• Introduction
• What the ArcGIS 8.x MassGIS Data Viewer contains
• Enhancements in the ArcGIS 8.x Data Viewer vs. "regular" ArcGIS 8.x
• PC Specifications for Running the ArcGIS 8.x Data Viewer
• Online Technical Support

The MassGIS Data Viewers (3.x and 8.x) are distributed on CD and contain MassGIS data (either for a specific area in Massachusetts or statewide), as well as some tools with which to view the data.  The Geographic Information System (GIS) data on the CD is a an open ESRI file format called shapefiles.  The CD(s) may also contain a subset of the image data (orthophotographs and/or scanned USGS topographic maps, etc.) that MassGIS maintains. 

The CD contains the "MassGIS Data Viewer", a customized ArcGIS template (.mxt) file which uses the ArcGIS ArcObjects programming language (ArcGIS is an ESRI product). The project consists primarily of a few key enhancements to native ArcGIS which are designed to make it even easier to work with spatial data (see below). The MassGIS Data Viewer was created specifically to be distributed and work with MassGIS data. However, it also was designed to be generic enough to work with any other spatial data supported by ArcGIS.

**The ArcGIS Data Viewer on the CD is for users that have the ArcGIS software **Version 8.2 +**
    There is no runtime version for ArcGIS 8.x

MassGIS Data Viewer for 8.x is available for a particular region (one town, a few towns, a watershed, etc.) or for the entire state. All Viewer CDs contain the customized ArcGIS project explained above. In addition:

Custom Regional Viewers usually include: 

• all point, polygon and vector data that overlap the requested region in shapefile format (except point elevations)
And may include:
• USGS Quadrangle Images in MrSID format
• Black and White digital orthophotos in MrSID format
• Color digital orthophotos in MrSID format

Statewide Viewers include only vector data and are available as a multiple-CD set.  Images are available separately.

The CD contains the following directories:
 31
 ArcGIS8
 data
 gisdata
 program
 web

The ArcGIS 8.x Data Viewer uses the ArcGIS8 directory. The Runtime Data Viewer for 3.x uses the data and program directories. The Data Viewer for ArcGIS 3.x ("full" version) uses the 31 directory. All viewers use the gisdata directory, where the shapefiles and the images are stored. The web directory contains a browseable copy of the MassGIS web site.

See the page on Data and Map Ordering Services for pricing and ordering information.

Some of the enhancements in the ArcGIS 8.x MassGIS Data Viewer include: 

• A set of menu choices which group the available MassGIS datalayers into useful categories so it is easy to find the data you wish to view
• Default legends and information on whether a theme should be drawn based on level of zoom (scale-dependency)
• The ability to zoom to a particular town or basin (or many other extents) immediately
• Easy-to-access documentation on each MassGIS datalayer
• Storage of data so that viewing is simple - the user does not have to know where it is stored
• Storage of application metadata - Easy access to all information needed to work with data themes, including file locations, legend files, documentation files, map extents, etc. through centralized "theme inventory" table

NOTE: The Data Viewer does not disable any regular ArcGIS functions.

To find the minimum and recommended requirements for running ArcGIS 8.x, check  http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=knowledgebase.systemRequirements.gateway

The table below lists the "minimum" requirements printed in the ArcGIS documentation and the "preferred" setup to provide best performance. Where there is a gap between the minimum and preferred values (e.g. 128MB v. 256MB RAM), the middle of the range will usually provide superior performance over the minimum. The Operating System requirements are: Windows 2000, NT or XP.
 

HARDWARE	MINIMUM	PREFERRED
Processor / CPU speed	Pentium or higher / 450 MHz minimumn	Pentium or higher / 650 MHz recommended
RAM	128MB	256MB+
CD Speed	2x	8x

CD Drive - Data MUST be downloaded to a local or network hard drive.

Hard Disk - The commercial ArcGIS software uses about 50 MB of hard drive space. MassGIS data for a single town requires usually a minimum of 730 MB.

For more information or if you find a problem with the MassGIS 8.x Data Viewer please contact Susan Brunton at (617) 626-1033 or by e-mail at Susan.Brunton@state.ma.us or send a Viewer technical support question by using our new Online Technical Support system.

Last Updated 9/18/2003
EOEA Disclaimer | Privacy Policy