Jeff,

You can create your own shapefile using ArcCatalog and then drawn an area in
it in ArcMap.

(Directions below are for Arc 9, but I'm think that it's basically the same
procedure in Arc 8.3.)

In ArcCatalog, go the the directory tree in the left hand pane, find the
directory in which you want to store the shapefile and right-click on it.
Choose "New > Shapefile..."

In the box that comes up, name the shapefile and choose "Polygon" as the
type. (You may also want to draw the shapefile in the projection that that
map will be published, as to eliminate any problem with having the borders
of your area shift if the map is reprojected, so I'd probably choose
Colorado Central State Plane as the projection, if that's what you're
using.)

In ArcMap, add any shapefiles that you want to draw on top of. Change the
map properties to the Central Colorado State Plane projection. (Or if you're
tracing an image, place the image and georeference it to an existing
shapefile of Colorado.)

Then, place your newly created and empty shapefile on the map. Go to the
editor toolbar (if it's not visible, right click on a blank area in the
existing toolbars and select it from the popup menu) choose "Start Editing"
from the "Editor" drop down menu at the left of the toolbar. You'll now be
editing your shapefile.

Select the pencil icon in the editor toolbar (the tooltip will call it
"Sketch Tool"). Start clicking on the map to place each point in your
polygon. When you've reached the last corner, double-click to place the last
point and indicate that the shape is finished.

Then, choose "Stop Editing" from the "Editor" dropdown menu in the toolbar.
ArcView will ask you if you want to save your edits. Say yes. You'll now
have a shapefile with your area in it.


-Matt

--
Matthew Ericson
Graphics Editor matte@...
The New York Times (212) 556-7608
-----Original Message-----
From: bala rao [mailto:bhaskar_gis@...]
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 3:59 PM
To: JAGIS-L@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [JAGIS-L] drawing a polygon in Arcview 8.3


hello sir

Infact i didnot understand your question exactly
but from what i have understood iam giving the reply
if you have your points already digitised and have knowledge of using
ArcObjects and VBA
try this
Go to http://arcobjectsonline.esri.com/ search for terms point polygon
you will get some links to class files and some code of VBA which can be
used to generate polygons from points
if you are not at all aware of ArcOBjects and VBA
download the tools available on internet which are generally free or
atleast you can get a trail version
some links are
http://www.ian-ko.com/ET_GeoWizards/gw_whatisnew.htm
this is good tool which has may functions and can be downloaded
http://www.xtoolspro.com/tools.html
this is also a tool available for 30 days trail period

try in google and you will get more tools like this

i hope this will serve your purpose if not
mail your work in detail
please mail and i will try to find out
thanks
bhaskar


"Roberts, Jeff" <jroberts@...> wrote:
Our graphics dept. has asked me to approximate the boundaries of a large
area of the state in Arcview so we can estimate the population of that
area.
Is there a tool in Arview 8.3 that will let me draw a new polygon by
placing
points on a map of the state? I've checked my books and ESRI's website but
haven't found the answer yet.

Thank you.

---------------------------------------
Jeffrey A. Roberts
Computer-Assisted Reporting Editor
The Denver Post
(303) 820-1401



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