When changing or defining a projection in ArcCatalog with an ArcInfo license, the following error occurs:

"You cannot modify the fields of the selected table/feature class with your current license."

This happens when the file being modified, or directory path it is in, lacks adequate permissions.

To workaround this issue:
• Ensure that the user account has FULL CONTROL for the entire path and the file itself.
• Ensure that the file and all folders in it's complete path are not Read-only

When in ArcCatalog > Help > ArcGIS Desktop Help > Index tab > an error message appears:

"AppName: arccatalog.exe AppVer: 9.0.0.535 ModName: itircl.dll
ModVer: 5.2.3790.80 Offset: 0000800a"

and this is followed by the application crashing.

This is a known issue:

To resolve this problem follow the commands listed below to register the file itircl.dll:

• Open up a DOS Window by going to Start --> Run.
• Type cmd in the text window.
• Type: cd c:\winnt\system32
• Register itircl.dll by typing: regsvr32 itircl.dll

Instructions provided describe how to use the new 'Set Data Source' tool for map documents in ArcCatalog. When right-clicking a map document (.mxd) file in ArcCatalog, a new Set Data Source command is visible. This opens a dialog box that makes it easier to update or repair some or all of the references to file-based data sources in the map. By default, this dialog box creates a copy of the .mxd file. This option is also available by right-clicking a published map (.pmf) file, although it is disabled if the publisher of the .pmf file selects not to provide full access to its contents in ArcGIS applications when it was published.

The Set Data Source option cannot be used to update or repair references to data in ArcSDE geodatabases.

Follow these steps to set the data source for an MXD in ArcCatalog.

1. Right-click an MXD in ArcCatalog and then click Set Data Source(s).
2. The default creates a copy of the MXD. It is a recommended that a copy be used and the original MXD kept as a back up. However, the existing MXD can be overwritten by selecting it or typing in its full path.
3. Select a data frame or all data frames.
4. Select a layer or press the Select All button.
5. Click Replace or Replace All.
6. The Replace dialog does a 'find and replace' on the paths to the data. Enter in the 'find and replace' text to match the data. For example if all the data was in C:\GISData but it has been moved to C:\GISData2, the 'Find What' text box shows C:\GISData and the 'Replace With' text box shows C:\GISData2.
7. Click Replace.
Click OK in the Set Data Sources dialog

When a table for a tab delimited text file is opened in ArcMap or ArcCatalog, the data is not correctly entered into columns.

This happens becuase ArcMap and ArcCatalog interpret files with a txt, csv, or asc extension as comma delimited by default. Files that have a .tab extension are interpreted as tab delimited by default.

To workaround this there are two possilbe solutions:

• Change the extension on all tab delimited text files to .tab.
• Modify schema.ini. This file determines how to read delimited text files.

  For more information on modifying schema.ini see: Desktop Help > Contents > ArcMap > Working with tables > About tabular data sources > Accessing delimited text file data.

The Metadata Editor doesn't appear when clicking the Edit Metadata button in ArcCatalog.

This is a known issue.
The following is a potential solution:

1. In Arc Catalog select Tools > Options and select the Metadata tab.
2. Uncheck the following check boxes:
   - Automatically create metadata the first time an item in the Catalog is viewed in the Metadata tab
   - Automatically update metadata whenever an item's metadata is viewed in the Metadata tab
3. Re-check both check boxes.
4. Click Apply and OK.

Folders containing many files may slow down the ArcMap Add Data browser.

This happens because before adding data, the Add Data process must search through folders and subfolders to verify the data is geographic. The time this takes depends on the number of folders.

To workaround this drag and drop the data or layer from ArcCatalog into ArcMap.

Determining guidelines or naming conventions for geodatabase objects is important for creating consistency when setting up the database structure.

Recommendations for designing and implementing a geodatabase are provided below.

* Refer to feature and object classes as singular. For example, use 'TaxParcel' and not 'TaxParcels' to refer to a feature class.
* Name relationship objects so that the name is describing the relationship. For example, ‘AddressHasZones' or 'ParcelsHaveOwners'. On a conceptual level, name associations might be simplified to names like ‘Has’ or ‘Owns’; however, implementation in ArcGIS requires unique name associations. Many people use the name of the class at the ends of relationship classes. These names show up in ArcMap and ArcCatalog, and naming the ends of the relationship classes using this method makes the database structure easier to understand.
* Use consistency when capitalizing objects. For example, name objects with all capital letters (TABLE_NAME) or a consistent mixed case (TableName).
* Do not attempt to use spaces, SQL keywords or special characters in object names.

The following shows the ArcGIS icons and what they represent.

Attempting to delete a data set in ArcCatalog fails and returns the message:

" Failed to delete selected object(s)."

This likely occurs because the data may have read-only permissions. To resolve this change the operating system permissions on the files you need to delete

The Delete menu option is always enabled in ArcCatalog, as file permissions are only checked when actually executing the command. This behavior is by design and improves the overall performance of ArcCatalog.