topic Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF in ArcGIS API for Silverlight Questions

Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:23:44 GMT

I have to draw Military Tactical Graphics using the ArcGIS API for WPF - has anyone ever done this before, that can give me some guidance on where to start? What map objects to use to draw military graphics? Any help/suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

MarioVernari — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:37:48 GMT

The problem is the "military" subjects or the WPF drawing?...I may give some help only for the second choice.
Cheers

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:52:55 GMT

Thanks for your reply - the problem is really both - but I guess once I know the proper map objects to use to draw military graphics I can figure out the WPF drawing part - so I would appreciate any help you can give me whether its for both or jus tfor the map objects to draw the graphics - I need a good start?

Thanks

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

MarioVernari — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:06:43 GMT

Okay "rr gg"...
About the wpf app, you should be more specific.
If you haven't any experience with wpf (Silverlight is the same), probably you'll drive crazy quickly, because it's a programming style "different" enough from the classic (imperative) style (e.g. WinForms).
After this point, I've to do the same thing as you: editing and drawing objects on a map. The editor offered with the ArcGis APIs is powerful, but it's not convenient for my target, for example. So I'm creating my own and it's not easy.
For example, I have a database hosting some data serving the graphic objects on the map.
What's the target of your project?
Mario

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:23:25 GMT

I have a WPF app that is using the ArcGIS API for WPF to load a map - I allow the user to touch the map & do random drawings on the map using the WPF InkCanvas which I overlay on top of the map - then I capture the stroke & insert them into a ESRI.ArcGIS.Client.Geometry Polyline object & then I create a ESRI.ArcGIS.Client.Graphic object & assign the Polyline geometry to the graphic - Then I add the graphic to a GraphicLayer & add it to the map liek this:
graphicsLayer.Graphics.Add(graphic);
But with Tactical graphics they have their own symbol codes to be draw with - I don't think the InkCanvas is the way to go - how do you draw your graphic objects - what tool are you using?

BTW I found a project on CodePlex that does what I need, but it is using the Bing Maps - Have you seen it - I guess once I know how to replace the Bing map specific objects with the Esri ones I may be able to convert it?
The link for that project is:
http://milsym.codeplex.com/documentation

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

MarioVernari — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:52:11 GMT

Ha-ha!...Gotcha!...My same problem (came to a stall weeks ago!)
That's (one of) the way the ESRI editor won't fit for our targets.
Anyway, you may try to insert an ElementLayer: maybe your case could be solved in that way.
I also have tried with an ElementLayer, 'cos I may insert any UIElement and that will be "anchored" to the map (and scaled too). The problem is that an ElementLayer is not a Panel and (usually) an editor works adding elements to a panel (e.g. canvas).
At the moment I'm arranging other stuffs, but I'll try to overlay a canvas to the map and move the elements accordingly (via events).
Hope it helps.
Cheers
Mario

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:19:36 GMT

Thanks for your feedback -I guess I can try an ElementLayer - so If I understand you correctly - once I have the coordinates of the graphic & the symbol code to draw it I can place it in a UIElement object & then add that to the ElementLayer - do you have any sample code of when you worked on it that you can possibly show me?
What did you use to allow for drawing on the map?

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

MarioVernari — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 07:02:05 GMT

Well, I don't have any sample of ElementLayer, but I've found this one googling a bit:

Button button1 = new Button();
            button1.Content = "Y";
            button1.Width = 20;
            button1.Height = 20;
            ElementLayer.SetEnvelope(button1, new Envelope(-117, 34, -117, 34));
            element.Children.Add(button1);
            Map.Layers.Add(element);

(I wouldn't count on the Envelope values, because I had hard time to understand how to convert).
Basically the ElementLayer class defines an Attached-DP that defines the rectangle (Envelope) on the map where your UIElement will be projected. In this way, by panning and zooming the map, you'll see your UIElement scaled/moved accordingly.
That's great.
The problem is just HOW TO draw.
Well, I confess that I'd try to build up the editor from an existent base. Taht's not only for having code ready, but because the same component will be used to draw on a non-map background.
As I told you, the editing comes easily on a panel, such a canvas, and this is quite impossible to share with any "Layer" derived class.
I've tried (briefly enough) to overlap the ESRI Map control (with a normal map layer) and a transparent canvas (i.e. make them children of a grid). Consider to draw/host your UIElements in the canvas. Now intercept the ExtentChanged/ExtentChanging events of the Map control and "bind" the UIElement position/size to the extent of the map.
That works, even not so elegant. But it allows me to use tons of examples of drag-drop/scale/move snippets already tested without any trouble.
However I reserve to work in this direction deeply to see if there's something bad.

