topic Re: New to GIS. in New to GIS Questions

New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 18:46:41 GMT

I'm brand new to the GIS community and am trying to wrap my head around the application. I plan on having a career as a wildlife biologist of some sort and I've been told I should be familiar with the program. I downloaded the ArcGIS explorer for desktop but I can't seem to load any maps onto it. Is there something I'm missing? All that appears is a white screen with some arctic cricle, prime meridian etc. I tried to use the Harvard GIS tutorial on how to actually use it but as i stated above I can't open any examples. I unzip the files and replace them into the C drive but it won't even find them when I go to open them. They end dbf i'm not familiar with what that means. If anyone knows what I'm doing wrong or any information that could help me I'd appreciate it.

Re: New to GIS.

TimWitt2 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 18:55:39 GMT

Hey Jesse,

what you need to download is ArcGIS for Desktop | Free Trial

Once you have done this watch videos like this Esri Training | Getting Started with GIS

ESRI is offering a lot of free training on this website.

Hope this helps!

Tim

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 19:36:29 GMT

I appreciate your reply Tim. Is that a different version from the one that I currently have. I have the ArcGIS explorer desktop 32 bit.

Re: New to GIS.

OwenEarley — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 19:54:59 GMT

If you are just learning ArcGIS and not using it in commercial projects then it would be worth getting ArcGIS for Home Use - http://www.esri.com/arcgis-for-home

ArcGIS Explorer is different from ArcGIS Desktop. You will want to learn the desktop version as Explorer is more of a spatial data viewing application.

As Tim suggested, ESRI offers a lot of material on their training site.

The help system has a heap of material to get you started - ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2)

Start with the basics of ArcMap before moving on to other topics such as creating a geodatabase.

You should be able to open the Harvard GIS tutorial data in ArcMap. The ArcGIS download site also includes a lot of optional tutorial data.

Re: New to GIS.

TimWitt2 — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 19:55:15 GMT

ArcGIS Explorer is more a program where you can look at data but not really do "much" with it.

With ArcGIS Desktop you can create your own data, edit data, analyze data ,,,, If you want to start using ArcGIS I would recommend starting with ArcGIS Desktop.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 20:26:55 GMT

Excellent thank you!

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 20:28:48 GMT

Thank you for your respone Owen. I have started to download the program Tim sent me the link for. Is this different from the one you have replied with? If it is would it be beneficial to use both?

Re: New to GIS.

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 20:40:48 GMT

You mention Harvard... if you are a student, see this link found on this page

Re: New to GIS.

OwenEarley — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 20:56:20 GMT

Jesse - It should be the same software, the only difference will be when you come to entering license details.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:15:58 GMT

I am not a student of Harvard. I'm transferring over from a CC to a state university.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:16:50 GMT

Your help is much appreciated !

Re: New to GIS.

DanPatterson_Retired — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 21:20:27 GMT

Check their library site then. Most universities and colleges have site license agreements permitting downloads of the advanced version of ArcMap. They run for a year and are renewable each year that you are a student...at least that is the case in Canada, and I can't fathom the US being less enfranchised.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 22:55:25 GMT

That would be a good idea but my CC doesn't have any GIS classes and I'm not officially enrolled in my next school so I have no access to that software.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 22:57:34 GMT

Should I proceed to download each link. I have downloaded the ArcGIS for desktop but I can't run the program. I have access to ArcGIS administrator but this doesn't allow me to open the software.

Re: New to GIS.

GordonKnight — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:05:38 GMT

I am currently learning this software, ArcMap 10.2.2 at UNLV Geology department.

The book I am using is Mastering ArcGIS by Maribeth Price.

It's a good book to get you started.

I would also suggest taking a class, there's a lot more to GIS than just learning the software.

The issues of errors, and the effect of spatial autocorrelation on errors is not well taught in the software manuals.

Re: New to GIS.

OwenEarley — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:11:34 GMT

ArcGIS Administrator is where you enter license details. There should be an Authorize Now button that walks you through the process.

However, you will need to enter a registration key that you get through the trial or home use license. It may be best to contact your local ESRI distributor to complete this step.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:13:16 GMT

For some reason I can't open the software. I've downloaded it but I'm only able to open a window called ArcGIS administrator. I'll look into the book for sure. I plan on taking a class when I start college in the summer. I'd like to be familiar with it before since my work relies on it.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:56:57 GMT

I have a key and I've entered it. I get a prompt that tells me all applications have been authorized on this machine and it just brings me back to the administrator.

Re: New to GIS.

OwenEarley — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 23:58:50 GMT

You should be able to open ArcMap directly now that it has been authorized.

Re: New to GIS.

JesseCaney — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:02:26 GMT

It worked. I was probably doing something wrong before and thats why it wouldn't open for me. Now I get to dive in and give it a go!