ArcMap Print/Export vs Flex Viewer Print/Export - Help!!

[grahamcooke]

*i am using SFv 2.1 and ArcGIS 9.3.1*
Hi,

I am writing a GIS web application in flex using the flexviewer which is designed to support users right across the country and negate the need for these users to have ArcMap on their desktops.  The application is designed to support the planning of military firing exercises and so printing and emailing maps around is a big part of the application. The idea of centralising the app and making it web-based is to force everyone to do things the same way and also to enable the planning to be taken out into the firing areas as necessary.

I have noticed a substantial difference in print quality when printing the same map from ArcMap versus printing it from Flex. i am using the out-of-the-box print widget and also the pdf export widget. Is there any way of making the image quality as good as that which you can achieve through ArcMap when using the flexviewer?

Anyone else encountered these issues at all? Any suggestions on anything I can do to improve things?

Hope someone can help!

[RobertScheitlin__GISP]

Graham,

   This has been talked about A LOT in the forums. One of the biggest things to understand is web mapping is not desktop mapping so there are going to be differences. The APIs were never designed to replace ArcMap.

   That being said there are 2 rays of hope for you.

1. Tom Schuller created a great Server Object Extension Print widget that produces high quality printing. http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=6809086326ea4c76bf026a32bb9dd698

2. In ArcGIS Server 10.1 due this summer the server team as made great strides to make web printing better out of the box. As you are still on ArcGIS Server 9.3.1 and 10 has been out for some time now this might be a mute point.

[grahamcooke]

hi Robert,

As always, thankyou. I will look into the link you provided.

We are going to 10 immediately after I released the application. It is going to one site on a trial basis and the release date is next week. After this I will upgrade to 10 on a new server (and 2.2 of flex viewer) and when i have the app working with 10 and have fixed any issues discovered in the trial version then the users will be given a new link and the application will be released nationwide.

It is excellent to know that this will improve in the new version!!

thanks again

[KenBuja]

2. In ArcGIS Server 10.1 due this summer the server team as made great strides to make web printing better out of the box. As you are still on ArcGIS Server 9.3.1 and 10 has been out for some time now this might be a mute point.

Actually, the 10.1 Beta is supposed to be coming out this summer...the final release is scheduled to come out before the 2012 Users Conference.

[RobertScheitlin__GISP]

Ken,

   Your right. Thanks for the correction. It will be a public Beta though.

[TomSchuller]

Robert, thank you for the publicity 🙂

My PrintSOE is running on AGS Java and .NET starting from version 10.

It doesn't run on AGS9.3.1 as it's using rest-exposed SOE functionnality which was introduced on version 10.

I can't yet say exactly what's the difference between my PrintSOE and the new PrintService coming in 10.1.

My PrintSOE can create large format high quality printout:
- by using the direct connection to the datasource (ArcSDE, fGDB, ...)
- by creating printouts by combining multiple mapservices (dynamic-, tiled-, feature-services + wms)
- with layout elements like NorthArrow, ScaleText, ScaleBar and Legend

The code is open 🙂 Any code suggests are welcome.

[Stefanobruscoli]

Hello
the Tom's print solution is a very great application. I use it in my application for view map of plan of my city. It solve very fine all print problem.

[MichaelVolz]

TomLUX:

Can the PrintSOE be added to a compiled FlexViewer web application by changing configuration files like Robert Sheitlin's excellent widgets?

Or do you need to add it to an uncompiled Flex project?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

[TomSchuller]

Hy,
just commited a newer version which runs in the compiled FlexViewer3.0:
http://bitbucket.schuller.lu/pchprintwidget30/changeset/e67dbd2787ce99dafc7c8c113fec67366e729daf

The widget is running in compiled versions of FlexViewer2.5 and FlexViewer3.0:
  for 2.5: http://bitbucket.schuller.lu/pchprintwidget
  for 3.0: http://bitbucket.schuller.lu/pchprintwidget30
The widget is fully configurable by a configuration file.

Tom

[MichaelVolz]

Tom:

When I click on this link in Bitbucket I get the following error message:

Oops, you've found a dead link.
Use the links at the top to get back.

Any idea why I cannot get to the download page?