If you find these tutorials useful and would like to link to them from your own pages,please contact the Drew Spatial Data Center Director, Dr. Catherine Riihimaki via email. You are invited to leave comments or ask questions in any of the Comment areas of each tutorial page.

The following tutorial is designed for the use of ArcMap 10 and ArcPad 10 in an enterprise environment without ArcGIS Server.  Use the Check Out process to create map projects in ArcMap 10 that can be exported to ArcPad for use in the field.  Once data has been edited in the field with ArcPad on a GPS unit, use the Check In proceedure to update the data in the ArcMap Map Project.  This allows users to keep data current for facilities management and other enterprise projects.

To create a map project with shapefiles and orthoimagery that can be exported/imported using the Check Out/Check In process, all map layers must be stored in a File Geodatabase.  Use ArcCatalog 10 to create the File Geodatabase and any shapefiles you need.  Import orthoimagery or other data to the File Geodatabase.

Add data from your File Geodatabase to a blank ArcMap Document.  Save the Map Project to the File Geodatabase.

Only one Map Project can be Checked Out to a GPS unit at a time.

Check Out Map Project Layers and Data

Connect the Trimble GeoXH GPS device to the computer using the dock.  Turn it on and wait for it to boot up completely.

In the saved Map Project, click on the Get Data for ArcPad button in the ArcPad Data Manager tool bar.  A welcome screen will appear. 

Follow the ESRI Tutorial on Getting Data for Arcpad

Important Options to Use

  1. In the Select Output Options dialog box, under "Where do you want this folder to be stored?", be sure to save the folder to the ActiveSync folder in MyDocuments.  It will look something like this: "I:\YourDrewUsername\My Documents\Geo4939435713 My Documents"
  2. In the Select Deployment Options dialog box, check the box next to the "Create ready to deploy .CAB file containing the ArcPad data."  If the GPS unit is connected to the computer and turned on, checking this box will result in the immediate deployment of the Map Project and its data to the GPS unit.
  3. If the operation is successful (no errors detected during the Validation process), and  the GPS unit is on and attached to the computer you will be asked if you want to deploy the data immediately.  Click yes.
  4. During deployment, you'll be presented with a dialog box that tells you, "ESRI Data for ArcPad Data is already installed.  Do you want to proceed with reinstall/upgrade?" 
    1. Click "Yes."  Your addition of data to the device is technically a reinstall of the data.  If you click no, your checked out data will be created in the ActiveSync file, but will not be deployed to the GPS unit.
    2. At the end of the process, you will be told to check the GPS unit for more actions.  On the GPS Unit, you will see an installation dialog box asking if you want to remove the older verision of ESRI DataForArcPad Data.  Tap OK with the stylus.  Choose Device as the location for your data and tap Install in the lower, left hand corner of the screen.

      If you have data on your GPS unit that has been edited or updated in the field, but has not been Checked In, reinstalling the software will wipe out older versions of the data and you will lose any new data you recorded.  It is possible to Check Out data without deploying it immediately.  See information on how to Check Out Data for later deployment below.

  5. Once the Installation process is complete on the GPS unit, close ArcMap (save changes if it asks you to do this).
  6. Shut down the GPS Unit to disconnect it from the computer.
  7. Remove the GPS unit from the dock and restart it.

    You may now begin making edits to your data in the field with the GPS Unit.

Check Out Data for Later Deployment

  1. Checking Out data this way will allow you to Check In any outstanding data from the GPS unit so that it is not erased.  Use this option if you have data from other projects that has not yet been Checked In.
  2. Follow the tutorial for Checking Out Map Project Layers and Data above.
  3. Under Important Options to Use, follow step 1-3 as written.
  4. In Step 3, when you are asked if you want to deploy the data immediately, click No.
  5. Save the Map Project and close it.
  6. Check In all outstanding Map Project edits from the GPS unit for other projects and delete their files in the ActiveSync folder.
  7. Open the Map Project for the data you haven't yet deployed.
  8. Click on the Deploy to Mobile Device button in the ArcPad Data Manager tool box.  The Select CAB file to deploy to mobile device dialog box will appear.  This dialog box usually defaults to the proper location for the current Map Project whose data you want to deploy.
  9. Select the DataForArcPad.ARM.CAB file in the proper Map Project folder in the ActiveSync folder.  Click Open.
  10. Follow steps 4-7 from Important Options to Use above.

Check In Map Project Layers and Data

Drew does not currently utilize ArcServer. ArcPad users will need to manually move their data back to the ActiveSync file from the GPS unit in order to perform Check In procedures in ArcMap.

  1. Once you've finished collecting data, save and close your Map Project in ArcPad on the GPS unit. 
  2. Exit ArcPad, but leave the GPS unit on.
  3. Doc the GPS unit and connect it to the computer.
  4. Open the ArcMap Project you collected data for in ArcMap.
  5. Next find the data that is stored on the GPS unit.  To do this, go to Start → My Computer → Other → Mobile Device → DataForArcPad.  You will see files in the folder that have the names of  layers from your Map Project. They follow these formats:

    ProjectName_gdb.axf

  6. Copy this file to the ActiveSync folder you used for your Output Options during the Check Out process.  The folder should look something like this: "I:\YourDrewUsername\My Documents\Geo4939435713 My Documents\MapProjectName or \DataForArcPad" - depending on what you named the folder when you Checked Out your data.  You will be asked if you want to replace the existing files in the folder with the files you are copying from the GPS unit.  Click "Yes."
  7. In your ArcMap project, open an editing session using the Editor tool bar.
  8. Click on the Get Data From ArcPad button in the ArcPad Data Manager tool bar.  The Get Data from ArcPad dialog box will appear.
  9. If your data files do not appear in the dialog box, click on the button with the green plus sign in the top, right hand corner of the dialog box.
  10. Navigate to the ActiveSync folder with the newly copied data.  Select the .axf file you copied from the GPS unit.  If you edited data, you will see that it has been Modified in the Feature Class/Table area.  If you added new data, you will see that there are items under the Added column in the Feature Class/Table area.
  11. Check the box next to the .axf file.
  12. Click Check In.  You will be asked if you want to check in the selected data. 
  13. Click Yes.  A Get Data from ArcPad dialog box will appear with the Check In results. 
  14. Click OK.
  15. Close the Data from ArcPad dialog box.
  16. Save your Edits in the Editor tool bar. 
  17. Stop the editing session.
  18. Save the Map Project.
  19. Close the Map Project.
  20. Navigate to I: → YourDrewUsername → My Documents → Geo4939435713 My Documents.  Delete the folder for the data you just checked in.  ArcMap will not allow you to overwrite a folder during hte Check Out process, so you must delete folders from your ActiveSync folder in order to continue to use the same project folder name.

Adapted from the ESRI Knowledge Base article, "What is the difference between the ArcPad toolbar and the ArcPad Data Manager toolbar?" accessed July 1, 2011 from http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/36035.

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