------Using GIS--

Introduction to GIS

Using ArcGIS
To create shape files
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Format page and saving a map

• Format the page to display a

map
• Retrieving a shape file
• Saving a map

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Go to “View”, to change from “Data
View” to “Layout View”

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The “Layout View” will appear as below

Page

Layer, where a map

will be displayed

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Go to “File”, look for “Page and Print
Setup” Click on it

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In the Windows of Page and Print Set up, Set the
“Paper Size” to A4 and the “Orientation” to
Landscape

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Size the layer to fit the page

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Go to “View” and Return back to
“Data View”

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In the Data “View” reveals the three main
part of ArcMap

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Exercise 1: Download the shape file
“Africa_BaseMap.shp”

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Save the map under the name Africa01

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The map is save name Africa01

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Data Frame Properties
 Use data frame properties

• To set Coordinate system

• To set units of map displayed

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Referencing/Scaling a map???
In “View”, find “Data Frame Properties”

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From the Windows of Data Frame Properties,
Select “Geographic Coordinate System”

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Scroll down and look for the folder “World”,
click on it to open it

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Scroll down and look for the folder “WGS 1984”,
click then Apply

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Click on the tab of “General” and Change the
Units Display from Decimal Degrees to Kilometers

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Click on the tab of “General” and Change the
Units Display from Decimal Degrees to Kilometers

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Click on the tab of “General” and Change the
Units Display from Decimal Degrees to Kilometers

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Your map has a projection is World Geographical
Coordinate System (WGS) and is displayed in Km

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 Creating a Shape file

• Using Tool Box to select features

• Using Export Data to create
Shape files

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Locate the Tool Box.

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Look for Select Features

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Move to the country to be selected

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Right click on the layer of Africa_BaseMap. Look
for “Data”, Click on “Export Data”.

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Navigate to the appropriate folder to save the
shape file you intend to create

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In the Appropriate folder (1), Type the Name of the
shape file to be created (2), set save as type as
Shapefile (3) and save (4)

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Confirm the creation of the shape file by clicking
on “OK”

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Kindly add the created shape file to the map
display by clicking on “Yes”.

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The limits of the national limits of Sudan are added
to the map

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The limits of the national limits of Sudan are added
to the map

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 Exercise 2
Using the same principal you have
been requested to create a shape file of
the following countries:
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Eritrea
• South Sudan

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As you may have a problem to identify the requested
countries, display countries names, right click on the layer
Africa_BaseMap, look for “Properties”.

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In the windows of Layer Properties, click on the tab “Labels”
(1), check the box of “Label features in this layer” (2), change
the “Label Field” to read “CNTRY_NAME” (3)

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The name of the countries of the African continent are
displayed and you can select the countries concerned

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At the end of your task, you will get the map below

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