How do I read ESRI shape files?

Question

Sorry if this is incredibly simple to do -- I'm a complete beginner! I have just installed Silverlight 4 and the ArcGIS API for Silverlight and run my first example application: [HTML] [/HTML] All fine so far but now I want to read the map data from an existing ESRI shape (.shp) file on my machine rather than the web service. How should I try to do this? All answers gratefully received, Ed Graham

SomeGISGuy · Answer

If you want the data to reside on the server, you will need to publish your data using ArcGIS Server (which is really what the Silverlight API was built for :-))

EdGraham · Answer

This thread seem related: http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/18946-Working-with-Shapefiles

Thanks for the reply, Jennifer.  That thread points to another thread, which in turn points to a CodePlex library that enables users to upload their own shape files directly onto the Silverlight map (http://esrislcontrib.codeplex.com/). That's fine but all I want to do is read from an existing shape file on the web server; my users don't need to upload anything.  Is there a simple way of doing this through the API?

JenniferNery · Answer

This thread seem related: http://forums.arcgis.com/threads/18946-Working-with-Shapefiles