- In ArcCatalog, click the shapefile whose coordinate system you want to define.
- Click the File menu and click Properties.
- Click the XY Coordinate System tab.
- Click New and click Projected.
- Type a name for the custom coordinate system.
- Click the Projection Name drop-down arrow and click one of the supported projections.
- Type the appropriate parameter values for the projection.
- Click the Linear Unit drop-down arrow and click a predefined unit of measure.
Alternatively, click <custom> in the drop-down list, type the appropriate meters per unit, then type a name for your custom units.
- Define the projection's datum by selecting a predefined geographic coordinate system or defining a new geographic coordinate system. Afterward, you can modify the geographic coordinate system's parameters if you want.
- Click OK.
- Click OK on the Shapefile Properties dialog box.