PC Computer Reference Sheet for GIS classes

How to copy files or folders

How to save your work within an ArcGIS project

How to save your work within a GeoMedia project

How to print GIS maps to PDF

How to copy files or folders

Copying files from your zip disk to the hard drive is a very important skill for saving your work and re-opening saved work. There are many different ways to copy a file. The method listed below is only one method to copy a file or folder from your zip disk to the hard drive.

1. Double click on 'My Computer'

2. Double click on your zip disk ('Removable disk')

3. Click once on the folder in your zip disk that you want to copy

4. Go to the Edit menu and select 'copy'

5. Go back to 'My Computer' and double click on 'C', then double click on 'gis'. Your path should now be C:\gis

6. Go to the Edit menu and select 'paste'

7. You will be prompted as to whether you want to replace the existing folder. Select yes.

How to save your work within an ArcGIS project

Set your working directory **DO THIS FIRST**

1. You only need to set your working directory once per project, but you must do this before you save for the first time.
2. From the File menu, select Map Properties
3. Click on the Data Source Option button
4. Select the 'Store Relative Path Names' radio button
5. Click OK

Save your project

1. From the File menu, select, Save As
2. Navigate to the folder 'My Working'
3. Rename your project something distinctive such as 'yourname_lab1'. I strongly suggest that you DO NOT have any spaces or special characters in the file name.

How to Save your work in a GeoMedia Pro project

Save your project

1. From the File menu, select, Save As
2. Navigate to the folder 'My Working'
3. Rename your project something distinctive such as 'yourname_lab2'. I strongly suggest that you DO NOT have any spaces or special characters in the file name.

Copy your Write Warehouse ** Do this when you are done working each day **

1. The file writewarehouse.mdb is located in C:\gis\lab2\writewarehouse.mdb This file saves all the queries that you have created. Copy this file.
2. Save this file to your external media.
3. When you are ready to work again, copy this file onto C:\gis\lab2\ on the computer that you are working on.

How to Print your maps

Adobe Acrobat Distiller allows you to print maps to a Acrobat PDF document. You can then take the PDF file and print it on any computer (such as your home computer!) or email the file. This is one way that you can create a color map in this class.

1. Create your map in the program that you are working in.
2. From the File menu, select Print.
3. Pull down the Printer Name tab, and select Acrobat Distiller
4. Format the rest of the printing as you wish.
5. Click 'OK'. In a few moments you will be prompted to name the file.