About ArcView, Arc Editor, and ArcInfo
ArcGIS Desktop is scalable and can address the needs of many types of users. It is available for use at three functional levels:
- ArcView focuses on comprehensive data use, mapping, and analysis.
- ArcEditor adds advanced geodatabase editing and data creation.
- ArcInfo is a complete, professional GIS desktop containing comprehensive GIS functionality, including rich geoprocessing and advanced cartographic tools. Because of the extensive capabilities of ArcInfo, every GIS site should have at least one copy.
Additional capabilities can be added through a series of optional ArcGIS Desktop extension products. For example, the Spatial Analyst extension adds comprehensive raster processing and analysis to ArcGIS Desktop.
Refer to the PDF book named What is ArcGIS? [PDF], to learn more about ArcGIS Desktop and its extensions.