Why Switch: to ArcGIS 9.x

New Features:

• Catalog for browsing and managing data (ArcCatalog)
• On the fly coordinate and data projection
• Easily create metadata (to industry standards)
• Customization with built in Visual Basic for Applications
• New geographic editing/digitizing tools
• A geodatabase

Enhanced capabilities:
Labeling: far superior

• Create annotation layers from your labels that can be shared across projects and documents.
• Significantly more control over label manipulation, both placement and appearance

Digitizing data: More tools and options for digitizing data on the map

• Better snapping tools
• More options for digitizing: arcs, entering in sections of a sketch by x,y locations and length of segment
• Simple entry of attribute data for a feature in the map view

Data Storage: The Geodatabase

• Set data entry rules
• Set relationships
• Set behaviors

ArcCatalog Conversion tools:

• Easily convert data to different file types

Projections:

• Simplified assignment of projections based on another layer’s projection properties
• Projections "on the fly" in ArcMap

Metadata:

• Easily create metadata to various standards through a tab ordered process

Relative Pathnames:

• Set your map document to read relative path-names so that when layers are moved they are not lost by the project

Other functionality:

• Transparency: easily set level of transparency for layers
• Magnify: A floating dialog to view a small section of your map in great detail
• Overview: A floating dialog to view the entire map area while in the map
• As of March 1, 2005 StreetMap USA and ArcPress are included with 9.x

*Please Note that upgrades are no longer available from 3.x, therefore you will need to purchase a full version of 9.x. Upgrades are possible from 8.x to 9.x with a current Maintenance package (please email or call to check on the status of your Maintenance).