Chapter 5: Repairing a Data Address

Remote Sensing Analysis

in an

ArcMap Environment

Tammy E. Parece

Remote Sensing in an ArcMap Environment

Tammy Parece James Campbell

John McGee

This workbook is available online as text (.pdf’s) and short video tutorials via: http://www.virginiaview.net/education.html

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The project described in this publication was supported by Grant Number G14AP00002 from the Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey to AmericaView. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors; the views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Remote Sensing in an ArcMap Environment 5. Repairing a Data Address

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Introduction:

ArcMap is a display mechanism. When you add data, you are only displaying the data in the map document window. The actual data file is still located in the file folder on your computer’s hard drive or USB. When you save a map document, it says the data as displayed but also records the location of your data files. If you move the data files, ArcMap will not know where to find them, and when you open a specific map document, your display will be empty. You can fix this (repair the address) without rebuilding your map document.

Repairing the Data Address

Again, the files shown in the Table of Contents of your map document are not in your

map file. They are still located in the file folder where you saved them on your computer. If

you look at the address under Layers in the Table of Contents, it shows the reference link as to

where your files are located. You can have files

located in several different locations all in the same

map document. ArcMap only saved the location of

your files, not the data within the map document.

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Remote Sensing in an ArcMap Environment 5. Repairing a Data Address

If you see red exclamation points next to your layer names when you open your map

document, this means that ArcMap cannot find your data layers. This can happen with both

vector and raster files. You will need to repair the data location’s address.

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Remote Sensing in an ArcMap Environment 5. Repairing a Data Address

To repair the

address, right click on

any of the layers in

the Table of

Contents, go to Data

and Repair Date

Source.

This will take you to the Browse

for Folder window, so you can navigate to

the folder where your data is currently

located. Click on the file that corresponds

to the layer that you clicked on in the

Table of Contents (note – if you click on

the wrong file, it alters the file that is in the

map document and you will have to rebuild

your map document!!). If all of your data

is located all in the same place, all layer

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Remote Sensing in an ArcMap Environment 5. Repairing a Data Address

connections should be repaired. If your data is located in multiple places, you will need to do the

repair this for each location.

If the file is a

raster file, when you

click on Repair Data

Source, you will get

this dialog box. Click

on the button at the end

of the row for your file

name and you will get

the Browse for Folder window and can then navigate to the file folder where your data is

located. Click on the file that corresponds to the file in the Table of Contents and click OK.

Once you have repaired all the addresses,

SAVE your map document. Your map should now

display correctly. But you are not yet finished!

One final step. Left click on File, and then

click on Map Document Properties.

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Remote Sensing in an ArcMap Environment 5. Repairing a Data Address

Click on the box next to Store relative pathnames to data sources. Click OK.

You are ready to proceed to the next tutorial.

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Remote Sensing in an ArcMap Environment 5. Repairing a Data Address

Notes:

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