ArcCatalog - Creating New Shapefiles or Feature Classes

In order to digitize new points using a GPS unit or create customized files with shapes and lines to add to a Map Project, you must first create a Shapefile.  When seen through Windows Explorer, a Shapefile is actually composed of a five separate files with .dbf, .prj, .shp, .shp.xml, and .shx file extensions.  If you move or copy a Shapefile, you must move all five of the associated files in order for the Shapefile to work properly.

When seen in ArcMap, ArcCatalog, or ArcPad, Shapefiles appear as a single file with an .shp file extension.

Create a New Feature Class

Feature Classes in ArcGIS include Shapefiles, Polyline files, Polygon files, and a host of other vector file types for collecting data.  If you are unusre about what kind of Feature Class you need to create for your Map Project, contact Dr. Catherine Riihimaki (x3349) for assistance. 

Once you've navigated to or created the Geodatabase, you can begin to create new, empty Shapfiles.

1. Right click on the name of the Geodatabase
2. Choose New → Feature Class.  The New Feature Class dialog box will appear.
3. Fill out the Attributes of your new Shapefile according to the following information:
   1. Name:
      1. The Name of your new Shapefile is what ArcMap will read when it includes it in a Map Project.
      2. Names should be unique, begin with a letter, have no spaces, and be as short as possible. 
      3. Names should also be descriptive - the name should reflect the kind of data you will be collecting in this particular Shapefile.

1. 1. Alias:
      1. The Alias is another way to label your Shapefile. 
      2. This is what will display when users are looking for your Shapefile in ArcMap and ArcCatalog. 
      3. The Alias can have spaces, but should always be as close as possible to the Name so that it remains recognizable.

1. 1. Type:
      1. Point Features - for creating single points that represent individual objects such as manhole covers, trees, or telephone poles
      2. Polygon Features - for creating closed shapes such as circles and squares
      3. Polyline Features - for creating linear elements with few vertices such as street center lines and streams
      4. Multipoint Features - for creating large point collections, such as lidar point clusters
      5. Multipatches - for creating 3-D features such as 3-D renderings of buildings or geology

1. 1. Geometry Properties:  
      1. M values record points along a vertices.  This can be used for mapping routes or other data where the coordinates of the vertices on a polyline will be important.
      2. Z values are for elevation data or other attributes of surface data. These can be used when you are recording information about topography.
2. Click Next.
3. Choose a Coordinate System for your new Shapefile.  This should match the Coordinate System of the other Map Layers and Shapefiles you will be using. For more information to help you choose a Coordinate System, see the ESRI help document, What are Map Projections?
   1. Choose a new Coordinate System from the Projected or Geographic Coordinate Systems provided
   2. Import a Coordinate System from an existing Shapefile.  This is the best option when trying to match Coordinate Systems for an existing Map Project.
4. Click Next.
5. Leave the default values for XY Tolerance and and M- or Z- Tolerance at default levels.
6. Click Next.  
7. Add Attribute Fields to the Shapefile.  Default Values are OBJECTID and SHAPE.  Add Attributes fields by
   1. Clicking in an empty field under Field Name
   2. Typing a name for the new Attribute Field. 
      1. The name for the new Attribute Field must begin with a letter
      2. It must be no longer than 10 characters in length. 
      3. Use descriptive names.

1. 1. Click in the same row under Data Type.  You must define a Data Type for each new Attribute.  For more information on Data Types, see the ESRI helpo document, Geodatabase field data types.  The most common choices are:
      1. Text - for names, notes, and othe rtext elements
      2. Numbers - for integers and fields that you want to be able to use in numerical functions
      3. Date - for dates only
      4. Double - for any field in which you want to be able to perform calculations.
2. Once you have filled in all the fields you want to add to your Shapefile, click Finish.  The new Shapefile will appear in the specified location in the ArcCatalog Catalog Tree.