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Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop
Getting to Know ArcGIS® for Desktop is a workbook that introduces the principles of GIS via hands-on exercises. Readers are shown how to use ArcGIS for Desktop software tools to display and present maps and data, and then query and analyze the data. The third edition has been reorganized and includes new topics such as exploring online resources and raster data and contains new exercises, data, and learning tools.
Known for its broad scope, clarity, and reliability, Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop is equally well-suited for classroom use, independent study, and as a reference. A data DVD for working through the exercises is included with the book, and access to a 180-day trial of ArcGIS 10.1 for Desktop is provided.
Known for its broad scope, clarity, and reliability, Getting to Know ArcGIS for Desktop is equally well-suited for classroom use, independent study, and as a reference. A data DVD for working through the exercises is included with the book, and access to a 180-day trial of ArcGIS 10.1 for Desktop is provided.
768 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2013
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53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 9, 2021
Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop Updated for ArcGIS Desktop 10.6 Edition, fifth edition by Michael Law and Amy Collins is an above average Software intro. I have taken a number of ESRI classes and never liked the ESRI Class room manuals. This one was required for a graduate level Intro To Mapping with ESRI and served my needs much better. Getting to know ARC GIS is like all such software training manuals very expensive. I strongly suggest that you do not go for a rental, or a used copy. The book comes with a one-time installation code that allows you a time limited use of a more advanced version (what ESRI calls Extensions enabled) or Arc GIS Desktop.
With the one-time code and an awkward installation process your licensed copy will prove critical to completing the exercises. There are copies of the exercise data which can also be downloaded.
Other things to consider. First, this text is built around version 10.6. The latest edition is 10.7, Until the last couple of chapters, I had no problem completing the exercises. Second, ArcGis 10.7 is either the last or one of the last updates to the so-called Desk Top versions of ArcGIS. For several years ESRI has been moving clients into ARC Pro. This means that at some point the entire Desktop family will become legacy software. From my various sources I would not expect ESRI to end product support before 2024 and a better guess would be a few years later.
I have several years working with the Pro Platform. It has some advantages. The latest version of Pro has some very interesting new tools for a more advanced user. The smartest users have kept some version of both Desktop and Pro and have learned which is the better at which specific task.
The problem I have had with most ESRI training manuals is that the start with very tight “hand-holding”. Tiny steps, careful sequenced. The, abruptly the student is tosses into the deep end with very little support. With one excepting I never had this problem with Getting to Know ARC GIS.
Each set of exercises were in a reasonable order from less to more complex. It was always possible to go back and find what I had missed. In general topics progresses through things a starting user might need and if some tool were emphasized over others, that may just reflect the experience of the authors rather than any absolute failure to train on valuable tools. I have heard that there are over 500 tools in Desktop and I have no reason to doubt that number. I do not think I want to meet the person who has all of them in memory with a perfect recall of all associated settings or options.
A user should expect a lot more about what a tool is about rather than much cartographic theory. This is training for a beginning user. Not a background text designed to explain map making as an academic topic.
One problem I have found in almost every similar software training manual is about the limited appreciation of a training manual from the POV of the trainee. Getting to Know, like most such manuals is an over sized book on expensive paper. So far so good and all the better if you plan to keep it as a ready reference. BUT font colors are not chosen to emphasize high contrast. Come to this book with any form of color blindness and you will have problems. Font sizes can get very small. There is lots of white space on most pages, screen shots should never include such small print size. Further arrows and other guides layered atop example screen shot can cover exactly the information the illustration is intended to demonstrate.
My biggest personal gripe was about the extremely small sized pictures of particular buttons one is to press. On a page with over 3 inches of blanks space there is no reason to illustrate a button with a image about 1/8th inch square.
A particular problem I have seen in virtually every ESRI how to book or class is when the student is introduced to the programing of Work Flow routines. Work flows are intended to allow a user to automat processes unique to their needs. With work flows you can string together tools such that the output of one in an input to another and with one click the user can accomplish very complex processes and store them for future projects.
This is a form pf programing, very visual and over the years more powerful and more intuitive. Unfortunately the examples used to introduce the student to what cam be a very advanced a capability always uses an example oh how to built a processes that takes one or as in this book 5 inputs and yield usable outputs. So far so good, but the completed process only takes one is rarely created to iterate through more than one table. Thus, you are taking time to build a tool designed to use once. I have seen examples that only work on a single line of input; at least in this book the example work flow works an entire table. Unfortunately, it was at this point that the text became very complex, describing unlikely desired outputs and via steps that were not mirrored in the choices to be found in GIS Release 10.7.
With the one-time code and an awkward installation process your licensed copy will prove critical to completing the exercises. There are copies of the exercise data which can also be downloaded.
