Hi everybody,
I am totally new to GIS. My advisor has just given me a *.mdb file and I want to open it in ArcGIS 10. Not even sure if that's the right GIS product I should use!! I have been spending like 2 hours looking for a way to open the file but haven't been able to. Could somebody let m eknow how to do that?
Thanks
I am totally new to GIS. My advisor has just given me a *.mdb file and I want to open it in ArcGIS 10. Not even sure if that's the right GIS product I should use!! I have been spending like 2 hours looking for a way to open the file but haven't been able to. Could somebody let m eknow how to do that?
Thanks
An .mdb is a type of ESRI geodatabase - a personal geodatabase. A geodatabase is essentially a collection of geographic datasets. You can see the contents of your geodatabase using an ESRI application like ArcMap. "ArcMap is where you display and explore GIS datasets for your study area, where you assign symbols, and where you create map layouts for printing or publication. ArcMap is also the application you use to create and edit datasets"
Here are a couple of links to web help topics which will help guide you.
Essentially, you can open ArcMap, open the catalog window, and navigate to your .mdb on disk, and you will be able to discover the contents of your geodatabase. Using ArcMap you can visualize and analyze your data etc.
It may seem overwhelming at the moment - but I hope these topics will have everything you need.
Best of luck! Let us know how it goes or if you have any questions.
-Heather
What is a geodatabase:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/What_is_a_geodatabase/003n00000001000000/
Types of Geodatabases:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Types_of_geodatabases/003n00000007000000/
What is ArcMap:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/What_is_ArcMap/006600000001000000/
Starting ArcMap:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Starting_ArcMap/00660000000p000000/
Adding Layers to a map:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/Adding_layers_to_a_map/00660000000t000000/
What is the Catalog window:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/What_is_the_Catalog_window/00sn00000004000000/