Layer File - CREATING AND PACKAGING
Click here to download the data that the author used for the course lesson. By downloading the data you will be able to follow the steps completely.
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Introduction
A Layer File contains a value added set of information about a shapefile, but does not physically contain the actual shapefile. Some of the symbolic information includes, colors, labeling information, scale range of appearance, classification breaks, and other information that is generated in the creation of a map. When a shapefile is brought into a map, symbolic properties must be set again, in a layer file they automatically appear. It is helpful but not required that the symbology lesson be completed before attempting this lesson.
Layer File
Start ArcCatalog from inside ArcMap or from the stand alone ArcCatalog Application. In this example, the author used the application. If the icon is not on your the desktop a search will need to be made. See figure 1.
Highlight the folder where the new layer file will be placed. For this example the “Jefferson County Boundary” folder was selected. Next click on the File tab, under the File menu click on New, and then select Layer, see figure 2.
Highlight the folder where the new layer file will be placed. For this example the “Jefferson County Boundary” folder was selected. Next click on the File tab, under the File menu click on New, and then select Layer, see figure 2.
After selecting Layer, the Create New Layer window appears as in Figure 3. At this point give the layer a name, for this lesson the name “Example” was used. Next a shapefile is selected to include in the layer. Use the Browser Button to select the shapefile to be used. In this example the “Jefferson County Boundary” shapefile was chosen.
Note: the Example file that was created, has the extension lyr, the icon is a yellow diamond as compared to a shape file which is a green square, see figure 4.
Select the layer file Example in the Catalog Tree and Right Click on it. Then select Properties, see figure 5.
The Layer Properties window is similar to the properties window used in Esri ArcMap. In figure 6 the shapefile is a shade of green. Land masses are normally depicted in yellow. To make the shapefile the appropriate color select the Symbology tab. Then choose Symbol.
The desired color, for this layer is Esri Yellow. The Fill Color Tab can be used to see more choices. After the choice has been made, choose select, see figure.7.
To complete the symbology select Apply and then OK. This information change will be saved within the layer file, not the MXD. Now when this layer file is used in a map it will automatically be yellow and not need to be set-up within each new map project file, see figure
Layer Package Creation
The creation of a layer file has the same issues as the creation of a project file (MXD), in which the data source can become disassociated if moved to a different location. As long as the layer file is not moved it will remain associated and can be used in multiple projects. A Layer Package can be created in much the same way as a Map Package is created (see the lesson introduction for more details). The Layer Package is created in Esri ArcMap, right click on the layer file in the table of contents and select create layer file. A new dialogue box will open. The Layer Package will make the layer file transportable buttons on the top right corner.
The first window in figure 9, shows the files that are being included in the Layer Package. The next selection is determining storage location, for this example it will be stored on a local drive. Select the item description, in the item description the user will provide metadata similar to what is created with any shapefile, existing metadata will be included, for the particular file that is being demonstrated, no metadata existed and will need to be added prior to saving the layer. See Figure 10 for the required and optional fields. The Summary is a required field as is Tags, the other items are optional. The selection of tags is extremely important because it makes it easier to locate layers. The final selection is the Additional Files section, multiple layers can be contained within one layer package, for this example only one file will be in the package and thus this process will not be discussed. Once all the content has been added to the Layer Package creation windows, select Analyze to insure that the package can be properly constructed. A message bar will be placed on the map with errors and warnings, a Layer Package can be created with warnings but not with errors. On show that as a requirement. Once the errors are corrected, click on the Share button and a
location will be requested. This created package can now be shared with colleagues.
location will be requested. This created package can now be shared with colleagues.