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JSA GIServices January News LetterESRI Developer License JSA GIServices has purchased an ESRI Developers Network license. This addition will allow us to provide any type of web mapping application development using any server-based ESRI product. This includes; ArcGIS Server, ArcEngine, ArcSDE, and ArcIMS. We can also provide enterprise geodatabase setup and trouble shooting. Check out our example of an ArcGIS Server application built using the Flex API as the front end. Creating Custom GIS Tools Using Visual Basic JSA GIServices often receives inquiries about the most effective way to learn to create custom GIS applications. There are several ways to learn how to create custom applications using Visual Basic. One method would be to take a class at your local university. Unfortunately, most universities don’t offer a GIS specific programming class. The second method would be to take a class from ESRI. These instructor-lead courses tend to be expensive and may take up to half a week to complete. However, you can learn Visual Basic at your own pace using online resources in combination with printed resources. The printed resources JSA GIServices recommends include: Custom GIS applications can be created in two different ways: using Visual Basic for Applications or using Visual Basic Studio. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. The biggest difference between them is deployability. Simple applications can be created using the Visual Basic Editor that is included with ArcGIS. To access the Visual Basic Editor, click Tools – Macros – Visual Basic Editor in ArcMap or ArcCatalog. Simple custom applications can be written in the Editor and saved to either the current MXD project or to the Normal.mxt. This method provides simple deployment for sharing your custom application by copying the project MXD or the Normal.mxt to a different machine with ArcGIS installed.
Creating custom applications using Visual Studio provides the greatest options for deploying your custom application. Applications and tools created with VB Studio can be packaged as an MSI which can be transferred to multiple machines with ArcGIS Desktop and installed using a Windows installer. The installer will register the custom application and place the tools in the location specified during development. Uninstallation of the custom application can be achieved through the “Add or Remove Programs” option in the Control Panel, similar to any other windows program that has been installed. This option provides the end user and developer with the greatest options for deployment and development. JSA GIServices also offers custom desktop and server application development. Contact us with questions. Open Source Options for these Tough Economic Times JSA GIServices attended the Association of Minnesota Counties Conference at the beginning of December. The concern that emerged was that GIS is needed but costs too much, especially considering the challenging economic times. Open Source GIS provides a more economical alternative to proprietary software, as it is free of charge! The only costs incurred would be for data and application development. Some proprietary GIS software might cost up to $100,000. Adding development costs on top of the expense of software, can be a costly endeavor and result in a longer return on the consumer’s investment. Using Open Source software can reduce costs up to 75% and shorten the return on investment time. One concern often expressed about Open Source software is that it won’t support industry- specific GIS standards. This is false! The majority of Open Source options allow for a wide range of data interoperability between open source and proprietary formats. JSA GIServices provides Open Source GIS options. Contact us for more information. Meet JSA GIServices Staff JSA GIServices staff is involved in business and community organizations throughout Duluth. Listed below are the upcoming events where staff from JSA GIServices will be present. We welcome you to stop by and chat.
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