Saving a map

Saving a map

After you finish working on a map, you can save it and exit ArcMap. You save a map as a document and store it on your hard disk. If you haven't saved the map before, you'll need to provide a name and save it into a folder location. ArcMap automatically appends a file extension (.mxd) to your map document name.

The data displayed on a map is not saved with it. Map layers reference the data sources in your GIS database. This helps keep map documents relatively small in size.

You can also save the map with its data using a map package, which can be used to share your map and its related data with other users. See Creating a map package for more information.

Saving to previous versions of ArcGIS

Once you open and save an existing map document (.mxd file) using ArcGIS 10, the map can no longer be opened with earlier versions of ArcGIS because it will now reflect the new functionality added at 10. Similarly, new documents you create with 10 also cannot be opened in earlier versions of the software. However, you can use the Save A Copy command to make a copy of a map document so you can open and work with it in previous versions of ArcGIS. With ArcGIS 10, you can save to ArcGIS 9.3, 9.2, 9.0/9.1, or 8.3. ArcGIS 9.0 and 9.1 map documents are directly compatible with each other and those versions of the software.

Each new version of ArcGIS introduces functionality and properties that aren't available in previous versions. When you save a map document, layer file, or 3D document to a previous version of ArcGIS, the format of the file is changed to eliminate properties not available in the older version.

This means saving from 10 to a previous version removes from the file any functionality that depends on the newer software in ArcGIS 10. Therefore, some work may be lost if you save to 9.3, 9.2, 9.0/9.1, or 8.3 and start working with the older copy again in 10, since the 10 functionality was stripped out in the Save A Copy process. Your original ArcGIS 10 file will still have the new functionality.

In addition, when you save a map document to a previous version of the software, only the .mxd file is saved; the data sources referenced in the .mxd file remain unchanged. See the following sections for more information about geodatabases, data sources, and saving to previous versions.

You can also save layer files in ArcMap and ArcGlobe and ArcGlobe and ArcScene documents to previous versions of ArcGIS.

Geodatabases and saving map documents to previous versions

If your organization uses different versions of ArcGIS, you need to confirm the ArcGIS release with which your geodatabase is associated, as it can have an impact on whether or not ArcGIS will be able to access the data referenced in the map. Newer versions of ArcGIS can read older geodatabases, but older versions of ArcGIS cannot read newer geodatabases except in the following cases:

For example, if your map contains data from an ArcGIS 10.0 personal, file, or ArcSDE geodatabase, you can save the .mxd file so it can be opened in ArcGIS 9.3, 9.2, 9.1, 9.0, or 8.3, but those versions won't be able to display the 10.0 data. Similarly, data in any 10.0, 9.3, 9.2, 9.1, or 9.0 geodatabase cannot be read in ArcGIS 8.3. Shapefiles, coverages, and file-based rasters don't present a problem in this regard.

Existing geodatabases created using previous releases can be opened and used in 10 without being upgraded to 10. However, to take advantage of new functionality added at 10, existing geodatabases must be upgraded. However, if you upgrade a geodatabase, you can't restore it for use in its original version of ArcGIS. For this reason, you may want to make a copy of the geodatabase before you upgrade.

If you have data in a geodatabase that you have created or upgraded in ArcGIS version 10 that you want to be able to work with in an older version of ArcGIS, you have two options. In version 10 you can create a new, empty file geodatabase that can be opened in an older version using the Create File GDB geoprocessing tool and then in version 10, copy and paste the data from your geodatabase into that new, empty file geodatabase. This will create a geodatabase that can be opened in the older version. However, note that some items supported in newer geodatabases can't be pasted into a geodatabase intended for an older version if that version doesn't support them. Alternatively, in version 10 add the data into a map as a layer and create a layer package. A layer package can be opened in version 10 and 9.3.1. If you have multiple layers you want to prepare for use in version 9.3.1 you can create a group layer and then package that layer, or create separate layer packages for each layer.

Some general points to remember when working with geodatabases from different ArcGIS releases include:

Saving from ArcGIS 10 to ArcGIS 9.3

ArcGIS 10 introduced some new functionality and properties that were not available in previous versions of ArcGIS. Here are some tips to keep in mind when saving to ArcGIS 9.3.

ArcMap

  • The map document's default geodatabase property will be removed when saving to 9.3
  • Customized layer field ordering will be removed when a layer is saved to 9.3.
  • The time properties of a layer will be removed when a layer is saved to 9.3.
  • The time properties of the data frame will be removed when a layer is saved to 9.3
  • Field properties noting fields as highlighted or read-only will be removed when a layer is saved to 9.3.
  • Dynamic text elements will be converted to static text when saving to 9.3.
  • Mosaic layers will be dropped when saving to 9.3.
  • Feature templates will be dropped when saving to 9.3.
  • Group layer transparency can be set at both the sublayer and top level group layer at ArcGIS 10. When saving to a previous version, the appearance of the map will be preserved in this situation, but the transparency values will change.
  • Basemap layers will be converted to group layers when saved to 9.3.
  • Accelerated raster layers will be converted to raster layers when saved to 9.3.
  • Data driven pages did not exist in ArcGIS 9.3 and will be dropped from the map document.
  • The ability to automatically derive the extent of one data frame from another will be removed when saving to 9.3.
  • Extent indicators will be rectangle indicators when saved to 9.3.
  • Data frame clipping options for clipping specific layers will be removed when saving to 9.3.
  • Layer symbology options for 3D rotation and field driven sizing will be removed from the layer.
  • Image format properties of dynamic service layers will be removed from service layers when saved to 9.3.

