Introduction

[M__DavidJohnson]

Hello all. I’m a 79 year-old newbie to ArcGISPro online. My name is M. David Johnson. I want to work through the “Top 20 Essential Skills for ARCGIS PRO” book, but I can’t figure out how to get started. Is this even something I can do from the online version? The instructions in the book are for a downloaded trial version of ArcGISPro.

[JesseCloutier]

Welcome, @M__DavidJohnson!

Consider Esri Community to be your go-to spot for discussing all things GIS — a virtual gathering place where you can find solutions, share ideas, and collaborate to solve problems with the help of members from all around the globe.

Please be sure to check out the following Community-use resources to get you started: 

• Getting Started with Esri Community - Esri Community 
• Esri Training - Esri Community

And, noting your specific interest, you'll want to be sure and bookmark the ArcGIS Pro Place in Esri Community as a go-to resource. I'm sharing synced copies of your post there and to the Esri Press Books Place so that it will be seen by other members with relevant expertise. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about using Esri Community.

[TimOrmsby]

Hi @M__DavidJohnson,

I think by "online version" you mean ArcGIS Online--which is not the same thing as ArcGIS Pro. They are complementary and interrelated products--for example, you can share maps back and forth--but not the same. To do the exercises in the Top 20 Essential Skills book, you do need the trial version of ArcGIS Pro. That's available here: https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-pro/trial.

Alternatively, start your learning experience with ArcGIS Online. GIS skills are GIS skills no matter which product you use. Take a look at the free tutorial gallery at https://learn.arcgis.com/en/gallery/. Filter on All Products = ArcGIS Online and All Levels = Beginner. If you're using the free public version of ArcGIS Online, filter on All Accounts = Public.

[M__DavidJohnson]

Thank you @TimOrmsby -

Yes, it is ArcGIS Online rather than ArcGIS Pro. And, thanks for the pointer to the tutorial gallery.

But, Wow! What an extensive collection! Is there a "learners' guide" anywhere that would include suggested orders of study?

At first glance, the following five tutorials look like a good selection to start with. In which order would you recommend I explore them?

Essential ArcGIS Online skills
Get started with ArcGIS Online
Make a map in a minute
Modern GIS - Introduction to GIS
Try ArcGIS Online

[TimOrmsby]

Hi, yes, it's a blessing and a curse to have so many resources. You've identified a good selection. I would start with the Try ArcGIS Online tutorial, the last one in your list. As for these two series:

• Essential ArcGIS Online skills
• Get started with ArcGIS Online

I think I would do Get started with ArcGIS Online before Essential ArcGIS Online, but I'm not sure it really matters. I think you can kind of pick and choose the tutorials that look interesting to you or that fit the time you have available. (I always double the amount of time they say it takes. I guess I'm kind of a slow worker.)

You'll see some overlapping content in these series--for instance, the Get started with ArcGIS Online tutorial also appears in the Modern GIS series.

My advice would be to concentrate on the tutorials--less emphasis on the videos and articles. They can be interesting, but I think hands-on experience is best. Note that the tutorials have a Send Us Feedback link at the bottom. You can use that if you encounter any glitches. Good luck!

[GilaBurtonCurl]

Mr. Johnson - I'm excited for your journal.  The desktop is no longer supported so you are starting with the right application.  

[M__DavidJohnson]

Thank you @GilaBurtonCurl  -

I appreciate the confirmation that I'm headed in the correct direction.

But I'm not quite sure what you mean by "I'm excited for your journal." Do you mean this "Introduction" thread?

Or something else?

[TimOrmsby]

"I'm excited for your journal" probably = "I'm excited for your journey."