Report Generator Tool

This tool allows you to generate a Resource at Risk report for an Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) map. This tool exports records you have selected in your biology table to a tab-delimited text file. 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 also add your own explanatory text message 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.

Learn more about the Report Generator Tool, including:

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

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. Click the tool depicting a small pencil.
   
2. You'll see the Resource at Risk Report dialog box, shown below. You have two 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.)

3. 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.
   
4. Click OK to generate your report.
   
5. In the dialog box that opens, 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.

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 October 31, 2007. (Software format: Zip, size: 26.6 K)