Latest Contributions by MichaelHillig1

 Can we please have an enhancement regarding the Traverse Window!!!!!!!   My first request would be to change the default values for our choices.  Every edit session, I open the Traverse Window, switch to Tangent Curve and have to change Chord to Radius, and Radius to Arc.  The same goes for Curve.  If you can't change the defaults, can we save the settings as part of a personal editing template? Another request is switching from Tangent Curve, to Direction/Distance, back to Curve, etc., etc.  I am typing and entering numbers with the keypad and I don't want to have to select with a mouse.  Sure, I can go back with the keypad, make my selection, then move forward again through the cells to fill in the data, but this is toooo long a process.  How about a toggle to switch from one type to another.  Alt+C=Curve, Alt+D=Direction/Distance, etc. Next request.  You can select which type of traverse you want, then select chord or radius, etc., then you finally enter the value.  Once I set Chord to Radius, and Radius to Arc, does the tab key have to go to these cells again?? Let's skip the settings and go straight to entering the values. Then when you Add, it goes straight to the cells that need new values. Lastly, when you finish your traverse, you have an option to save.  You also can adjust to close any small gaps at the end.  But if make the adjustment, you can no longer save.  It is now entered.  If you did save, you save the original traverse, but the gap you want to close is still present.  Can we please have the option to save an "Adjusted Traverse". Thanks for any input you have towards these ideas. ... View more

When you place annotation above a line using Follow Feature, the distance from the line is determined by your offset units you have set.  But if you place annotation below the line, and the same offset is used, your annotation is much closer to the line.  If I want the annotation above and below the line to look the same, I would have to change the offset each time. Likewise, if I place larger text, I would probably want a larger offset.  But once you set that offset, it stays there until you change it back again, and again, and again. Here is my suggestion.  When you use Follow Feature, you select the line then click above or below the line where you want the text to go.  Once you choose, you can then slide from side to side as far as you want along that horizontal line angle, with no restrictions.  Lets have the same thing, but vertically.  You click on the line which determines your horizontal angle of the text, then hit the space bar which will release the offset distance so you can now move your text above or below the line as far as you want while keeping the horizontal angle intact.  The space bar release would behave similar to its' use for temporarily releasing snapping to features.  I think this would be a rather simple addition to the tool, that would had a large amount of freedom in your ability to place your text wherever you want with being restricted to your offset units set. Please, let me here your comments. ... View more

 I would like to see more user-friendly controls involving the Report Designer.  I had to spend numerous hours trying to figure out what all of the buttons and settings do, so the report looks good.   In Microsoft word, you can easily create a table, use borders and shading to improve the look of the cells, change column widths and row heights easily for a single cell or all of them at once, all the while, see your results immediately. In Report Designer, each cell has a bunch of individual settings that are far too confusing for a general user.  I have a lot of experience creating tables and changing their appearances, but this was difficult.  Take a look. The cell information you see on the right, is for one cell, "Date".  These settings apply to all of the cells.  This is entirely too confusing for creating a report changing the appearance. Now take a look at a Word table properties box below and see how you can modify the table properties much easier. Can we please simplify this process!!!!!!!!!!!  ... View more

As part of our workflow, we need to include some of our table data into our maps.  Add Table to Layout has some quality and behavior issues, so I am looking into adding Reports to Layout. The quality of the end product is much better and more consistent then Tables, but I see some improvement needed. First issue:  Default Printer Settings    When creating a new report and going through the process to design it, when I try to run the report, I get an error that shows up. This error is based on what the "Default Printer Settings" is set too. After a lot of research on the internet, I finally was able to change the default settings so the report would run.        What does printer settings have to do with running a report?  What if I don't ever need to print the report, just "Add Report to Layout?"  In addition, now that I have changed the settings, these settings now effect other programs that I print from.  Creating a report and viewing it on screen or placing it on a map layout, should not have to involve printer settings first.  Can we please fix this.  By the way, when I "Load" an existing report, the report runs fine, but any new report I create from scratch will not. 2nd issue:  Improve Dataset Options within Report Wizard     Within the first Report Wizard dialog box, you can visibly see the Layer/Table, and a "Dataset Options" button.  The options are really important within our workflow, particularly Definition Query, but these options are hidden behind this button.  Can we see these options expanded by default instead of having to push the button?  See below for suggestion.  If this additional dialog box cannot be expanded by default, then add this dialog box as the next step within the Report Wizard process.  One way or the other, Dataset Options must be viewed and a step in the process. 3 rd issue:  Visible Report Progress    It would be nice to see a visible Report Progress  when you are making your choices, similar to when you create a legend.  At nearly each step when creating a legend, you can see how your choices affect the appearance.  Let’s do the same thing for creating reports.  Currently, the only things we see are vague looking images that don’t clarify what your choices will do.  See below. 4 th issue:  Where is the Help Button?    If there is any wizard ArcMap that is in need of a ?/help button at every step of the way, it is the Report Wizard.  Please include more help when creating reports. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions on this, Please Post Your Comments!!  ... View more