• Introduction
• What the ArcView 3.x MassGIS Data Viewer contains
• Enhancements in the ArcView 3.x Data Viewer vs. "regular" ArcView 3.x
• PC Specifications for Running the ArcView 3.x Data Viewer
• Training Documentation
• Online Technical Support

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

The CD/DVD optionally contains the "MassGIS Data Viewer", a customized ArcView GIS project (an .apr file). To use this version of the MassGIS Data Viewer users must have ArcView GIS 3.x, an ESRI product. The project (which uses the ArcView GIS Avenue object-oriented programming language) consists primarily of a few key enhancements to native ArcView 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 ArcView GIS.

This version of the MassGIS Data Viewer is compatible with ArcView GIS 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 on Windows (95 or higher) or UNIX. Users with ArcView GIS 3.1 and who wish to use the Data Viewer must download the 3.1.1 patch (Windows or UNIX) from the "Software Updates" section on the ESRI web site at http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.patchesServicePacks.viewPatch&PID=25&MetaID=480.


NOTE: ArcView 3.3 (the latest version of 3.x) is in Mature Support as of April 4, 2005. According to ESRI, software in the Mature Support category still is supported via phone, Email/Fax and the Online Support Center; however, there will be no patches / hot fixes orcertification on new versions of Windows (like Vista -- see technical article). ESRI does not have an official retirement date for this product yet. ESRI suggests users upgrade to ArcGIS Desktop 9.x and offers tips on transitioning to the new software.

MassGIS Data Viewers are available for a particular region (one town, a few towns, a watershed, etc.) or for the entire state. Viewer CD/DVDs may contain the customized ArcView GIS projects 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),
• USGS Quadrangle Images in MrSID format,
• and Color digital orthophotos in MrSID format.

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

On the CD or DVD are these directories:
 31
 ArcGIS
 data
 gisdata
 program
 web

The Data Viewer for ArcView GIS 3.x uses the 31 directory. The ArcGIS 9.x Data Viewer uses the ArcGIS 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 ArcView 3.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 save and name extents so that you can return to them quickly without rezooming
• 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.

The Data Viewer does not disable any regular ArcView GIS functions. Some documentation is included for those users who wish to further customize the project and add their own scripts, and more information is available upon request.

The table below lists the "minimum" requirements printed in the ArcView GIS documentation and the "preferred" setup to provide best performance. Where there is a gap between the minimum and preferred values (e.g. 486 v. pentium processor), the middle of the range will usually provide superior performance over the minimum.

HARDWARE	MINIMUM	PREFERRED
Processor	Intel 80486	Pentium
RAM	22MB	128MB+
Operating System	Windows 95	Windows 95 or higher
CD Speed	2x	8x

CD Drive - Data should be downloaded to a local or network hard drive for best performance. However, PCs with faster CD/DVD drives (8x or greater) may be able to run the program directly off the CD/DVD without downloading program or data. To access all the data in a statewide Viewer (distributed on multiple CD/DVDs), the data must be downloaded from each CD/DVD to a PC or network drive.

Hard Disk - The commercial ArcView GIS software uses about 20 MB of hard drive space. MassGIS data for a single town requires from 500-800 MB.

Though MassGIS does not offer formal training to the general public on use of the Data Viewer, there are documentation and tutorials available. 

For more information or if you find a problem with the MassGIS Data Viewer please contact Aleda Freeman at (617) 626-1193 or by e-mail at Aleda.Freeman@state.ma.us or send a Viewer technical support question by using our new Online Technical Support system.

Last Updated 11/20/2008
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