Personally I think that these APIs are much more web-oriented (i.e. Silverlight), than the desktop.
Furthermore, I'd consider to open the sources: shouldn't any loss for ESRI, only gain.

Cheers
Mario

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

DanielWalton — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:50:30 GMT

The preferred ESRI way to do this is to define all your symbology on the server using ArcMap and and a .style database, then publishing an MXD as a map service with feature access. Then using the editor widget on the client, you get all the symbols (more or less) automatically populated.

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

MarioVernari — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:01:32 GMT

Dan, thanks for clarify, but my case is toward small-mid systems, where the cost of the server is prohibitive.
Moreover, in our solution the map is an option, not a must, because lot of customers haven't any internet connection. That's the way I prefer to develop my own editing system, where I MAY use the maps, but not compulsory.
Probably the military project could take more seriously your suggestion.
Thanks again.
Cheers
Mario

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

DanielWalton — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:38:42 GMT

In that case you may find this blog post useful:

http://kiwigis.blogspot.com/2009/05/accessing-esri-style-files-using-adonet.html

Style files are just access databases that you can open using .NET data access classes. You could grab all the symbols that way. Just a thought...

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:46:01 GMT

Dan,
Thanks for your input, I set up a local ArcGIS server mostly because the machine that this application will be used for will not have internet access - but I am not sure my question is clear enough:
Based on the following application http://milsym.codeplex.com/documentation that I downloaded - it is a Silverlight application using Bing maps I want to be able to do the same thing using Esri maps in WPF - so back to my original question - how would I implement interactive drawing of Military Graphics on the Esri map using WPF?

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

DanielWalton — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:57:10 GMT

Dan,
Thanks for your input, I set up a local ArcGIS server mostly because the machine that this application will be used for will not have internet access - but I am not sure my question is clear enough:
Based on the following application http://milsym.codeplex.com/documentation that I downloaded - it is a Silverlight application using Bing maps I want to be able to do the same thing using Esri maps in WPF - so back to my original question - how would I implement interactive drawing of Military Graphics on the Esri map using WPF?

You could reuse some of the low-level classes like MilBrush, etc., but most of the project is heavily integrated with the Bing maps API. ESRI classes are different, and you would have to slog through potentially thousands of lines of code to convert those classes into ESRI-friendly ones. You could start to see how much work it would be by removing the Bing references from the project and looking at the errors that pop up in each class. You might be better off just going with the Bing maps API.

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

MarioVernari — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:09:32 GMT

I agree with Dan.
I didn't analyzed the MilSym project deeply, but easily you've an huge load of work (and test) to count.
At the time I'm writing it's 8PM here in Italy, so I leave you. Tomorrow, let's say your morning, I'll try to post an example (as simple as possible) to use with wpf. After that you may decide what to do.
Cheers
Mario

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:11:33 GMT

Dan, Mario

Thanks for all your great input. using the Bing Maps API is not an option for me since my project requirement is to use the Esri maps, on that note, I guess i will take out all the bing API references & add the Esri map ones, can i assume that for example BingMaps have a Location object - does Esri have one too? meaning is there some reference I can even use to try to map some of the API functionality?

Mario,
A WPF example would be a great help for me - hopefully will get me started - my goal is even to successfully draw one graphic just to see what it entails.

Thanks

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

DanielWalton — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:16:25 GMT

Bing's Location is roughly equivalent to ESRI.ArcGis.Client.Geometry.MapPoint

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:17:12 GMT

Thanks, I will attempt to try replacing the API, & see how it goes,

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

dotMorten_esri — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:13:48 GMT

There's almost no limit to how advanced you can make the point symbols in Silverlight/WPF.
For an example check out the symbol gallery: http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapi/silverlight/samples/SymbolGalleryWeb/start.htm

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

MarioVernari — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:54:12 GMT

As I promised, here is a *very rough* example to create your own editor on top the map control.

I guess the Bing solution would be technically acceptable, but I'd bear in mind the cost of the license. As far I've realized, the min for ESRI is about US$100-500, while Bing starts from US$10K. ESRI is mandatory for a small solution, Bing is out.

Morten, two things.
1) I've sent you a mail, but I?ve solved my troubles (even I'd prefer to hear from you+team a little help);
2) I don't agree at all with you about the flexibility of the APIs. It's clear that you push for using the ESRI server all the time. For an hybrid solution (like the mine), the use of the APIs is cumbersome. Why not giving at least the very basic (e.g. Client namespace) source as open?

Cheers everybody
Mario

Re: Drawing TacticalGraphics using the API for WPF

RashaGarfinkel — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:06:46 GMT

Thanks for the example I downloaded it & get the following error:
"The type or namespace name 'WebMercator' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)"

Would you know off hand what assembly I need - currently all I have is the ArcGIS API for WPF installed.

Thanks