Add-in or Extension?

CharlieRichman

We're redesigning our in-house ArcGIS customizations for Version 10.  I've read the add-in documentation but still don't have a clear enough picture of the current limits of the add-in model.  I'd hate to commit to it and learn that we couldn't do everything we're accustomed to doing with our extensions.

For example, the docs refer to limitations on access to external resources.  Would there be any problems accessing external web services from our code?  We do a fair bit of mucking around with data sources, Windows printer settings, and external databases to track our work (though those will now be web services.)  We also adjust lots of map settings, add and delete elements, etc. 

I don't see any fundamental limitations to the add-in model.  But then, there's undoubtably a lot about 10 that I don't see just yet 😉

Thanks, folks.

Charlie Richman

CharlieRichman

Hello,

Have you seen this comparison chart between Add-In and Component?

http://help.arcgis.com/en/sdk/10.0/arcobjects_net/conceptualhelp/index.html#//0001000002nq000000

G

Yes, thanks.  That table (and the companion one) speak to limitations in customizing the editor framework.  That is not necessarily a major limitation for us, but I want to make sure I understand the scope of the limitations described there.  For example, you can't do a context menu within the editor framework -- but can you do a context menu elsewhere?  We implement custom scalebar behaviors and will want to continue to add custom context menus to scalebars.  I'm not clear yet about whether that can be done from an add-in.

Thanks,

Charlie Richman
DC Office of Planning