HOW TO

Digitize with ArcView 3.x or ArcMap and ArcInfo Workstation on the same machine

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Procedure

Summary:

ArcView 3.x and ArcMap digitizing requires the installation of WINTAB drivers to control access to the serial (COM) ports. ArcInfo Workstation uses its own I/O method that interferes with the WINTAB drivers.

Procedure:

1. You must have two available COM ports. This means that the mouse cannot be plugged into one of them.

2. The WINTAB driver must be configured for one port (for example, COM1). This port must be used for digitizing in ArcView 3.x and ArcMap. To digitize in ArcInfo, you must physically change the connection to the second COM port. Once the WINTAB driver is installed, that particular COM port will not be available for digitizing in Arcinfo.
3. You will also have to modify the dip switch/menu settings on the digitizer as well. There are some differences between the WINTAB and Arcinfo digitizing requirements:

ArcView 3.x and ArcMap: Binary format, stream mode

ArcInfo Workstation: ASCII format, point mode

See the digitizer manual for how to configure these settings.

Article ID:000001408

Software:
  • Legacy Products
  • ArcMap 8 x

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