Activate the Table Of Contents in ArcMap

Summary

The Table Of Contents is crucial for the activation of map layers, accessing the properties of layers, and rearranging layers to change the drawing order. The instructions provided describe how to display the Table Of Contents in ArcMap if it is not in view.

The image below shows the Table Of Contents in ArcMap 10.x.

The image below shows the Table of Contents in ArcMap 9.x.

Procedure

In both ArcMap 9.x and 10.x, activate the Table Of Contents by navigating to the Main menu, and click Windows > Table Of Contents.

In some instances, the Table Of Contents displays as a tab at the top-left corner of the data frame view. To open the Table Of Contents, hover over the tab and click the Auto Hide button (pin symbol) located at the top-right corner, next to the Close button. This fixes the Table Of Contents to its location.

The image below shows the Table Of Contents that displays as a tab at the top-left corner of the data frame view.

The image below shows the Auto Hide button (push pin icon) that when clicked, fixes the Table Of Contents to the data frame.

Note:
Adjust the width of the Table Of Contents by hovering the pointer at the edge of the window and clicking the mouse while adjusting the size of the Table Of Contents.

Note:
To dock the Table Of Contents pane to a desired location (for example, to the left side), drag the Table Of Contents pane to the left, and hover over the left blue arrow using the cursor. The Table Of Contents is ready to be docked when the blue shadow pane appears.