Frequently Asked Questions about ArcGIS at Purdue
We get a lot of requests for assistance with the ArcGIS software suite. While trying to help with these, sometimes these questions are beyond our capabilities. We do not staff any experts in using ArcGIS and must submit a support ticket to Esri on your behalf. Before submitting a request, please check below to see if your question has already been answered.
Be aware that ArcGIS is a complex and advanced suite of software. If you just need to poke around some spatial data there are open source alternatives that may be better options for you.
Where do I get ArcGIS / ArcGIS Pro / CityEngine / etc.?
If you are Purdue faculty, student, or staff, you can download installers from the ArcGIS page on this site. You will authenticate using your Purdue Career Account credentials and respond to a license agreement to initiate the download process.
How do I install ArcGIS / ArcGIS Pro / CityEngine / etc.?
Installations instructions for each version of ArcGIS are all listed on the ArcGIS page on this site.
Which ArcGIS Desktop package do I need? What is Advanced, Standard, Basic?
ArcGIS Desktop comes in a few different versions, each with different capabilities. Please consult the full functionality matrix for ArcGIS 10. ArcGIS versions are now labeled Basic, Standard, and Advanced rather than ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo, respectively. Suggestion is to use Advanced. Note that ArcGIS Pro is the latest full 64-bit version of the ArcGIS Pro suite of software.
Where can I install ArcGIS / ArcGIS Pro / CityEngine / etc.?
Purdue's license allows installations only on Purdue-owned machines or faculty/staff personal computers under restrictive terms. See the next question regarding students.
Can students install ArcGIS on their own computers?
Yes, as long as they use an Esri student one-year license. Purdue's license with Esri does not allow for any other license access. Instructors can request a one-year license for this purpose if they need one of Esri's desktop products. Or you can contact itap@purdue.edu or Nicole Kong (kongn@purdue.edu) to get one.
What are the terms of Purdue's ArcGIS license?
You may familiarize yourself with the terms of the license by reading one of these:
- License Overview
- Full License Document available upon request.
How can I get extensions?
Send a list of all the extensions you need in your authorization request. Be sure to use the extension names as given in this list of ArcGIS extensions and explain exactly which version of ArcGIS you have and/or need (ArcGIS 10.5, 10.6, etc).
I Get "Tool not licensed error" when trying to use an extension with ArcGIS Desktop
Many get this error and is a fault of Esri for not providing a suggested solution as part of the error message. Usually this means that one needs to use the Customize->Extensions... menu command to enable the extension(s) to be used. See: https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/extensions/main/using-extensions-in-arcgis.htm for more information.
What is ArcGIS Online?
ArcGIS Online is a comprehensive, cloud-based mapping platform. You can make and share maps, and do everything in between. Purdue has an ArcGIS Online organization that is hosted by Esri; the url for this organization is: https://purdueuniversity.maps.arcgis.com. You can sign in using your Purdue Career account. Use the 'USING YOUR PURDUE UNIVERSITY ACCOUNT' button on the login page. Your ArcGIS Online account name will be something like ... xxxx@purdue.edu_purdueuniversity.
What is ArcGIS Pro?
ArcGIS Pro is Esri's next-gen 64-bit desktop GIS product. ArcGIS Pro provides professional 2D and 3D mapping in an intuitive user interface. Comments have been made that ArcGIS Pro will eventually replace ArcGIS Desktop at some point in the future (a few years away). One needs an account on Purdue's ArcGIS Online organization to be able to use ArcGIS Pro; see ArcGIS Online question above. After creating your ArcGIS Online account, you should automatically have access to ArcGIS Pro. (If access is refused, send an email to itap@purdue.edu requesting that your account be configured to use ArcGIS Pro.)
Where do I get help?
Some questions about how to use ArcGIS can be answered by Purdue Libraries GIS Services. We also encourage taking advantage of Esri's courses and tutorials. There are additionally some courses at Purdue which teach the use of ArcGIS as a part of the course.
Send questions about software installers, licensing, ArcGIS Online, or Esri Online Courses to itap@purdue.edu.
Last modified on February 14, 2020.