Work Folder

C:\

• - \cartography
  • - \student_name
    • - \project_1
      • - project_1.mxd (project file_name)
      • - \work_data (exported_shape_files)
      • - \source_data (original_data, downloaded or from other location)

• - \project_2
  • - project_1.mxd
  • - \work_data
  • - \source_data

Absolute (Full Path) & Relative Path

Absolute (Full Path) - When a project.mxd is opened it will source needed shapefiles from the absolute path of the storage device.

Relative Path - When a project.mxd is opened it will source needed shapefiles relative to its current location.

Absolute (Full Path) to project_1 work_data folder:
    C:\cartography\student_name\project_1\work_data   (storage device C: is defined)

Relative Path to project_1 work_data folder:
    \cartography\student_name\project_1\work_data   (no_storage device is defined)

A project saved with relative path can be copied to any other computer or storage device and opened providing the folder structure is maintained.

Example:

\student_name and its sub-folders can be copied to F:\

and F:\student_name\project.mxd will source needed files relative to it's new location.

To set Absolute or Relative Path

File Pulldown Menu > Map Properties > Data Source Options > "relative path" > OK

Arc_Catalog - Folders & Files

• When you create a shapefile, ArcMap creates association files to support it.
  • Some of these files do not appear within ArcCatalog
  • When a shap_file.shp is deleted or renamed within ArcCatalog, all associated files are renamed along with it.

Example:

• shape_file.shp (shape file)
• shape_file.shx (index of geometry features)
• shape_file.sbx (spatial index file)
• shape_file.sbn (spatial index file)
• shape_file.dbf (database file(dbaseIV) / attribute tabel)
• shape_file.prj (projection file)

ArcCatalog Folder/ShapeFile Creation Exercise

Close all running programs

• Open ArcMap
• Open XP File Manager
• ALT-Tab to ArcMap
• From within ArcMap open ArcCatalog
• Navigate to c:\cartography & create a sub-folder "student_name"
• Navigate to c:\catography\student_name & create a sub-folder "project_1"
• Navigate to c:\catography\student_name\project_1 & create 2 sub-folders "work_data" & "source_data"

• Alt-Tab to XP File Manager and navigate to c:\cartography\student_name and note the folder structure you created with ArcCatalog.
• In XP FManager - Navigate to c:\cartography\student_name\project_1\work_data & then Alt-Tab to ArcCatalog & Navigate to c:\cartography\student_name\project_1\work_data

While in ArcCatalog create 3 new shapefiles in \student_name\project_1\work_data

File Pulldown Menu > New > Shapefile

• > feature type pull down list "point"
• > feature type pull down list "polyline"
• > feature type pull down list "polygon"

Note: the shapefile icon type for the different shapefile types

• Alt-Tab to XP FManager and note the number and type of files created
• Alt-Tab to ArcMap & delete the 3 shapefiles in c:\cartography\student_name\project_1\work_data
• Alt-Tab to XP FManager and note the folder is now empty.

www.czmartin.com/home/i24/utm/folder.asp