How to create a shapefile

Prof. Dr. Sajid Rashid Ahmad

sajidpu@yahoo.com

Atiqa Ijaz Khan _ Demonstrator

atiqa_ss09@yahoo.com

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

2Steps to create a shapefile

1. Select a folder or folder connection in the Catalog tree.

2. Click the File menu, point to New, and click Shapefile.

3. Click in the Name text box and type a name for the new shapefile.

4. Click the Feature Type drop-down arrow and click the type of geometry the shapefile will

contain.

5. Click Edit to define the shapefile's coordinate system.

6. Select, import, or define a new coordinate system.

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

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• IMPORTANT POINT:

• It's highly recommended that you define the shapefile's coordinate system now.

• However, you can postpone this step until a later time.

• But, it is always a good step to define it earlier during this step.

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

4By Right clicking in specified folder under the Arc Catalog…Right click _ New _ Shapefile: *point, line polygon

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

5Name: PolygonFeature Type: Polygon

Spatial Reference: Unknown(Means that you have to assign it a required coordinate system, either geographic or projected)

To Edit the Coordinate System, i.e. either geographic or projected

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

6After clicking the ‘Edit’ from previous tab, Select any of the Required Coordinate System.There are hundreds of options available under each of them.Choose wisely…!It will effects the location of features.

You can also put any of them into ‘Favorites’ to avoid searching again every time.

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

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Note the symbols of each:• Polygon with Square box• Line with Cross straight

lines• Point with Random 3

points

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

8Introduction to Arc Catalog

• It let us explore, organize and manage geographic features/data.

• It stores MATADATA, i.e. data about data.

• It’s like giving information about spatial data like Windows Explorer.

• It can show folder and somewhat content in it.

• It let us preview features before adding to Arc Map.

• One can: copy, edit, delete, create and search for data.

• Each format have its own icon in Arc Catalog.

• One can connect required folder to it for further work.

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

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Description Tab

Preview Tab

Contents Tab

Thursday, April 13, 2023Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab

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