Map types

Analyst's Notebook Connector for Esri uses two types of map. Base maps are cached tile maps. Dynamic maps are generated in real time.

You can display an Esri map on a layer in the Map window. You can overlay it with chart layers, query results, other maps, and drawings to build up your geospatial analysis. Unless a map is transparent, any maps beneath it are hidden.

Base maps

A base map is a cached tile map from an Esri server. One or more base maps can form the background on which other GIS items are overlaid.

Base maps are listed in the base maps area of the toolbox. Items in the list are grouped by the Esri server that provides them. Each base map uses a coordinate system that is identified by its spatial reference (SR) identifier, which is displayed under the name of the map.

The following coordinate systems are installed by default:

  • GCS WGS 1984 (SR: 4326)
  • British National Grid (SR: 27700)
  • UPS North (SR: 32661)
  • UPS South (SR: 32671)
  • WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere (SR: 102100)
  • WGS 1984 Web Mercator (SR: 102113)

For more information about connecting to Esri servers, and specifying a coordinate system to use, speak to your system administrator.

Note:
The first base (or dynamic) map that is displayed in the Map window determines the underlying coordinate system of the Map window. Further base maps can be overlaid only if their coordinate system matches. Further dynamic maps can always be overlaid, as dynamic maps are reprojected in real time by the Esri server. To change the underlying coordinate system of the map window, you must clear all base maps. You can then select a base map that uses any coordinate system.

Dynamic maps

Dynamic maps are generated in real time by an Esri server. These maps are updated with currently available data each time the map refreshes. When the map is refreshed (for example, by panning and zooming), the displayed data might change.

Note:
The map does not update automatically. It must be refreshed by a user action.

A dynamic map is split into feature layers that can be viewed individually in the Map window. You can filter the information that is displayed on a dynamic map by selecting which feature layers to view. Turning on or off a feature layer updates how the map is displayed. For example, a dynamic map for city neighborhoods might contain feature layers for the locations of stores, museums, art galleries, and streets.