ArcView really has three basic functions:
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A mapping function that is interactive with an underlying
database: it is this function that is so important that a GIS does better
than any other software.
-
A database manipulation capability. It is nice
to have some capability of this sort within the GIS itself; however, programs
such as Excel, that are designed to be superior handlers of spreadsheet
information are vastly superior to ArcView's capability in this regard.
Thus, if one needs more than the rudimentary database management capability
of ArcView, go outside it to Excel (or some such), do the analysis in the
other package and then bring the .dbf file back into ArcView and join it
to the map.
-
A graphic design capability. Again it is nice
to have a kind of basic layout package for design within ArcView.
However, that design capability is no match for the design capability of
PhotoShop (or other software) that is specifically developed with design
or photo issues in mind. Thus, when cosmetic issues only are involved
(and not mapping driven by a database), then consider using a design package
that will allow you all sorts of capability. Remember, though, that
once you alter the map in the design package, that it will not go back
into ArcView as a map driven by a database. So, use PhotoShop on
images in which you are done with the mapping components.
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