Has something changed with licensing / API key? Maps don't show even on sample code

Question

Howdy,

I've been building an app for a few years now and it has been utilizing the older versions of the Windows WPF SDK up until recently. In changing some code in the model view over to use the newer BasemapStyle model, my map shows no detail - only a black screen.

I've gone as far as downloading the sample apps and tried running the simplest of all and it displays just a white background with "Powered by ESRI" in the lower right corner.

Did ESRI implement a different SDK key/licensing setup?

Old code: (Displays correctly

[Obsolete]
private Map _map = new Map(BasemapType.StreetsNightVector, _defaultLat, _defaultLon, _defaultZoom)
{
MinScale = Configs.MaxZoomOutScale,
MaxScale = Configs.MaxZoomInScale
};

New code: (Shows black screen, nothing else)

_map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISStreetsNight);

FortressTech · Answer

Hi Michael,

No. I may go that route at a later date, but currently individual users authenticate over an HTTPS connection to a web service.

I've tried a couple ideas moving things around, but the issue remains fairly consistent. If I put the Initialization anywhere other than inside the app.xaml.cs class (upon app startup) it produces the black screen effect.

Appears one MUST place the Init and API key in that early chain, otherwise nothing will work. This is really disappointing as it means a LOT of refactoring *just* for that piece.

MichaelBranscomb · Answer

> after I get my users authenticated in the main body of the app

Are your users authenticating as ArcGIS users?

FortressTech · Answer

Thanks, Michael.

I found that the problem is actually related to *when* the API key is supplied.

In the documentation, it shows supplying the key VERY early in the process (in the App.xaml.cs) whereas my code has always initialized the API after I get my users authenticated in the main body of the app.

If I attempt to feed the API Key once the WPF main form loads (but before displaying the map), I get a black screen as described.

If I feed the API key right after calling ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.Initialize(); in App.xaml.cs, the maps will display correctly.

This appears to be a material change in the API registration code as I did not have this issue until upgrading the SDK to this month's latest version.

Fun. Looks like I will need to refactor spooling up the encryption web service to fetch my API key before the main application body runs and I'm able to authenticate the app's user, which isn't optimal for security reasons.