Saving from ArcGIS 10 to ArcGIS 9.2

Functionality or properties that are not supported when saving from ArcGIS 10 to 9.3 are also not supported in ArcGIS 9.2. In addition, here are some other notes specific to saving to ArcGIS 9.2:

ArcMap

  • In 10, when layers in a data frame are made transparent, the table of contents and the legends in layout view automatically use lighter colors to reflect transparency. This simulated transparency is removed when you save to 9.2.
  • Dimension layers in 10 support a label weight ranking so dimension features can be considered barriers to the labeling process. This property is removed when you save to 9.2.
  • All layer types that support HTML pop-ups will have their HTML pop-up properties removed.
  • Fields with a saved sort order will have that order removed.
  • JPEG 2000 picture elements will be removed.
  • WCS layers will be removed from your data frame when you save to 9.2.
  • The style name of a WMS layer will be removed from the layer.
  • Field-based hyperlinks containing parameters will not work in releases prior to 9.3. If you save a 10 .mxd file to 9.2, parameters will automatically be removed from dynamic hyperlinks, but the links to the document will still work.
  • NITF graphics layers will be removed from your data frame.
  • Raster layers using the Discrete Color renderer, will revert to a default renderer when you save to 9.2.
  • The separator property of scale text will be removed from scale text graphics when you save to 9.2.
  • Representation rules that are marked as hidden for legend display in 10 will be visible when you save to 9.2.
  • Network layers and network analysis layers referencing network datasets containing evaluators (global turn delay evaluators and function evaluators) will be saved in the 9.2 document but will be disconnected from their network dataset when opened in ArcGIS 9.2.
  • Published map files (.pmf) created with ArcGIS Publisher in 10 can't be opened in ArcReader 9.2 or earlier versions. If you need to create a .pmf file that can be opened by a previous version of ArcReader, you can save the .mxd file to a previous version and publish it on a machine with an older version of ArcGIS. Another option is for the recipient of the .pmf file to download and install ArcReader 10 for free.

Geoprocessing

Several software features are not available in ArcGIS 9.2 including

  • Script tool properties for custom tool validation
  • Model properties for storing symbology
  • Enhancements to several data types that affect models

ArcGlobe

  • Stars and atmospheric halos in ArcGlobe are dropped when saving to 9.2.
  • When consumed in 9.2, the cache for 10 layers with full caching will be regenerated on demand.
  • Some KML elements, such as screen overlays, COLLADA models, and so on, are dropped from Google Earth KML/KMZ files.
  • With ArcGlobe, you can save a layer only to releases that will support it. For example, terrain layers are supported starting with 9.2. So when you save a terrain layer, you can save it as 9.3 or 9.2 (or the regular 10); you will not be able to save it as 9.0/9.1 because terrain layers were not supported in those releases. In addition, if there are any layers in your group layers that the version of ArcGIS you chose won't be able to draw, a dialog box will appear listing them. You can then decide whether to continue with saving the copy in the format of that previous version.

If you have other ESRI or third-party extensions, you should check with the manufacturer to determine their compatibility with previous versions of ArcGIS.

Saving from ArcGIS 10 to ArcGIS 9.0/9.1

Functionality or properties that are not supported when saving from ArcGIS 10 to 9.3 or 9.2 are also not supported in ArcGIS 9.0/9.1. In addition, here are some other notes specific to saving to ArcGIS 9.0/9.1:

Saving from ArcGIS 10 to ArcGIS 8.3

Functionality or properties that are not supported when saving from ArcGIS 10 to 9.3, 9.2 or 9.0/9.1 are also not supported in ArcGIS 8.3. In addition, here are some other notes specific to saving to ArcGIS 8.3:

How to save a map to a previous version of ArcGIS

Steps:

  1. Click File > Save A Copy.
  2. Navigate to the location where you want to save the map document.
  3. Type a file name.
  4. Click the Save as type drop-down arrow and click ArcMap 9.3 Document, ArcMap 9.2 Document, ArcMap 9.0/9.1 Document, or ArcMap 8.3 Document, depending on which version you want to save.
    NoteNote:

    If you choose ArcMap Document (the option without a version number), the map will be saved in the current version of the software.

  5. Click Save.
    NoteNote:

    • The 9.3, 9.2, 9.0/9.1, or 8.3 map document will be saved to disk, and your ArcGIS 10 document will remain open.
    • If there are any layers in your current document that the previous version won't be able to draw, a dialog box will appear listing them. You can then decide whether to continue with saving the copy in ArcGIS 9.3, 9.2, 9.0/9.1, or 8.3 format.

TipTip:
The Save A Copy command is different from the Save As command. The Save As command allows you to save your document with a new name, or file location. When you use the Save As command, the new Save As document is loaded as the current document in the application.

With the Save A Copy command, you are saving a copy of the document to disk, and the document is not reloaded in the application. In addition, the Save A Copy command can also be used to save a document so it can be opened in a previous version of ArcGIS.


9/18/2012