ArcGIS Help
Commonly asked for items in the GISciences Centre
The Centre's top 10 tools
ArcGIS is a complex software package - many times people don't even know what to look up in the help menu! The Centre has made a list of the top 10 most common requests and the associated tools. We have copied the help from ESRI, and added a few tips or tricks to help along the way.
- Clip [PDF, 360 kB]
- Select by Attributes [PDF, 422 kB]
- Buffer [PDF, 389 kB]
- Select by Location [PDF, 573 kB]
- Dissolve [PDF, 397 kB]
- Merge [PDF, 340 kB]
- Erase [PDF, 381 kB]
- Intersect [PDF, 446 kB]
- Union [PDF, 471 kB]
- Table Join [PDF, 377 kB]
GIS glossary
Don't understand a GIS term or word? Use this glossary for some of the more common GIS terms. If you have a suggestion that isn't on the list let us know!
Creating a map
Haven't used ArcGIS in a while - but need a map? Don't panic! Here are tips to help get you to the final result. Click on the topic you would like help with creating a:
- Title [PDF, 225 kB]
- Legend [PDF, 221 kB]
- North Arrow [PDF, 209 kB]
- Scale [PDF, 201 kB]
- Labels [PDF, 213 kB]
- Graticule [PDF, 217 kB]
- Credits [PDF, 221 kB]
- Key or Inset Map [PDF, 209 kB]
- Logo or photo [PDF, 209 kB]
Procedures
Information on how to do more advanced procedures.
- Adding XY data to ArcGIS [PDF, 246 kB]
- Creating a Ratio Attribute [PDF, 573 kB]
- Determining Angles [PDF, 57 kB]
- Calculating Routes along a Line [PDF, 381 kB]
- How to deal with Overlapping Points for a Map [PDF, 332 kB]
- How to Create Profiles [PDF, 387kB]
- Adding your Own Symbols to ArcMap [PDF 592kB]
Videos
The GISciences Centre is beginning to create videos to help learn about GIS. This is a just beginning and we would appreciate any input as well as topics you would find useful to have covered. Please send any comments or suggestions!
Getting Started with ArcGIS - Help with accessing data from Dalhousie Libraries on Vimeo.
Where do I get data
Starting a new project and wondering where you can get data. Check out the links on highlight some of the data sets that the Centre get the most requests for as well as gives you an idea of what types of data is available.
- If you are internal to Dalhousie
- If you are external to Dalhousie
If you need more help, come and talk with us in the Centre. We have a number of options for staff, students and faculty of Dalhousie including: free online courses, one-on-one help, or just someone to discuss potential GIS projects.