Layer files and MXDs

Concepts:
   layer files included with the data
   map documents included with the data

This page does not apply to DEP users.  It only applies to people who downloaded the data from MEGIS or who received the DVD.

Users who either downloaded the data from MEGIS, or who received a DVD, will also be able to utilize template ArcGIS layer files and/or map documents (MXD files).  These are just designed to make it easier to make simple maps using the MELCD landcover data.

When you first copy these to your hard drive, they will likely not work.  That is because layer files and map documents encode the data path inside them, and unless it is exactly the same as when they were first created - an unlikely scenario.  You will likely see a red exclamation point next to the layer:



To fix this, just reset the data source in ArcMap.  Right-click the layer, bring up its properties, and on the 'Source' tab, click 'Set Data Source', and navigate to where you stored the data.