topic Re: Layer file vs. Representation in Cartography and Maps Questions https://community.esri.com/t5/cartography-and-maps-questions/layer-file-vs-representation/m-p/767901#M83 <HTML><HEAD></HEAD><BODY><P>Thank you very much, Chris!</P></BODY></HTML> Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:17:44 GMT EmilyLee 2016-02-11T19:17:44Z Layer file vs. Representation https://community.esri.com/t5/cartography-and-maps-questions/layer-file-vs-representation/m-p/767899#M81 <HTML><HEAD></HEAD><BODY><P>Hi,</P><P></P><P>I'm not completely sure when to use layer file vs. representation. They both seem very similar to me.&nbsp; Representation seems more complicated to create and use.&nbsp; Layer file seems more straight forward but it doesn't save within the geodatabase.&nbsp; Can someone give me some examples of when to use what please?&nbsp; Greatly appreciated!</P><P></P><P>Emily&nbsp; </P></BODY></HTML> Thu, 04 Feb 2016 01:00:59 GMT https://community.esri.com/t5/cartography-and-maps-questions/layer-file-vs-representation/m-p/767899#M81 EmilyLee 2016-02-04T01:00:59Z Re: Layer file vs. Representation https://community.esri.com/t5/cartography-and-maps-questions/layer-file-vs-representation/m-p/767900#M82 <HTML><HEAD></HEAD><BODY><P><EM>Representations</EM> offer many controls over how the data is displayed.&nbsp; They are time consuming to set up, but can be well-worth it for if you are going to displaying the same data over and over.&nbsp; <EM>Representations</EM> can help one avoid having to edit the data just to make it display correctly.&nbsp; The underlaying data stays the same and the <EM>Representation </EM>instead handles its display.&nbsp; For example, if you have two coincident features, you can use the controls in Representations to show them side-by-side instead of overlaying each other, which may make the idea clearer to users if it is showing subject matter like bus routes both on the same street.</P><P></P><P><EM>Layer files </EM>are far easier to set up, but are more limited in how they can affect the display of data.&nbsp; For the data to be displayed clearly, you may end up having to edit you base data just for display clarity.&nbsp; While this can be workable for a one-time project, if there are a succession of maps of the same basic material that need to be made and there are data changes, one will have to go back and re-edit the data not just for the changes but also to make it display correctly again.&nbsp; Plus you can end up with multiple data sets, a source layer and one or more display layers.&nbsp; This offers potential for confusion when data edits need to be made - which parts of the data are there only to make it display correctly?&nbsp; You have to remember what was edited for display and why, and then redo it every time.</P><P></P><P>So it usually comes down to how complex the display is of your data, and whether you will be using the data over and over for maps in comparison to a one-shot project.</P><P></P><P></P><P>Chris Donohue, GISP</P></BODY></HTML> Thu, 04 Feb 2016 01:57:26 GMT https://community.esri.com/t5/cartography-and-maps-questions/layer-file-vs-representation/m-p/767900#M82 ChrisDonohue__GISP 2016-02-04T01:57:26Z Re: Layer file vs. Representation https://community.esri.com/t5/cartography-and-maps-questions/layer-file-vs-representation/m-p/767901#M83 <HTML><HEAD></HEAD><BODY><P>Thank you very much, Chris!</P></BODY></HTML> Thu, 11 Feb 2016 19:17:44 GMT https://community.esri.com/t5/cartography-and-maps-questions/layer-file-vs-representation/m-p/767901#M83 EmilyLee 2016-02-11T19:17:44Z