black and white printer is in Palmer 02 (just through the Fire Door located at the back of the GIS lab).  The name of the printer is “Palmer 02 lab”.

 

  1. Where I can I print to the color laser printer from?

You can only print to the color laser printer from computers located in the GIS lab.  The printer is not accessible through the CC network.

 

  1. How do I use the plotter?  Where can I plot from?  How much does it cost to plot?

If you would like to use the plotter, please ask either the GIS technical director or a GIS lab assistant to help you.  Plotter printing can only be done from one computer in the lab so make sure that your map is saved somewhere on the network or to a CD/memory stick.

 

The cost of plotting depends both on the size of you map and the kind of paper that you use.  Please see the bulletin board in the back of the GIS lab for more information on how to calculate plotting costs.

 

  1. Who do I contact if I have specific questions not answered here?

You can contact either the GIS Technical Director or a GIS lab assistant.

 

  1. How do I open ArcGIS?

To open ArcGIS click “Start,” then “Program Files,” then “ArcGIS,” and then “ArcMap” (if you are opening a map) or “ArcCatalogue” (if you are looking at GIS data).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. How do I change the symbology of my map?

Double click on the data layer you wish to change to open the Properties menu.  Select the “Symbology” tab.  Here you can select how you would like the symbology of your map to appear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1. How do I edit the look of my map for when I print it?

At the bottom of the screen in ArcMap, you will see both a thumbnail picture of the Earth beside a picture of a page.  These two images represent different views you can look at your data through.  When you are manipulating you data layers you will see that the Earth is selected meaning that you are in Data View.  However, if you want to see what your final poster will look like, the page will be selected meaning that you are in Layout View.  To switch between the two just select whichever view (Layout or Data) you want to be in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1. Can I leave a program running over night?

Yes.  However, please notify someone working in the lab that you will be doing so.  If a class will be coming in to use the lab, we may request that you run your program on a specific computer or wait until a day when prior arrangements have not been made for computer use in the lab.

 

  1. What are the GIS lab hours?

The lab is regularly open during the school year from 9:00am to 5:00pm; however, there are extended lab hours (generally days when the lab will be open until 8:00 or weekend hours) which may change slightly from semester to semester.  Ask someone working in the lab for the current lab schedule.

 

  1. How do I add simple labels to my map?

Right click on the data layer you wish to be labeled and then select “Label” from the drop down box.  ArcGIS will automatically ‘guess’ at which column in your data you want to use as a label.  If it selected incorrectly for you, double click on the data layer’s name and select the “Label” tab from the Properties menu that should appear.  Here you can select the column you want your labels to be derived from as well as other characteristics of your labels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. How do I edit the labels on my map?

You may notice that you cannot move labels once you’ve added them to your map.  To be able to edit them, you will need to convert them to annotation.  To do this, right click on a data layer which is already labeled and select “Convert Labels to Annotation…”  A dialogue box will appear asking you how you would like to convert the labels (generally, if you like they way they look currently on the map and would just like to make a few edits, select “In the Map” rather than “In a Database” and click OK).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. How do I create a legend for my map?

First make sure that you are in Layout view (not Map view).  See question “How do I edit the look of my map for when I print it?” if you are unsure of which view you are currently in.  Once in the Layout view, click “Insert” from the upper toolbar and then select “Legend.”  A dialogue box will open where you can edit the information you want your legend to contain.  Note that you cannot add a legend to your map in Data view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Why aren’t some of my data layers showing up? (I.e. why is there a red exclamation mark beside some of my data layers?)

ArcGIS saves the source of data when you create a map rather than the data itself.  Thus, if you move your data and then open your ArcMap file again, you map notice that your data isn’t there anymore.  This means that it is looking for the data the same place it was saved the last time you worked on the file, but since then it has been moved (or the path to your file has changed).  Double click on the red exclamation point you see beside the data layer to locate the source of your data. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1. How do I access and use the tools in ArcGIS?

Tools in ArcGIS are the building blocks upon which you will be able to manipulate your data.  All tools are located within the ArcGIS toolbox.  Click on the red toolbox icon to browse through the tools available to you.  You can use the search feature to find the tools that whichever tool you are looking for (generally tools are named after the action they perform such as “clip” or “erase”).  In addition, you can find out more information both on how the tool will alter your data and what information you need to input by double clicking on the tool of interest and then clicking “Show help.”  Note that when you select different parts of the dialogue box (i.e. different places you’ll need to fill out in order for the tool to run property), the help window will change to reflect that particular portion of the tool.