Assignment 13: Customizing the ArcMAP Interface

Problem:
For this assignment we were tasked with creating toolbars that would make our work in ArcGIS easier. We created two new toolbars with tools that were not part of the default menus. Also we were to add an Add-In to our toolbar that would make calculations easier. The toolbars that were created were named: Assignment toolbar and Second Toolbar. Assignment Toolbar had the following functions in it: Run Easy Calculate Add-IN, Steepest Path Tool, Create Graph, Manage Graphs, Create Scatterplot Matrix Graph, and a drop down menu with Calculate Areas and Calculate Spatial Weights Matrix. Second Toolbar consisted of the following: Error Inspector, Fix Topology Error, and a drop down with the following: Generalize Edge and Modify Edge. I also added the context menu: NEW CONTEXT MENU which contained the Activate tracks feature in the data layer context menu.

Analysis Procedures:
Strategies: The plan for solving this plan included reading the GIS Tutorial 6-1 to learn about customizing menus within ArcGIS. Using built in functions and customization options within the ArcGIS interface we are able to create and edit our own toolbars to fit our needs. We also need to download the Run Easy Calculate Add-In from ESRI to complete the customization process of our toolbars.

Metho ds: For this assignment we had to open the ESRI customization data that included the data layers we would work with while customizing our toolbars. The layers we would be working with specifically were the Police Districts layer. First we were to create two new toolbars by using the customize tab in the menu. Using customize mode and the customize options we could then add functions to each of our new toolbars by dragging them over from the commands tab to our new toolbars. In the customize mode we could also add to the context menu of our layers by selecting it from the toolbars tab and picking the context menu we wanted to edit. Next we were to add an Add-In program to our toolbar by downloading from ESRI and using the Add-In manager in our customize toolbar to add it to our list of available programs.

Use the customize mode in the customize menu to create two new toolbars.

Add new features and functions to each toolbar through the customize mode tabs by dragging them over from the commands box in the commands tab.

Create a new context menu by checking the context menu box on the toolbar menu in customize mode and the selecting which context menu (Feature Layer context menu)_ from the drop down list.

Download the RUn Easy Calculate Add-In from ESRI and use the Add-In manager function in the customize list to add it to the list of available functions to add to our toolbars in customize mode.

Create two new columns in the police districts lattribute table titiled Xcenter and Ycenter. Run the Easy Calulate tool to ca;cu;ate the geometry of these fields.

Results:
Below is a screen capture of the customization I did in the ArcMAP interface.

Application & Reflection:

Using the customizable features with ArcMAP allow the user the ability to speed up any common processes that they need to use. Before learning about this ability I would constantly search for tools with the toolbox search function. Now I know that I can make a toolbar for the functions I use multiple times and select it from there to run it immediately. The Add-In feature is what I look forward to the most. This allows the user the ability to get new tools and functions and add them directly to the interface. The Run Easy calculate tool could have probably made some previous assignments easier since it removes the need to enter the correct Script into the field calculator. Newer Add-Ins may also grant the user with different abilities depending on what has been created by ArcMap developers. Problem Description: A developer wants to have the tools that he uses consistently located in his toolbars. One of the tools is an Add-In that he downloaded from the internet. Change the layout to suit this developers needs. Data Needed: All that is needed is the ArcMAP program and the Add-In program that the developer wants to put in a toolbar. Analysis Procedure: To create the toolbars needed we must use the customize tab in the ArcMAP interface next we must select toolbars and the go all the way down he menu to customize then select new. Now we can name the new toolbar and use the command tab to add the necessary tools onto the toolbar. Then we must to Add In manager under the customize tab and select the program the developers wants to add and add it to the commands list and then go back and add it to the toolbar.