Esri Press GIS Tutorial for ArcGIS Pro 2.8

Purchased for a class. The hands-on exercises are very helpful to complete class assignments.

Good textbook with helpful walk through instructions. Arrived promptly and in brand new condition. A previous review mentioned the textbook was missing the trial code but it was included in this one.

The nature of tech causes things to rapidly become out of date, as with this book. Published in 2021, by July 2022 ArcGIS Pro has moved up to 2.9 and 3.0. Prior to the purchase I could not ascertain what the current version of ArcGIS Pro was from the byzantine ESRI website; doubtless if I had looked more broadly outside of ESRI, I could have figured it out more easily. This is the most recent tutorial currently available. Fortunately, most of the exercises still seem relevant, and the tutorial data are still available. I purchased this because text because it included a 180-trial for the software. Wanting to refresh my GIS skills, I got the book and activated my trial. Activating the trial was pretty easy, but actually getting the software was tricky - the directions are have been superseded by a completely different process. I received 2 emails, one to create an ArcGIS Online account, and another to get the software. The latter was just completely wrong, as the process now runs through ArcGIS Online. Where I went wrong was that the first email asked to create a new ArcGIS Online account, and I created one, using slightly different info than I had used to activate my trial. There simply was no guidance that you needed Online to get the software, and that you should login using the info you provided during the activation. I called customer support in Redlands, who set me up with a ticket for tech support. I had to wait a day for a tech (in Malaysia) to get back to me solve it, and she quickly figured out the issue. So cudos to customer and tech support, thumbs down on providing good website information and instructions. That said, once I got everything installed and downloaded up the tutorial data, I've worked my way through the first two chapters. The learning process is cumulative, mostly learning what controls to use and where things are. The real learning is in doing the final assignments in the chapter, where you need to pull it all together. I like the approach so far, and haven't yet come across any serious differences between version 2.8 and 3.0. I had extensive ArcINFO and ArcView experience back in the 1990s, and find the interface relatable to the latter in many ways. The text arrived in new condition. The printing. Is occasionally smeared though as yet I've not found that to be a critical issue. When picking up the tutorial data, there is also an erratum, so be sure to pick that up. There are 13 chapters, and at least for the first two, it's taken 2-3 hours to work through including the assignments. Overall then, I think this is a solid purchase for anyone wanting to learn or refresh ESRI GIS skills, with the major issues just being a lack of current detailed instruction on getting the software. Great support from ESRI, too

I do not usually write one star reviews but this book is deserving. First of all it arrived in Used condition, if you have used the Abe Books rating system, Used is like D+ grade. Corners of the cover were folded, binding was wrinkled from a drop. This was a 100 dollar purchase when I bought it new on Amazon, and the second 100 dollar book I purchased new from Amazon that arrived with a damaged binding from a drop and wrecked corners on the cover. For that I certainly give a one star review. Second, the software it comes with is not what is described. It is a cloud based access to ArcGis Pro, which means you will have limitations in what you are able to do with it. Honestly I was never able to use it once I activated it and had to obtain it elsewhere. There was no button to push for that, once I activated it and signed in. It comes with exercises that are pre made maps you can access while you work along with your book. Those you can download and open through ArcGIS. The book does not come with a shrink wrap so anyone can open the cover and activate your code. Buying it under those terms is a risk. Third, this book is loaded with errors. I am using the book for a class and I am required to follow along the chapters for my online course curriculum. You better hope there is a teacher around if you are using this for a class because the maps they created for you to use with the book all have errors that do not match the book so you will likely struggle more than necessary with the exercises. For example, in the exercise where you learn to share your map online, the map they give you for the "Your Turn" section was not formatted correctly for online sharing and it took me and many other class mates about 6 hours to fix them so we could finish that one part of the assignment. That is a total dealbreaker for a book in this price range. Some additional feedback I have.... There is no index so if you need to remember a procedure you already learned or look something up, it is very hard to find. You also have to be pretty techy because GIS is not explained from the floor up. The content is limited to maps of the east coast of the US, mostly NYC, and I have yet to see a map that utilizes any geology, environmental science or archaeology. For the cost of this book you could get one that is much more imaginative and just use the 30(?) day free access to ArcGIS Pro that ESRI gives directly, or purchase the software.

A little disappointing that the back cover of a new book has a peeling cover. Wish I would have just gotten used.