Maine DEP GIS

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Getting Started - Course Data

Concepts
   workspace folder
   G: drive
   network drive
   mapping drives
   accessing training data for this class
   folder naming

Note to non-MEDEP GIS users - you can download the course data here, (15.9MB).

Before you begin, you will need to copy the training data to a training folder. As you will see in an upcoming section, MEDEP GIS is all done on central servers over the network. In order to copy data, make folders, etc., you must connect to a shared network folder where all GIS work is done. This folder is:

\\dep-eia1asback1\workspace, which is connected in ArcGIS as the G: drive.

This same folder can be accessed from either the GIS software or your desktop PC. If you need to manage folders, or copy data to/from your PC, then make a connection to the folder as shown below.

Note that this is NOT required to run GIS software, only to manage folders such as shown here.

How to map a network drive

Since we use Citrix to deliver GIS to users, you cannot automatically "see" the folders and files in GIS from your PC, unless you connect to the server through "My Network Places" or by mapping a network drive.

Bring up "My Computer" my computer icon

or "Windows Explorer" windows explorer icon

by double-clicking on its icon. Go to Tools menu - Map Network Drive. Choose any unused drive letter, and type in the path as shown below. You must be connected to the state WAN and logged in to DEP's domain for this to work (if you are having problems at home, this is why). Augusta users may check the box "Reconnect at logon" if desired (which means the drive will be mapped every time you log on), but regional office users are advised not to because it can slow your PC down when you are not using the mapped drive.

Once this has completed, a separate window will pop up showing the contents of the new mapped network drive.

network drive contents

Now you can go into your folders and manage them as necessary. This will be useful in exercise 1 when copying the class data into your own folder. For this class, we will work only in the 'training' folder.

Folder naming conventions

There are a few rules which you should follow when naming folders:

Choose a descriptive name which helps other DEP staff know what's in there. Folders named 'project', 'maps', 'gis', etc., aren't helpful to anybody but you.
No capital letters
No spaces
No punctuation marks or slashes
Don't start with a number

The first rule clearly is to help other GIS users know what's going on in any particular folder. The other four, if followed, will eliminate headaches for certain functions in the future (90% of functions will work fine if you violate the rules, but the other 10% rely on older GIS technology which still requires these naming conventions).

Also it is important to work within the file management structure of your bureau/division/program, etc. In this class, you will be working in the 'training' folder, but afterwards you will be working in a folder within your bureau's folder (shown above). Within those folders, the bureaus, divisions, and programs maintain their own GIS folder structure. Contact your bureau IT coordinator if you have more questions about this.

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