Map templates are a complete resource for improving the cartographic quality of your maps. Each template contains map documents, sample data, style les, and documentation. What is contained in a map template?  Collection of resources that de nes a well-designed map  Map Document  Sample data (geodatabase)  Documentation  Style les and layer packages  Geoprocessing tools or models  Example Web applications Superior Results in a Fraction of the Time Map templates enhance productivity and skills The professionally designed map templates produced by the Esri cartography team can help you quickly improve you own map designs and become more productive with ArcGIS. For GIS professionals, mapmaking is an important—sometimes a daily task. Designing a great map that communicates effectively requires experience, skill, and time. The cartographic quality of your maps is important because maps that are well designed bring your organization’s GIS information to life and communicate that information more effectively. Cartographers at Esri have created resources that not only provide immediate results but also, over time, help you learn how to be a better mapmaker. These are working examples of professional quality maps that capture best practices and present that information in an easily understood way that can be implemented by both new and experienced users. The map templates available online from the Esri Resource Center (resources.esri. com/maptemplates/) should not be confused 44 ArcUser Summer 2010 with ArcMap template (MXT) format documents that define the look and feel of map layouts and were developed for sharing map standards and tools in an organization. Map templates are a more complete resource. Each template contains map documents, sample data, style files, and documentation (and in some cases, tools, models, and applications) that help you quickly create maps. Various templates address the different ways you can publish maps: printed maps, maps for mobile devices, and maps for maps services published on ArcGIS Server. Steps for Using Map Templates Once you have located a map template that meets your needs and downloaded and unzipped its archive, follow these steps to familiarize yourself with the contents so you can better apply it to your own data. 1. Determine what ArcGIS software is required for using that map template. Most require ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 or 9.3.1. The ArcInfo license level allows you to make full use of all components of a map template as well as providing the Maplex extension. How- ever, to explore a template and use it with data you already have, an ArcView license may be adequate. Additional extensions, such as the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension and ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension, may be required to process or display some types of data. 2. Open the template’s map document to see how the map is organized. Pay special attention to the way Group Layers are used to organize data by scale, type, or both. Open the layer properties for layers to inspect scale dependencies and other parameters that affect how the map is displayed. Explore individual layers to see how the information has been labeled and symbolized. 3. Explore the sample geodatabase in ArcCatalog to learn how the data is structured and consider how you can use your own data. 4. Inspect the Documentation files to understand the purpose of the map, the data used, and other aspects of its design. The Getting Started document lists the resources included in that map template, the methods www.esri.com