How to use ArcExplorer
ArcExplorer is a browsing tool freely distributed by ESRI
Ltd. of Redlands Ca.

Please refer to the above figure to assist you in the description of
ArcExplorer which follows:
To start
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Install the ArcExplorer Version 1.1 software (aeclient.exe) and then open
the ofptp.aep file.(aep = ArcExplorer project).If the mapwindow displays
a yellow background, then click on the “stack of paper” to zoom to the
full extend.
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No ACTIVE THEME is usually selected when the project file is opened, to
start select “WELLS” or “OUTCROPS” to be the ACTIVE THEME.
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To print a map, zoom into required level and select print. ArcExplorer
prints a simple map layout in landscape format. The layout includes a north
arrow, legend, title text, map view and an optional scale bar. The “print”
function works with any Windows supported printer.
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Do NOT save your changes to the original aep file. If you want to save
changes, save it under a new filename and retain the original aep file.
-
Minor software problems exist, as with most freeware packages. For example
the large text displayed at the full extent and distances shown in kilometers
when using the measure tool are incorrect. However distances shown in meters
are correct.
Menu Bar
The Menu Bar contains a series of drop down menus. Most functions
can also be accessed using the Tool Bars.
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File -- use for exiting the application and printing.
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Edit -- allows you to copy the screen to a BMP or an EMF image through
the clipboard or into a file.
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View -- can toggle a scale bar and the legend on or off.
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Theme -- can be used to zoom to the ACTIVE THEME (the ACTIVE THEME
is displayed in the Message Bar).
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Tools -- drop down menu access to tools for changing the view and
zoom level and querying the data.
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Help -- on line help for using Arc Explorer.
Tool Bars
The Tool Bars (when you place your cursor on an icon, its purpose
is described).
Changing Your View and Zoom levels
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Stack of paper -- zoom to full extent.
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Stack of paper with yellow page -- zoom to ACTIVE THEME extent.
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Arrow -- zoom to previous extent.
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Magnifying glass with + -- zoom in with click or drawing a box.
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Magnifying glass with - -- zoom out.
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Hand -- pan.
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Arrow four directions -- pull down pan in one of four directions.
Making queries of the data
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Information sign (I) -- Identity tool, point at an object in an
ACTIVE THEME and a window showing database contents will appear.
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Binoculars -- Find tool, you can search for text items within the
data base, objects will be highlighted in yellow, or zoomed to that meet
the criteria.
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Hammer -- Query builder, Boolean logic statements can be built
to look for objects in the ACTIVE THEME which meet the criteria of the
query.
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Map Tip -- Changes the item in the data base which is displayed
when the cursor is placed on top of an object in the ACTIVE THEME.
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Ruler Length -- measurement tool.
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Page with hand -- Displays theme properties for the ACTIVE THEME.
How to use the theme tools:
Information
To display relevant data pertaining to a specific well select “WELLS”
in the legend to be the ACTIVE THEME,
click on “i” and then click on a well in the map window. A box displaying
available well information will appear.
Binoculars
To find the well called Bradelle L-49, click on the binoculars and
then enter “Bradelle L-49” in the available text area, then chose the theme
“WELLS” and click “find”. ArcExplorer will then display the match(es) found.
Click on the match and then select “Highlight” or “Pan To” or “Zoom To”
– the well will blink.
Hammer
To find for example all the outcrop samples in the Cumberland Group.
Select “OUTCROPS” as the ACTIVE THEME, then click on the hammer. Select
the field “Group” and “=” and then “Cumberland” in the sample value. Sample
values must be used in all queries. Click on execute to run the query.
The query results will show all matches, to display the matches, click
on “Highlight Results” and this will highlight all the Cumberland Group
outcrop samples with yellow square blocks.
Map Tip
If you want the wellname to appear as you point the cursor at a well,
select “WELLS” to be the ACTIVE THEME. Then click on “Map Tips” and
a box with a list of fields will appear. Select “WELLNAME” and “OK”. Now
move the cursor to a well location in the map window – the wellname will
“pop up”. Different popup displays can be selected.
Ruler Length
To measure the distance between two wells for example, click on the
ruler length and choose a measurement unit from the detachable menu. Then
click and drag to draw a line between the wells you wish to measure. To
stop measuring, double click to clear the measurement from the map view.
As mentioned earlier, distances measured in kilometers are incorrect, but
distances measured in meters are correct.
The Legend
The Legend contains THEMES of data. They are displayed by clicking
on the check box to the left of the THEME Title. A THEME is made an ACTIVE
THEME by clicking on the title, (its appearance will seem raised). The
display of THEMES in the MAP WINDOW is also controlled by zoom level. The
following THEMES always appear:
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GEOLABEL
-
GEOGRID
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OUTCROPS
-
WELLS
-
BASEMAP
The following THEMES appear only when zoomed in:
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WELL IDS
-
OUTCROP SAMPLE IDS
-
MINOR PLACES
The following THEMES appear only when zoomed out:
The Themes in the Legend
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GEOLABEL -- A theme which enables the identification of the latitude
and longitude of intersections on the geographic grid at any zoom level.
Make GEOLABEL the ACTIVE THEME and place the cursor over the grid intersection.
The latitude and longitude of that intersection will be displayed.
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GEOGRID -- A theme showing a geographic grid at 1/4 degree interval
in both latitude and longitude.
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OUTCROPS -- A theme displaying a cross showing the location of outcrops
in the data base.
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WELLS -- A theme displaying a triangle showing the location of wells
in the data base.
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BASEMAP -- A theme showing the basemap with shoreline, roads and
places.
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WELL IDS -- A theme showing the Well Id of the wells. This theme
may not display all well ids because of crowding.
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OUTCROP SAMPLE IDS -- A theme showing Outcrop Sample Id. This theme
groups ids for where they are crowded.
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MINOR PLACES -- A theme of place names.
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MAJOR PLACES -- A theme of major place names including major bodies
of water.
Overview map
The overview map displays the full or partial extent of a theme with a
red box outlining the current extent of the map view. A full or partial
extent is displayed depending on how far one has zoomed in. To view the
overview map, click on "Theme" in the menu bar and then select "Use in
overview map". An overview map will be displayed below the legend.