How do I add data to an ArcMap project?

1. Start ArcGIS by clicking on Start → All Programs  → ArcGIS 
   
    

2. Click on ArcMap 10 to the the program. It will take a few seconds for the ArcMap to start. You should see the logo while the program in loading.
   
   
   
   
    

3. The main interface for ArcMap should appear as shown below:
   
   
   
   
    

4. To add data to the ArcMap project click on the Add data button at the top of the window. The following window will appear:
   
   
   
   
    

5. If the "Look in" is not My Documents\ArcGIS then click on the pull-down menu and select My Documents\ArcGIS. In general, we used the My Documents\ArcGIS folder to store or work.
   
   Next, click on the appropriate geodatabase for your project. In this example, CIVL1101_site_data and the following window will appear:
   
   
   
    

6. Depending on your site, click on the the appropriate geodatabase file. In this case, we are working a map of Site #1. Click the site1.mdb file and the following window will appear:
   
   
   
    

7. Select each of the file and click Add. In the table below, note the symbols for each feature class and the associated filename. 

   	site1point - point feature file
   	site1line - line feature class file
   	site1poly - polygon feature class file

    

8. After the data has been selected and added to the ArcMap Project, the data should be visible in the main ArcMap window.
   
   
   
    
9. The 2009 Shelby County aerial photographs can added to your map project.
   
   
   
   
    
10. At this point, additional elements can be added to the map. For example, the following elements should be added: a North arrow; a scale with 50-foot increments; and labels for your site number, the major streets in the area, and the site's four corner point.
    
     
11. Once the map is complete, save your project by clicking on File → Save. The following window will appear:
    
    
    
    Enter a name for the ArcMap project, in this case, site maps (note the file extension for ArcMap projects is *.mxd) and click OK or Save.

This website was originally developed by Charles Camp for CIVL 1101.
This site is maintained by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.