topic Re: Sample Viewer Modifications in ArcGIS API for Flex Questions

Sample Viewer Modifications

ChadHall — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:24:04 GMT

I'm brand spanking new to Flex and am fumbling my way through it. I was able to make the modifications the mini help file (comes with the download fo the sample viewer) suggested to get accustomed to the programming but that was pretty simple stuff in my mind.

I've even been able to (today at least) show my own data within the sample viewer by placing the correct REST URL in the operational layers section of the config.xml file. Here's where it goes haywire for me. It's not pulling in all the layers I have in the service. And I've updated the service to my knowledge (even created a different one) but that one's not even showing up in the Rest services directory.

So I'm stuck and I don't know how to proceed and I'm hoping this is a simple fix. I know we've had issues with seeing services based on how our server is setup and behind a firewall (we have to use reverse proxy rules to deploy any applications).

Other issues:
1) I'm also seeing a slight issue with my sample viewer in that the measurment tool under the draw widget isn't working. Anyone aware of this or did I mess up some code?

2) Identify: I would love to have a simple identify tool/widget that works like the example in the sample resource center but I'm so new I don't know if I'm supposed to create a new file, what kind of file, etc? I have FlexBuilder 4 installed on my server but it's not pulling in files (other than .xml) in any readable fashion.

3) Hyperlink: Eventually I have a field setup from the ArcIMS days that I want users to be able to jump from the identify information results to the URL stated in the table. Any suggestions on where to find this example?

Alright, sorry for the long post but I've been trying to do this all myself and I'm just not understanding the new Flex format/language. And I don't have a neat little book like I did with ArcIMS (or I haven't found it yet) so I'm having trouble finding example and simple start up information. Thanks in advance for any help provided and I'll be more than willing to share any code or files if needed to come to a solution.

Thanks
Chad

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:48:05 GMT

Chad,

OK, lets start with a question... Do you know the REST Admin page is and how to get to it? Basically if you make a change to a map service you have to clear the REST cache before you will see the change. http://localhost/arcgis/rest/admin

Next for those map services that you have that certain layers are not showing up is that simply because they have a scale dependency setup on them? When you go to your REST Services directory and click on one of your map services at the top there will be

View In: ArcMap ArcGIS Explorer ArcGIS JavaScript Google Earth ArcGIS.com Map

press ArcGIS JavaScript and zoom around your map service do those layers show up?

1. I am not sure why your measure is not working
2 and 3. you need to wait another month (without the schedule slipping) and FlexViewer 2.1 will be out and will have these taken care of as far as I have heard.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

ChadHall — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:41:27 GMT

Robert,

Thank you for the response. I wasn't aware of the Admin cache. Cleared it out and voila it worked!

Regarding the draw tool and the hyperlink, I'll wait for the new version and hopefully that'll alleviate the issues.

If I could beg, borrow or steal some more of your time, I have another couple questions. I modified the search widget so that it would search my local layers (the same ones I was having trouble getting to show properly). It appears the text string search must be exact and not a partial match. Is there any way to change this? Also, below is the code for searching one of the layers in the search widget. When it does find a record, it returns the title of the record and two lines of "null:1324.1232424354" or a slight variation of the numbers. Does that mean I have the <fields><titlefield> and <linkfield> coded improperly?
*******************
<layer>
            <name>Construction Sites</name>
            <url>http://gis2.jonescarter.com/arcgis/rest/services/Server/MapServer/3</url>
            <expression>NAME = '[value]'</expression>
            <textsearchlabel>Search by Site Name [ Example: Baylor 4 No. 2 Alt ]:</textsearchlabel>
            <graphicalsearchlabel>Use one of the graphical search tools to select under construction sites</graphicalsearchlabel>
            <fields>NAME</fields>
            <titlefield>NAME</titlefield>
            <linkfield>HYPERLINK</linkfield>
</layer>
*****************
Finally, regarding the identify code on the sample resource center (or any of the code there), is it a new file, insert into existing file, etc? I'm just trying to wrap my brain around the new processes here and I'm struggling.

Thank you so much for the help already. It's a tremendous improvement from where I was.

Chad

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:00:01 GMT

Chad,

The issue with having to type exactly what you are searching for is an easy fix just replace

<expression>NAME = '[value]'</expression>

with

<expression>NAME LIKE '%[value]%'</expression>

Next your list of fields needs to include all the fields you are going to use separated by a comma.
So add the hyperlink field into your list of fields.

In regards to widgets that you can download from the code gallery you have to ensure they are developed for the particular FlexViewer version that you are working with. So the identify widget on the code gallery is a 1.x version and will not work for the FlexViewer2.0.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

ChadHall — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:07:08 GMT

Thanks again Robert. I will try that out and get it working. I also perused a couple more threads and found the Developer's Guide by Moxie. I'll dive into that and see if clears any other clouds in my head. Thanks again for the help!

