Differences between ArcGIS 9.3 and ArcGIS 10

New Features:

ArcGIS 10 dramatically improves and simplifies the user experience, streamlines editing, and

integrates productivity tools to support the workflows of GIS professionals.

Can burn the software to a DVD to create your own back up media or to distribute to other

computers. Can download software as many times as you need.

Cannot be installed on the same computer as ArcGIS 9

Makes it easier to import and export cache tiles to and from the cache directory in situations

where different organizations contribute tiles to one master cache. Additionally, a map cache can

be used as a raster data set independent of internet connectivity.

Editing in 3D:

o Start editing, stop editing, save edits, use Undo and Redo functions, and do other standard

edit management tasks in 3D. The classic Snapping environment is also supported as are

precision-creation options such as parallel, perpendicular, deflection, and absolute XYZ.

o Create and delete individual features. This includes the creation and storage of vertical

lines in the geodatabase.

o Move, rotate, scale, and replace feature geometry (higher level geometry edits to

features). This includes the ability to place 3D models (e.g., COLLADA files) directly

into the 3D view as new multipatch features, and then move/scale/rotate them on the

landscape.

Changes to editing: new ‘Create Features’ window, a redesigned editor toolbar, a new snapping

interface, new edit sketch properties and attribute windows, new geodatabase topology rules, an

editing geoprocessing toolbox, and new parcel editing functionality.

Graphic acceleration hardware: When hardware acceleration is enabled in your ArcMap options,

you will notice data is cached around your current view extent and renders simultaneously with

data already in view after you pan or zoom out.

Help with broken data source and MXD data source migration problems found during a project

lifecycle: ArcGIS 10 Desktop introduces ArcPy, which is often referred to as the ArcPy site

package. ArcPy provides Python access for all geoprocessing tools, including extensions, as well

as a wide variety of useful functions and classes for working with verifying the integrity of GIS

data. Included in ArcPy is a mapping automation module called arcpy.mapping, which is a set of

Python functions that allow you to open and manipulate ArcMap map documents (.mxd) and

layer files (.lyr). Using an arcpy.mapping script, you can create a list of maps that have layers

referencing a certain data source and update or repair the data source links for all layers in a map

document. You can also create a report on information contained in layers, data sources, and

symbology.

Available in six languages: English, French, German, Neutral Spanish, Japanese or Simplified

Chinese.

Source: www.esri.com

Some Tips for Using ArcGIS 10

*Note that the symbols may appear slightly different in ArcGIS 10 than in the ArcGIS 9.3 book

*If C drive is not in the Catalog Tree in ArcCatatlog 10 follow these steps

1) Click on Connect to Folder button on main menu tool bar.

2) Navigate to Computer. Click Local Disk C.

3) Click ok. The folder should now be in the Catalog Tree

Whenever your ArcGIS 9.3 book tells you to go to Options in ArcCatalog you must instead go to

Customize>ArcCatalog Options in ArcGIS 10 to do the same task.

In the Symbol Selector there is no More Symbols button. Instead click Style References to choose

the appropriate symbol.

There is no Tools on the main menu bar in ArcGIS 10

1) Select View>Layout View from the main menu

2) To show the grid select View>Grid

There is no Data Source Options

1) Choose File>Map Document Properties

2) On the bottom of the Map Document Properties window check the box next to Store relative

pathnames to data sources.

3) Click OK.

The Fields tab in the Layer Properties window does not show the Primary Display Field.

1) Instead look at the Display tab

2) Look at the Display Expression and check that the Field is set to the appropriate field.