Arc8/9 Migration: Frequently-Asked Questions

Below are some frequently-asked questions (FAQs) about the REGIS Arc9 Migration Effort. If you have a question, please feel free to contact us via the Help & Answers page.

How does this effort impact me?
Arc9? What happened to ArcView versions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8? Did you skip those?
Why is REGIS migrating?
Will there be training on this new environment?
Will I still be able to do the same things in the new environment that I can do now in ArcView 3.3?
Where do I go if I have questions about the Migration?

Q: How does this effort impact me?

A: It depends on the kind of user you are. Please see the How Does This Impact Me? page for more answers.

Q: Arc9? What happened to ArcView versions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8? Did you skip those?

A: No, ArcView8 (ArcGIS 8) was the next version after the ArcView 3.3 many REGIS users are using today. ESRI, the makers of the ArcView/ArcGIS software decided to synch up their version numbering -- their Arc/Info product was at version 7.x, so their entire suite of GIS products was then brought to the version 8 level. Version 9 of the ESRI suite was released in 2004 while the REGIS Arc8 migration was underway, so a decision was made to move to the Arc9 level to take advantage of several "under-the-hood" improvements in the new version of the software. For most users, Arc8 and Arc9 are nearly identical.

Q: Why is REGIS migrating?

A: The ArcView 3.x environment dates back to the early 1990s and is based on an environment from the Windows 3.x days. The new Arc8 environment will give you many more tools and streamlines many operations within the GIS. Also, on the data side, a brand-new way to store and maintain data has been developed which will make it easier to maintain REGIS' hundreds of data layers. The new format also allows "behaviors" to be assigned to features, which will increase accuracy and allow for more high-end analysis to be performed.

Q: Will there be training on this new environment?

A: Yes. Please see the Training page for details.

Q: Will I still be able to do the same things in the new environment that I can do now in ArcView 3.3?

A: Yes, although certain customized tools are being migrated over to the ArcIMS (web-based mapping) environment. No functionality is being removed from the ArcView/ArcGIS side, though.

Q: Where do I go if I have questions about the Migration?

A: Please see our Help & Answers page on this website for a listing of contact information.

If you have any questions, including ones which may be included here for the benefit of all REGIS Users, please feel free to send them to any of the contacts listed on the Help & Answers page.