An overview of designing maps for optimal performance

There are many techniques you can use to improve drawing performance of your features and maps, both for display in ArcMap and for maps served over the Web. A map that draws quickly will provide a better foundation for GIS analysis and data compilation in the ArcMap environment and will provide a better experience for users if it is published via ArcGIS Server.

The various methods of improving performance all share one fundamental strategy: The fewer processing decisions that ArcMap makes at draw time, the faster a map will draw. Often, making small changes to map symbology and the properties of data frames and map layers can generate a significant reduction in a map's drawing time.

To learn how to design maps to perform, see the following topics:

Optimizing map content for performanceOptimizing map symbols for performanceOptimizing map text and labels for performance

8/2/2012