Chad

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

CattyannCampbell — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:39:31 GMT

How does one get the identify tool to work in SFV 2.0? Did ESRI kill the identify capability in 2 or did I miss something?

Chad,

The issue with having to type exactly what you are searching for is an easy fix just replace
<expression>NAME = '[value]'</expression>
with
<expression>NAME LIKE '%[value]%'</expression>
Next your list of fields needs to include all the fields you are going to use separated by a comma.
So add the hyperlink field into your list of fields.

In regards to widgets that you can download from the code gallery you have to ensure they are developed for the particular FlexViewer version that you are working with. So the identify widget on the code gallery is a 1.x version and will not work for the FlexViewer2.0.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

MelissaJohnson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:37:02 GMT

I am also looking for an identify widget for my 2.0 viewer. If anyone could point me in the right direction to locate one it would be much appreciated. Will this be included in 2.1?

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:42:53 GMT

From the sounds of it, there will be a pretty nice one in FlexViewer 2.1. Just a few more days to wait.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

MelissaJohnson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:43:41 GMT

Yea!!!! Thanks!

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

BjornSvensson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 23:42:08 GMT

identify widget for my 2.0 viewer.... Will this be included in 2.1?

Nope, no identify widget in ArcGIS Viewer for Flex 2.1.

However, depending on what you want to do, there is some "identify" functionality in 2.0. You can click on features and get a popup that shows information for that feature. This is the concept of "info popups". These are supported both if the feature was added as an operational layer of type "feature" (which could point to any layer in a MapService or FeatureService) or as a result from GeoRSS, Search, or Query widget.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

JosephGibson — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:46:59 GMT

So there's not going to be an identify widget for the non-beta version? If this is true I have to say I am highly disappointed and a little dismayed. As this has been one of the most asked about (and highly needed) functions not available in the current beta viewer.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

ReneRubalcava — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:18:08 GMT

I added an Identify Widget to the Code Gallery
http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=952242d872654661984c7d7e183d2183

The actual Identify tool is just a component added to the widget, so there are no Flexviewer dependencies, so it should port over fairly easily when Flexviewer 2 gets updated.
It may not work exactly how most people would use it, but it works great for our particular workflow here in the office.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

JosephGibson — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:03:47 GMT

Thanks for posting this Rene! Just implemented it into my flex viewer and it works great! All I needed to do was make some minor alterations. I have one quick question though. Instead of listing all the layers that are available in the drop down list is it possible to only show layers that are currently activated? I am not a programmer and have no idea if this is a simple task or not. But any info you could provide to point me in the right direction would be a great help.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

ReneRubalcava — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:12:10 GMT

As in only what's visible? At that scale level as well?
If I don't have time this week, I can implement that this weekend.

Thanks for feedback.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

JoshCalhoun — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:26:21 GMT

Bjorn,

What about the hyperlink widget? Are we going to see one also in the new sample map viewer?

I was just curious.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

ChadHall — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:09:56 GMT

Rene,

Sorry, this might be a dumb question, but am I supposed to generate a swf file from the mxml file in builder? Again, I'm very fresh to Flex but when I played with the widget at the link provided it seemed to do exactly what I needed. I downloaded the files, placed the folder with the other widget folders and added the code to the config.xml file. I see the widget in my top bar but clicking on it produces no widget container.

Thanks

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

ReneRubalcava — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:22:38 GMT

I updated the download page with info on how to compile in to your own project.
You can also look here and it briefly tells you how to add your own widgets to a project.
http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapps/flexviewer/help/developers/widget_framework.htm

Thanks.

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

ChadHall — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:34:28 GMT

Rene,

I'll have to play with it over the next couple weeks because it's not fitting in for me. I have the src code, created the flex project, added the widget, built the project after making mods to the code and it's throwing errors when I try to export the build. In my typical, not-being-a-programmer personality, I'm gonna walk away from it and clear my head and see if it helps.

I don't understand why ESRI wouldn't include an identify widget with the sample viewer. it's such a base task that I would have thought it be mandatory but I guess not.

Thanks for the help Rene, I'm sure I'll be talking to you more later.

Chad

Re: Sample Viewer Modifications

JosephGibson — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 13:04:53 GMT

Hey Rene,

Thanks for getting back to me. In answer to your question, yes as in only the layers that are visable. For example, say I have a schools layer, a hospitals layer, and fire stations layer all turned on and visable on the map, respectively,those would be the only layers I would want to see in the drop down list. The scale level wouldn't be an issue.

Thanks again!

Joe