Other things to consider. First, this text is built around version 10.6. The latest edition is 10.7, Until the last couple of chapters, I had no problem completing the exercises. Second, ArcGis 10.7 is either the last or one of the last updates to the so-called Desk Top versions of ArcGIS. For several years ESRI has been moving clients into ARC Pro. This means that at some point the entire Desktop family will become legacy software. From my various sources I would not expect ESRI to end product support before 2024 and a better guess would be a few years later.
I have several years working with the Pro Platform. It has some advantages. The latest version of Pro has some very interesting new tools for a more advanced user. The smartest users have kept some version of both Desktop and Pro and have learned which is the better at which specific task.
The problem I have had with most ESRI training manuals is that the start with very tight “hand-holding”. Tiny steps, careful sequenced. The, abruptly the student is tosses into the deep end with very little support. With one excepting I never had this problem with Getting to Know ARC GIS.
Each set of exercises were in a reasonable order from less to more complex. It was always possible to go back and find what I had missed. In general topics progresses through things a starting user might need and if some tool were emphasized over others, that may just reflect the experience of the authors rather than any absolute failure to train on valuable tools. I have heard that there are over 500 tools in Desktop and I have no reason to doubt that number. I do not think I want to meet the person who has all of them in memory with a perfect recall of all associated settings or options.
A user should expect a lot more about what a tool is about rather than much cartographic theory. This is training for a beginning user. Not a background text designed to explain map making as an academic topic.
One problem I have found in almost every similar software training manual is about the limited appreciation of a training manual from the POV of the trainee. Getting to Know, like most such manuals is an over sized book on expensive paper. So far so good and all the better if you plan to keep it as a ready reference. BUT font colors are not chosen to emphasize high contrast. Come to this book with any form of color blindness and you will have problems. Font sizes can get very small. There is lots of white space on most pages, screen shots should never include such small print size. Further arrows and other guides layered atop example screen shot can cover exactly the information the illustration is intended to demonstrate.
My biggest personal gripe was about the extremely small sized pictures of particular buttons one is to press. On a page with over 3 inches of blanks space there is no reason to illustrate a button with a image about 1/8th inch square.
A particular problem I have seen in virtually every ESRI how to book or class is when the student is introduced to the programing of Work Flow routines. Work flows are intended to allow a user to automat processes unique to their needs. With work flows you can string together tools such that the output of one in an input to another and with one click the user can accomplish very complex processes and store them for future projects.
This is a form pf programing, very visual and over the years more powerful and more intuitive. Unfortunately the examples used to introduce the student to what cam be a very advanced a capability always uses an example oh how to built a processes that takes one or as in this book 5 inputs and yield usable outputs. So far so good, but the completed process only takes one is rarely created to iterate through more than one table. Thus, you are taking time to build a tool designed to use once. I have seen examples that only work on a single line of input; at least in this book the example work flow works an entire table. Unfortunately, it was at this point that the text became very complex, describing unlikely desired outputs and via steps that were not mirrored in the choices to be found in GIS Release 10.7.
February 19, 2016
Easy to understand and follow. Made the classwork easier and able to quickly get the projects and assignments done.
December 30, 2018
An excellent beginner book for learning Esris' ArcGIS program. There's a lot of hands on learning activities that help you learn your way around the program. Now that I've completed the book it will continue to serve as a great reference for me as I continue to learn and become more familiar with the program through Esris many free projects you can do through their website.
If you want to learn ArcGIS I recommend starting with this book. There are more up to date editions, but this one still worked just fine.
If you want to learn ArcGIS I recommend starting with this book. There are more up to date editions, but this one still worked just fine.
July 25, 2022
As an ArcGIS newbie, I really enjoyed working through this book. I cannot say that I know everything or even fully understand it, but I have a great resource for reference and reminders. With more use, full understanding will come.
April 16, 2019
Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop is a high-quality overview of GIS that could probably replace an Introductory GIS class on its own. The explanations and demonstrations are clearly written with easy to follow instructions.
My one criticism is it might be TOO easy. This book certainly won't teach you how to be a GIS practitioner. But if the objective is to give an overview of the technology, giving readers a primer on its many uses, I'd have a hard time imagining a better book. Experienced practitioners may still find many of the tips in the book useful.
The book also comes with a trial version of ArcGIS, which is a great value on its own. Great introductory book, overall.
My one criticism is it might be TOO easy. This book certainly won't teach you how to be a GIS practitioner. But if the objective is to give an overview of the technology, giving readers a primer on its many uses, I'd have a hard time imagining a better book. Experienced practitioners may still find many of the tips in the book useful.
The book also comes with a trial version of ArcGIS, which is a great value on its own. Great introductory book, overall.
April 24, 2022
Easy to follow. However, I had an updated version of the software compared to when this book came out. Some of the directions didn't line up with the updated program. I was able to get through any confusion regarding that.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews