Following from this, GIMS has announced the release of ArcView 8.1, a product that promises to bring the desktop-user experience in line with that of the professional GIS user.

ArcView 8.1 is a new-generation GIS data visualisation, query and map creation solution, designed for the Windows desktop. ArcView 8.1 provides tools for integrating and visualising a wide range of popular GIS and mapping-related data formats (shape, DXF, DWG, DGN coverages, MIF, Geodatabases), geographic data exploration, spatial query and spatial data analysis as well as tools supporting basic geographic and metadata creation. The software also offers enhanced cartographic and data capture features. ArcView 8.1 includes a rich suite of editing tools to facilitate data automation and the update of shapefiles. It can also read coverages and uses the full functionality of the geodatabase to display data.

ArcView 8.1 consists of 3 new applications: ArcMap, ArcCatalog and ArcToolbox.

ArcCatalog

Gives the look and feel of Windows Explorer but from a spatial perspective. It allows the following functions:

* Browse and organise geographic data.

* Catalogue of data layers.

* Catalogue of maps.

* Catalogue of metadata.

* Browse and organise tabular data.

* Create and browse metadata.

* Search for data locally or on the net.

ArcMap

Gives users a Windows environment for editing and analysis of data as well as producing high quality cartographic maps.

* Enhanced editing tools.

* CAD-like geometry building.

* Annotation support.

* Exceptional map production.

* 12 000 symbol library.

* Dynamic graticules and neat lines.

* Advanced labelling.

* Layer level projection.

* Both map projection and datum support.

* Internet enabled.

* View maps from the Internet.

* Integrate Internet map data with local data.

* Direct connect to the geography network.

* Excellent charting and reporting.

* 2D and 3D business charts.

* Crystal reports.

ArcToolbox

ArcToolbox allows the user to import and project data with easy-to-use wizards and tools.

Geographic Information Management Systems

(011) 315 0390

www.gims.com

lauren@gims.com

The Agriculture Research Council Institute for Soil Climate and Water (ARC-ISCW) has been using ESRI's ArcInfo GIS products since the 1980's.

"The early Unix versions of the software were often perceived as having 'non-user friendly, difficult to use, and blank-black screen' technology - this despite the fact that they were based on a high-powered system architecture," commented Rudolph De Munnik, GIS Specialist and System Administrator. "Newcomers to ArcInfo had a steep learning curve and needed to become expert typists due to the command line interface.

"The first user break-though came with the release of ArcInfo 7 for Windows NT workstation. This version made it possible to move away from the Unix back-end, but was still bound to the Unix-type user interface.

"The development of ArcInfo 8 for NT Desktop resulted in ArcInfo becoming even easier to use with most processes being wizard-based. The NT Workstation version is still mainly command line driven for the Unix -gurus," De Munnik adds.

"We are also looking forward to the new functionality which includes the combination of ARCIMS datasets as an extra data source from anywhere in the world through ArcView and ArcInfo modules," he concludes.

Rudolph De Munnik

GIS Specialist and System Administrator

ARC-ISCW