Problem Solving Resources

This page provides links to some useful documentation to help you fix common problems you may encounter in using GIS software.  We will add topics periodically as they come up during the semester.

Fixing Missing Data in an ArcMap Document

A common issue for students is that links to data files within an ArcMap Map Document become broken.  This can happen when moving files from the hard drive of a lab computer to an external disk or other location. The ArcMap document is looking for the files in one location, but they have been moved to another. When this happens, you will see a red exclamation point next to your layer in the map document's table of contents. This can be repaired using the instructions provided in the ArcGIS Help Links to an external site..

Fixing Data that Do Not Overlay or Line Up

This problem occurs when a projection and/or coordinate system was either not defined or was incorrectly defined.  Although data frames within an ArcMap Document can re-project data on-the-fly, it is best when analyses are performed on data that share the same coordinate system Links to an external site. and projection Links to an external site..