How to do GIS at home
1. Use the link at the end of these instructions to download the GIS shareware package, ArcExplorer, which is available for free from ESRI, Inc. You will have an executable file once the download is complete. Run this executable, and you will have a new software package on your computer.
2. Download some of the Shapefiles which represent Volusia County data. It is important that you read all the instructions before you download.
3. Start the ArcExplorer package, choose "Add Theme or Add Layers" (depends on the ArcExplorer Version you are using) from the View or Layer menu, and add the Shapefiles you just downloaded. (Remember to unzip them first, if you have not already done so.) Just navigate to the directory you downloaded them to, highlight the file name, and click "Add Theme or Add Layers button" in the menu bar. Then, when you close the Add Theme or Add Layers window, you will see the Shapefiles in the list box on the left. All you need to do is turn on the check boxes to make them draw.
ArcExplorer will even let you perform address-matching against two of our themes: ADDRESS and STREETS.
Feel free to play around with ArcExplorer to learn all its functions and capabilities. You won't break anything (besides, even if you do, you can always download it again). It is also suggested that you use the help system freely to learn all of the functionality built into the package.
Happy mapping!
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