beginner question

[JohnGrenci]

Hello, after some futile attempts, I need some very basic help.  I am new to ArcGis, and simply want to import addresses to plot them on a map.   for instance, when I open arcmap, and try to add data, it ony has certain folders (does not have folders of my choice). 
so, I have no idea how to simply import addresses.  I have tried videos and tutorials, but they lead me to dead ends.
can somebody help?
thanks

[JoeBorgione]

Hello, after some futile attempts, I need some very basic help.  I am new to ArcGis, and simply want to import addresses to plot them on a map.   for instance, when I open arcmap, and try to add data, it ony has certain folders (does not have folders of my choice). 
so, I have no idea how to simply import addresses.  I have tried videos and tutorials, but they lead me to dead ends.
can somebody help?
thanks

I suspect you have some sort of file that has your addresses on it, correct?  It might be word doc (yuck) a spreadsheet(acceptable but not optimal) or maybe some sort of database table(hooray!)

You really can't "simply import addresses" and then expect them to plot on a map.  It just doesn't work that way.  As humans, you and I recognize addresses like 1234 S Main St; the GIS needs to think of that in terms of geographic space, so the process of geocoding takes an address and converts it to an ordered pair of x,y coordinates.

You've got a fairly significant learning curve ahead of you;  may I suggest you start with the basics, located here.  Open up the essential library and go from there.

Hope this helps-

[JohnGrenci]

thanks Joe, I will take a look.  I have worked with mappoint (a fw years ago) and as I recall, it converted addresses to lats and longs and was able to plot on a map.  it was pretty basic.  or as I recall, I easily converted an address into lat/longs first, and then imported the lat/longs.  this appears to be more difficult.  having played around with it a little, there are all kind of extensions for files, I am not familiar with, and it is just not cooperating.. eh, maybe its me, but I have found others much more user friendly.
thanks again
John

[JoeBorgione]

thanks Joe, I will take a look.  I have worked with mappoint (a fw years ago) and as I recall, it converted addresses to lats and longs and was able to plot on a map.  it was pretty basic.  or as I recall, I easily converted an address into lat/longs first, and then imported the lat/longs.  this appears to be more difficult.  having played around with it a little, there are all kind of extensions for files, I am not familiar with, and it is just not cooperating.. eh, maybe its me, but I have found others much more user friendly.
thanks again
John

John-

I'm not familiar with Mappoint, as I've been guzzling the ESRI kool aide since about 1990.  With any GIS though, you start off with G: geography; where is your area of operation?  You'll need to create some sort of spatial data repository (commonly referred to as a geodatabase) and then get some kind of spatial data. (Commonly referred to as feature classes)  This spatial data is typically in the form of points, lines or polygons.  So that's the I (information) of GIS.  S (system) of GIS includes, everything mashed together: data, discs, plotters, you, etc etc etc....

Finally, when you have all that stuff nailed down, you can start doing the cool stuff, like geocoding.  In order for your addresses to convert to x,y, you match them to a feature class.

Good luck-

[JohnGrenci]

Hey Joe, appreciate your quick responses.  maybe its a bad day, I dont know.. I cant seem to get started.  for instance, I am trying to follow thehelp in the link you sent, by creating an address locator.  I have the atlanat file geodatabase.  (although I cannot find the atlanta geodatabase in the folder itself?  should I have something called atlanta INSIDE the atlanta folder?  that is the way it reads).    further it says to right click within the empty space of the contents tab.  I dont see an empty space, do they mean to the right of the tabs, 'preview' and 'description'?  can you help here?  thanks

[JoeBorgione]

If you look at any file geodatabase with windows explorer, it appears as a folder, with a ton of oddly-named files within it.  You need to view it from ArcCatalog; the contents will appear as various feature classes.

I don't have that data in front of me, but as I recall, you'll create a geocode locator using the Atlanta streets data.

Take a look at this earlier thread I participated in.  It provides a bit of insight to the process. 

Here's another one.

And another

And yet another that discusses accuracy versus precision in geocoding

Happy geocoding!

[JohnGrenci]

thanks Joe, I will look.
appreciate the help.
John

[JohnGrenci]

wow, Joe, this is quite humbling.  I looked at the links you provided....I get the feeling that ESRI wants to make it so difficult that one signs up for their 200 tutoring session.  if that is the case, can somebody tell me and I can move on from this struggle.  I have now spent a good ten hours basically doing nothing.  I understand this is sophisticated software, much more than others I am familiar with.  but even Einstein on his way to E=mc squared, I am pretty sure  had to use some basic algebra. 

so, I am reading thru geocoding exercises that either are well beyond what I need (like code, subtypes, field types, 1 to many mappings, etc) or an exercise where I need a DVD to get the folder 'data' and I don't find out until I am into page 8 of a geocoding tutorial.

I just want to walk before I run.  can you provide me with a very basic link to simply do a basic think like convert an address to a lat/long? (or doesnt the software work that way) and then to put that lat/long on a map? 

thanks
John

[JoeBorgione]

wow, Joe, this is quite humbling.  I looked at the links you provided....I get the feeling that ESRI wants to make it so difficult that one signs up for their 200 tutoring session.  if that is the case, can somebody tell me and I can move on from this struggle.  I have now spent a good ten hours basically doing nothing.  I understand this is sophisticated software, much more than others I am familiar with.  but even Einstein on his way to E=mc squared, I am pretty sure  had to use some basic algebra. 

so, I am reading thru geocoding exercises that either are well beyond what I need (like code, subtypes, field types, 1 to many mappings, etc) or an exercise where I need a DVD to get the folder 'data' and I don't find out until I am into page 8 of a geocoding tutorial.

I just want to walk before I run.  can you provide me with a very basic link to simply do a basic think like convert an address to a lat/long? (or doesnt the software work that way) and then to put that lat/long on a map? 

thanks
John

As I mentioned, you are in the trough of a significant learning curve.  I don't share the opinion that ESRI is making it as difficult as they can: of course I geocode hundreds of thousands of addresses a year with ESRI software so I pretty much have it figured out.  Only you can decide if it's worth $200;  I know what I charge per hour, and that won't even get you a half day!  Sounds like a bargain...

[JohnGrenci]

Joe, I appreciate your time.  not everyone wants to bother.  I think we are going to go a different route as this just seems beyond the scope of what our company wants to do.
thanks again
John