Coverage coordinate system definition

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

The Projection and Extent tab on the Coverage Properties dialog box shows the coverage's coordinate system and lists its parameters. The coordinate system defines how coordinates describing features on the earth's surface are mathematically transformed to accurately represent them on a flat map sheet. If the coverage's coordinate system has not been defined, you need an Advanced licence, and ArcInfo Workstation installed to create, define, or modify a coverage coordinate system.

There are system toolboxes that provide coverage projection tools, which allow you to define the coordinate system's parameters by copying the information from another coverage, a grid, or a triangulated irregular network (TIN), but they require a prj file from a coverage created in ArcInfo Workstation. The Data Management coverage projection tools are only available if you have the Advanced license, and ArcInfo Workstation installed.