Message in a bottle Widget

Question

Hello,
I am working on developing a viewer and was intrigued by the Message in a Bottle widget. I would like to develop something like this that would display the path of storm water off a land parcel. So I thought I would start here and ask if anybody has tried this or has any helpful info on this or can point me in the right direction. I understand that the widget actually goes out and runs a developed script to extract and display data, so that is kinda what I am looking for. How does this puzzle fit together?

Thanks

Eric

MLowry · Answer

We all start somewhere. 
The geoprocess can be as simple as a model built in model builder, or something written in python. The process is pretty well-documented here in the Resource Center:
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#/What_is_geoprocessing/002s00000001000000/
http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisdesktop/10.0/help/index.html#//002v00000001000000.htm

After reading that, just post up here with any specific questions you have with the process.
Good to know

However, since I am kinda new to this and know I am working backwards, I am also trying to figure out the inner workings of how that geoprocess may work. So I may start to piece together what layers, functions, processes, etc. that I made need to get the desired result.
I know I may be in the wrong location for this post and it is fine if I could be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks

Eric

EricStarn2 · Answer

Good to know

However, since I am kinda new to this and know I am working backwards, I am also trying to figure out the inner workings of how that geoprocess may work. So I may start to piece together what layers, functions, processes, etc. that I made need to get the desired result.
I know I may be in the wrong location for this post and it is fine if I could be pointed in the right direction.

Thanks

Eric

MLowry · Answer

You'd create a geoprocessing service on your ArcGIS Server and then call the GP (geoprocessor) in the widget.