Application Configuration

[BrianLeroux]

Hi,
I will be deploying arcGIS Explorer to numerous desktops throughout the company very soon. I need to lock down some functionality of the software for all users. Essentially I do not want anyone to be able to use the sharing options seeing our data is confidential. I get the reult I would like by creating an application configuration. However, Can this be deployed so that all new installs use this configuration only? Thanks in advance.

[MichaelBranscomb]

Hi,

On option is to create different shortcuts for your users - the following is from the help:

"Some shortcut icons on the Desktop may start the application with different maps or different application configurations that have been set up for you. These shortcuts start ArcGIS Explorer on the command line, specifying the name of a map, using the syntax:
/open <filename>
or the name of an application configuration using the syntax>:
/appconfig <filename>"

However you could possibly consider doing something to the ArcGIS Explorer user profile - the referenced App Config is set there. The setting that determines whether to use an App Config is in a settings file also in their profile e.g. C:\Users\mbranscomb\AppData\Roaming\ESRI\arcgis explorer\settings1500.xml. Specifically there are two attributes in the settings section: UseAppConfig="-1"  and AppConfigLocation="C:\Temp\New Configuration.ncfg".

Just for info - as Explorer loads the App config (.NCFG) is also exploded to the users profile e.g. C:\Users\mbranscomb\AppData\Roaming\ESRI\arcgis explorer\AppConfig\New Configuration\... .

Regards

Mike

[BrianLeroux]

Mike- Thank you for the reply.

I actually discovered the settings1500.xml file yesterday. I did a fresh install of arcgis explorer, open a fresh map, and made a couple window location tweaks. Then I addedd the appconfig location and made a copy of the file. Now I use a batch file to initiate the install and copy the xml file to the users arcgis explorer settings location. Worked like a charm.

One issue I just thought of though is if a second user logs on and uses Explorer they will not have the proper xml file in their application data folder. While I don't see this happen often, the possibility is real. Any ideas?

[MichaelBranscomb]

Hi,

You can edit a registry setting on the machine to do this - the following info is from the help (http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisexplorer/1500//en/firewall.htm):

*****************
Using a registry entry:

You can specify the application configuration by setting the AppConfig registry value:
Create the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ESRI\Explorerversion_number\Settings (for example, [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ESRI\Explorer1200\Settings])
Create a new string value called AppConfig and set it to a URL which references the application configuration. Note that file system paths (including UNC paths) are not supported.
*****************

Regards

Mike

[R_Spitzer]

Hi,

You can edit a registry setting on the machine to do this - the following info is from the help (http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisexplorer/1500//en/firewall.htm):

*****************
Using a registry entry:

You can specify the application configuration by setting the AppConfig registry value:
Create the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ESRI\Explorerversion_number\Settings (for example, [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ESRI\Explorer1200\Settings])
Create a new string value called AppConfig and set it to a URL which references the application configuration. Note that file system paths (including UNC paths) are not supported.
*****************

Regards

Mike

Hi,

did anybody get this work? I tried this, but nothing happens. The configuration will not start.

Cheers,
Rainer

[JaniceBaird]

Hi Rainer,

If you still need help with this, let me know... I have it working.

Janice.

[R_Spitzer]

Hi Janice,

thanks, I got it working too.
But for everybody facing this problem:
On a 64bit system you need to modify a different key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432node\ESRI\Explorerversion_number\Settings

Kind regards,
Rainer

[JaniceBaird]

Hi Rainer,

After I figured out how to get this working, I ran into an issue and was wondering if you are experiencing the same problem... When I run ArcGIS Explorer, the configuration that is set in my registry gets used. The same configuration is used when I open a shared note (.nmc file) however, the graphic does not display and is not placed in the TOC.

Thanks for any info you have on this!

Janice.

[R_Spitzer]

Hi Janice,

I'm not able to replicate your problem. Everything works fine, even with shared notes.

Kind regard,
Rainer