Getting Started - Map Documents

Concepts:
   map document
   data frame
   active data frame
   layer

Map Document
The "Map Document" is the file ArcMap uses to store all maps it manages.  The map document is identified by the extension .mxd and often referred to as just an "MXD".  This section will present some of the important terms, concepts, and tools associated with a map document.  In the exercise, you will use some of these tools.

Data Frames and Layers
The map document is made up of one or more "data frames", each of which is comprised of one or more "layers".  These data frames and layers are viewed either through the "data view" or through the "layout view".  The view you choose will be shown in the view window.  Other windows that are available to help you include the Table of Contents (TOC), geoprocessing command line window, and ArcToolbox.  Additionally, ArcMap has a number of toolbars to assist in your GIS work.

Active Data Frame
If more than one data frame are in an ArcMap document, there has to be a way for ArcMap to know which one is being referred to for certain functions.  The active data frame is the one which is currently shown in bold in the Table of Contents.  The active data frame is used for computing scale bars, legends, and for editing or viewing data.  To activate a data frame, right-click it in the Table of Contents and choose 'Activate'.



The data frame is a collection of one or more layers or database tables.  Map documents can have more than one data frame, as you will see.  A layer is a collection of geographic features such as towns, roads, etc.  Each data frame and layer has specific properties which can be changed.  These properties include colors, symbols, labels, and more.  To access these properties, right-click on the name of the data frame or layer in the TOC, which will bring up the context menu.  A context menu is any menu which appears when you right-click.  You will learn more about data frames and layers in an upcoming section.

Opening a map document in ArcMap
Opening a map document is pretty straightforward, just click the 'Open File' button  .  A window will pop up allowing you to browse to your map document.  If this is the first time you are using ArcMap, you will see this:

Click the 'up' arrow   until you are at the top, then go into:
- 'My Network Places'
- 'workspace on dep-eia1fsd2550'

Does this look familiar?  It is the same network folder you saw previously.