Usability Tools for Cartographers

To promote a more intuitive and efficient workflow environment, cartographers need familiar mouse and keyboard shortcuts for common graphics tools, menu picks, and general functionality. Similar to desktop graphics packages, properties are specified interactively or explicitly by easily accessing common dialog boxes. Frequently used tools allow you to

Navigate Map and Data Layers

• Navigate the map with the mouse wheel to zoom, pan, and center.
• Navigate the map from a table window.
• Use shortcut keys to zoom, pan, and center.
• Zoom to selected elements.
• Find and zoom to coordinate locations on the map.
• Modify the full extent view of any data frame.
• Find and manage places using the Esri Online Place Finder Web service.
• Create new features and immediately enter attributes.

Customize Functionality

• Override any existing tool functionality.
• Add customized tools to any toolbar.
• Specify or customize scale formatting and units.

Optimize Productivity

• Get quicker access to attribute dialog boxes from right-click menus.
• Measure lines and areas to return the Cartesian or geodesic distance.
• Use standard Microsoft Windows shortcut keys in both layout and data views.
• Right-click and rename folder connections in ArcCatalog.
• Drag and drop ArcCatalog coordinate systems for easier access from dialog boxes.
• View metadata for any layer in ArcMap without opening ArcCatalog.
• Find data quickly by recognizable file icons.