Latest Contributions by JurajKrumpolec

Ideas inspired by Excel UI to improve flexibility and readability of Attribute Table working environment:  Change the column width and row height to fit cell contents (not field length). Set exact column width and row height parametrically. Match column width to another. Adjust height of records manually with mouse. Zoom controls available in Table navigation toolbar (slider and parametric entry/list box). Show sorting direction in field title. Comments available for each cell, record and field to store user notes and explanations. Indicate cell’s contents overflow with icon or ellipsis. Display full value in a tooltip. Indicate which fields are active in Layer Definition Query (if present). Field display filtering (for working purposes like Excel AutoFilter). Fill and border formatting. Missing Select All and Add Field buttons in Table window toolbar for quick access. Possibility to customize Table window toolbar. ... View more

Quickly complete cell entry by first few characters typed in that match existing entries in the field (AutoComplete in MS Excel). Applies to Attribute Table and Attributes window. Option to select source fields for AutoComplete functionality (external/internal). Provide also possibility to fill one or more cells from drop down list with existing field values. This would significantly ease and speed up editing of repeated entries. ... View more

Ideas to enhance Layer Definition Query functionality: Definition Query History – preserve last used queries (layer/document). Multiple Definition Queries (sub-tabs) – stack to choose from in the work process. Definition Query Title – name and describe each query for better orientation. Import Definition Query from other layer or document (like Symbology). Preview Definition Query – interactive preview before application.   ... View more

Ideas to simplify and speed up user interaction with Table Of Contents: Indicate in TOC which layers are edited and which are not (grayed out) while editing. Indicate which layers are labeled, which failed to draw or have overlapping labels. Match layer properties – simple one-click tool to copy all or selected properties (symbology, definition query, labels) between layers or dataframes (Format Painter in Office Word, AutoCAD Match Properties). Match layer symbols simply by drag & drop between symbols from different or same layer in TOC (entire symbol, only fill or outline). Organize layer symbology with mouse directly in TOC – manipulate symbol legend items easily without the need to run layer properties dialog box (create, move, delete, group/ungroup categories, headings, organize quantities). Paste Layer or Add Data to exact location in TOC (one-step procedure). Select layers with rectangular marquee in TOC (like Windows Explorer). Common source folder replacement in TOC List By Source mode – simple and direct change of one or more base source folders or databases by rename or browse. ... View more

The worst nightmare for every ArcGIS user is broken data links. ArcMap and ArcCatalog should provide robust, intelligent and automated data source management which continually maintains integrity of project’s data structure and maximally assists user in its preservation. This would bring more freedom to the work process and establish more user comfortable environment. Active and permanent source data surveillance – monitoring of current projects and linked data locations throughout the work process. User is warned before the change with direct impact on project’s integrity (add, delete, move or rename). Approved changes are immediately reflected in the map document (sources are automatically updated). Node-based data source manager – intuitive and interactive management of all externally referenced map data (geo, database, layout) and their relationship visualization (like Autodesk Flame, The Foundry Nuke). Broken data links manager – report layers, databases and layout elements with missing data links on MXD open or LYR add. Provide possibility for automatic or manual repair. Intelligent evaluation of the loss of data connection – identify whole or partial loss due to moved/renamed data sources or base folders (absolute/relative mode) or change of map document location (relative mode) when the project is opened or previewed. Automatic search for moved or renamed layers or folders – finds original or similar sources in the neighborhood of missing data with identification and comparison of best matches according to pre-recorded file, geographic, database and metadata properties. Automatic re-creation of entire broken data structure – recover automatically all missing sources according to pre-recorded information about map document and data sources (path, size, date, name…) or by user specified new data position. Layer data source replacement assistant – to help properly update database dependent layer properties (symbology, definition query, labels and joins/relates) and provide smooth transition during the layer source exchange with emphasis on preserving as many layer settings as possible. ... View more

Ideas to improve ascetic Add Data dialog box, to enrich it with more controls and functionality: Better information support Add Geographic, Table and Metadata Preview tabs Add more columns in Details view for better information support (currently only Name and Type) like Created/Modified Date, Size, Cartographic projection, Lock, Author… (even for GDB Feature Classes) Auto refresh (at least reload button). When the contents of currently opened folder have changed during add data operation, Add Data dialog box doesn’t reflect it at all. Improvements Possibility to add selected layers as a Group layer or a Basemap Layer Add folder to map document at once with all layers as a Group/Basemap layer or as separated layers Add forward and back button with browsing history Missing hierarchical tree side window Missing favorite/most/last used locations menu Missing menu with all utilized directories by current map document Resizable Add Data dialog box Select All files with CTRL+A, F2 for file rename Context menu to show layer properties More data type filters in “Show of type”: SHP, GDB, raster type… Add Data should have in its keyboard shortcut by default After data addition support – optional dialog to show possible operations with imported data. Rasters: georeferencing, build pyramids…, CAD: georeferencing, layers, symbology… ... View more

Some ideas for Table Of Contents productivity enhancement: Print or export TOC list – output current TOC contents with layer hierarchy, patches and other information (status, visibility, type of geometry) to printer, file or ArcMap layout. Useful for work with complex maps with large layer structure. Instant search in TOC which immediately finds and highlights searched term in layer names or symbol legend labels (not only first characters). Useful for orientation in complex maps with large layer structure. Transparency controls directly in TOC for one or more selected layers. Controls (text entry box and slider) indicate current transparency status of selected layer/layers (like Adobe Photoshop Layers) Zoom functionality in TOC with slider zoom controls and scroll wheel usage (MS Office PowerPoint Slides tab). Possibility to see patches, layer names and labels in more/less detail. Dataframe visibility switch – exactly like Layer visibility. Isolate selected layers – filter/switch which shows only contents of selected layers or displays only layers which features are selected (AutoCAD Isolate, Adobe AfterFX Shy layers). Useful when visibility settings of layers need to be preserved. Common properties for multiple layers selected – united modification of selected groups or layers, especially labeling, transparency, symbology, definition query, source… Common group layer properties (like transparency) which override layer specific properties – e.g. labeling, definition query etc. ... View more