Use the pan and zoom tools until you can clearly view the map feature(s) around which you want to create a buffer.
Use Select to select a particular feature in the buffer layer.
Click the Buffer tab on the Right Pane.
Tutorial
Use the Buffer tab on the Right Pane to select a group of features A piece of information that can be displayed on the map such as a parcel number,fire hydrant, or aerial photograph. Each individual feature is represented by a row in a query table. (See "table") located within buffer A zone at a specified distance around a feature. zones around one or more map features. For example, you can select all parcels that come within 500 feet of a certain location, such as a school. You might want to do this to be able to identify possible causes for an error or to notify all residents around a new construction site.
The layer A group of the same type of features that you can view on a map, such as parcels, water mains or street names. The data for each layer resides in a database table, where each individual feature of the layer is represented by a row, and the data connected with the feature (i.e. house number, APN, etc.) is stored in fields (columns) in the table. containing the feature around which you want to create a buffer zone is called the Buffer Layer.
The layer with the features you are selecting with the buffer is called the Target Layer.
These two layers have to be different layers, so if both the Buffer features and the Target features are parcels, use a layer such as 'parcel hollow', 'address' or 'APN' as the Buffer Layer.
You can also buffer around a point or a line. Then you just need to specify the Target Layer.
Try it out!
Buffering a selected feature
On the Layers tab
Activate the buffer layer(s) for the feature(s) around which you want to create a buffer zone (for example, the APN location of the construction site, or a particular pumping station).
Activate the target layer, containing the features you want to select within the buffer zone (for example, Parcels).
Deactivate other layers that get in the way.
Use the pan and zoom tools until you can clearly view the map feature(s) around which you want to create a buffer.
Use Select to select a particular feature in the buffer layer.
Click the Buffer tab on the Right Pane.
Select the Layer for the feature you have selected (here Stormdrain_Nodes) from the drop-down menu. (Only the layers you have activated are shown in the list.)
Select the Target Layer (here Parcels) from the second drop down menu. These are the features that are selected within the buffer area.
Enter the number of feet you want to buffer around the selected feature.
Click Apply Buffer. The buffer is highlighted on the map in the main window. Any parcels touching the buffer zone are included in it.
Click Clear Buffer to try another buffer.
Buffering from a line or point
Select the Target Layer for your
buffer.
Click Draw Line and Buffer.
Select the Target Layer in the drop-down box and the Buffer Distance.
Click both ends of a line with the cursor.
Click Apply Buffer. The buffer is highlighted on the map in the main window. Any features in the Target Layer touching the buffer zone are included in it.
Clear this buffer and try Draw Point and Buffer.
Reporting on the selected features
Click
the Reporting Tool
button to generate mailing labels or reports. This is the same as using
the Reporting
tool from the Main
Toolbar. See Use a Selection.