Report Generator Tool

This tool allows you to generate a Resource at Risk (RAR) report or a report of shoreline types for an Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) map. This tool exports to tab-delimited text files the resource records you have selected in your biology table, or the shoreline segments you have selected on the map. With this tool, you have several additional options: (1) You can export a list of only the unique species currently selected, or a list that has all selected records and all the information currently displayed in the biology table. (2) You can add your own explanatory text message to both the RAR report and the shoreline types report, to include at the top of the file. (3) If you are considering several different scenarios, you can use the same report and simply append the results from the next query to the same report.

This tool works with any of the ESI geodatabases. It also works with ESI line shapefiles, as long as the projection of the source data is appropriately defined. (This can be done in ArcCatalog. All ESI data are distributed in Geographic Coordinates; check the atlas' metadata for the appropriate datum.)

Learn more about the Report Generator Tool, including:

• Downloading the Report Generator Tool
  
• Installing the Report Generator Tool
  
• Using the Report Generator Tool

Note to Windows Vista and Windows 7 users:

To install any ArcMap DLL file, you will need to:

• be logged on as "Administrator" and
  
• have the User Account Control (UAC) turned off

When you are logged on as Administrator, go to Control Panel > User Accounts. A checkbox will show the current status. If the UAC box is checked, uncheck it and restart your computer. You can then proceed as detailed below. Once the .dll(s) are installed, you can recheck the UAC checkbox and restart your computer to turn the UAC security back on.

Downloading the Report Generator Tool

Download the Report Generator Tool from the Tool Downloads section at the bottom of this page. Note: You can download the suite of ESI tools for ArcMap from the ESI Toolbar page.

The Report Generator Tool is in compressed format as a self-extracting zip file: RARReport.zip. However, if you are using an operating system that doesn't automatically open the compressed file, you may need to use a decoding utility (such as WinZip or Stuffit Expander) to unzip the file.

Once the file is unzipped, place the DLL file on your hard drive. For consistency, you may want to place it in the directory where most of the ArcGIS DLL files reside: ProgramFiles/ArcGIS/Bin.

Installing the Report Generator Tool

After you have saved the uncompressed RARReport.dll file to your hard drive, launch ArcMap.

To install a single tool onto the ArcMap toolbar:

1. Right-click on the ArcMap toolbar and scroll down to Customize (or choose the Customize option under the Tools menu).
   
2. Select the Commands tab on the Customize window.
   
3. Click the "Add from file" button. Navigate to the RARReport.dll file on your hard drive. Select the file and click Open to add the Report Generator Tool to your available commands. Click OK.
   
4. Click the icon next to the Report Generator Tool and drag it onto your standard toolbar. Release the mouse button when your cursor becomes a vertical bar. (You need to release the mouse button at or before the last icon on your toolbar.)
   
5. Exit the Customize window.

Using the Report Generator Tool

To use any of the ESI tools, you'll need to begin by moving the atlas directory that resides in the Geodatabase directory on your ESI CD/DVD to your computer's hard drive. The tools are dependent on the layer names and relationships that have been set up inside the MXD file provided.

Follow these steps to use the Report Generator Tool:

1. Select the resource records of interest in the biology table, or the shoreline segments of interest on the map.
2. Click the tool depicting a small pencil.
   
3. You'll see the Resource at Risk Report dialog box, shown below. You have several options in creating your report:
   1. You can export all the attributes that are currently visible in the Biofile table; or
      
   2. You can export only a list of the unique species found in the selected records. (Because the first option provides all the selected records, you may find multiple occurrences of a particular species if it appears in multiple polygons or points on the map.); or
      
   3. You can export a list of each of the ESI shoreline types selected, their length in meters, as well as the total length of shoreline selected.

4. You can also enter a brief text header for your report. You may want to record information about the query that resulted in this selection of records, or provide information about the geographic area selected.
   
5. Click OK.
   
6. If you are exporting shoreline types, a dialog box will explain that in order to calculate the lengths of the shoreline segments, either the source data or the data frame needs to be projected. Choose Continue to have the tool put the data frame into a UTM projection. This will not affect the source data, but the view of the data will be modified to reflect the data frame projection.
   
7. Finally, you will be prompted to provide a file name and location. If you specify a file that already exists, you will see a message asking whether you want to append to the existing file or replace the existing file. You may also choose to cancel the export at this point.

Note for Biology Records Export:

• The options to export biology records work only with the geodatabase-formatted data where the biorel relate has already been established. It does not require that the data frame or source data be projected.

Notes for Shoreline Records Export:

• The shoreline descriptions provided in the export are the standardized values found in the ESI Guidelines. It's a good idea to verify the validity of these values for the area where you are working. Simply compare the descriptions to those listed in the atlas-specific metadata and, if necessary, substitute the appropriate ESI descriptor for the standardized value that is reported.
  
• The sum of the lengths of the shoreline types will likely be greater than the total length of shoreline. This is because some shoreline segments represent multiple shoreline types.

For More Information

ESI Maps Overview of ESI maps.

ESI Toolkit Tools and resources for ESI maps.

ESI Specialist Contact our ESI Specialist for more information about the ESI Tools and ESI mapping in general.

Tool Downloads

Report Generator Tool Download the latest version of this tool. Updated January 27, 2009. (Software format: Zip, size: 107.0 K)