What's new in ArcGIS Schematics 10?
As a result of user feedback on previous versions, it was determined that some ArcGIS Schematics concepts were not easy to understand for most ArcGIS users. Symbology and labeling on schematic elements were managed in a completely different way than in most of the ArcGIS suite, which made the usability and configuration of schematic datasets quite complex.
This led ESRI to think about a new architecture to simplify things, bring the user experience closer to that of a standard feature class or feature dataset, and allow users to take advantage of core ArcGIS symbology and labeling in Schematics. Schematics 10 has been completely rebuilt on new foundations with a new architecture of parts of the Schematics API and the configuration tool.
Caution:These main changes have major impacts on the schematic datasets. To be able to use the full Schematics functions on a pre-10 schematic dataset, you must migrate this schematic dataset. It is recommended that you carefully read the topics in the Migrating from a pre-10 Schematics version help book before migrating any pre-10 schematic dataset.
Main changes for Schematics
- The graphic core that was used by Schematics prior to ArcGIS 10 has been completely removed. Elements contained in schematic diagrams are now real ArcGIS features, called schematic features. This allows Schematics to take advantage of core ArcGIS symbology and labeling. Schematics features contained in diagrams are now organized into feature layers that are completely customizable in the exact same way as standard ArcGIS layers. Drawing a schematic layer using one symbol or showing categories, setting layer visibility, labeling it, and defining how schematic features in this layer will look when they are selected are customizations that can now be performed through the Layer Properties dialog box in the exact same way as for standard geographic feature layers.
Learn more about managing the properties of feature layers in schematic diagrams
- The Schematics Designer configuration tool has also been completely rewritten. The new tool, Schematic Dataset Editor, developed in .NET, has been completely rethought and offers a modern GUI. Parts that were used before to deal with labeling and symbology no longer exist, and the configuration of schematic datasets is now much easier.
Learn more about the new Schematic Dataset Editor configuration tool
- An edit session must now be started on schematic diagrams before a user can manually move or refine schematic features or run schematic layout algorithms. This helps avoid conflicts and stop users from accidentally overwriting changes from other users.
- Many schematic users are generating diagrams from versioned data. Diagrams themselves are not versioned, but they hold a reference to the underlying GIS feature versions. In the past, it was difficult for a user to change this reference. Now, there is a new way for the ArcMap user to change the reference version while in ArcMap and for an administrator to change all diagrams to a different reference version in Schematic Dataset Editor.
- A new algorithm has been added called Geo - Compression. This algorithm is useful for users that want to keep the relative layout of the diagram but compress all the features toward the center of the diagram. This allows a diagram that might span many miles to be displayed in better detail on a single sheet of paper.
Learn more about the new Geo - Compression schematic layout algorithm
- In Schematics versions prior to ArcGIS 10, the content of schematic diagrams entirely built from custom queries was managed by a specific builder called Custom Query Based builder. This builder no longer exists. The Standard, Network Dataset, and XML builders have been extended to support schematic feature classes managed by custom queries and so implement diagrams containing schematic features built by the builder that are mixed with other schematic features coming from custom queries, which operate from any type of database. Moreover, the Standard builder has been extended to be able to implement schematic diagrams whose whole contents are built from custom queries.
Fundamentals of rules and layout algorithms kept
The set of schematic rules and schematic layout algorithms that existed in previous versions have been adapted to follow the new architecture, but their general philosophy has been kept.
The only difference on schematic rules in this version concerns the rule execution. In Schematics versions prior to ArcGIS 10, the rules operated in the schematic dataset after the storage of the generated/updated schematic features. In this version, the process executes directly in memory so that any attribute on the schematic features impacted or created by the rules are evaluated on the fly.