Latest Contributions by MarkBockenhauer

Does this occur with all layer packages or is it specific to particular one? If you open this layer package in ArcGIS Explorer does it work? or does ArcGIS Explorer still hang? http://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=170b5e6529064b8d9275168687880359 Mark ... View more

1. Is the layer broken?  Nothing displays in the map, but the layer in the table of contents has a red exclmation point next to it? or 2. The symbols on the map display keyboard characters instead of the symbols that the map was created with. Possible solution for 1 The red exclamation point means that the computer you are using the map on, does not have access to the data.  Often this is because the map (NMF, NMC) was created by adding data from a local drive letter location on the machine.  ArcGIS Explorer maps reference the data where it is on the machine.   Broken data links also occur when referencing ArcSDE and served (services) data that the other machine or user does not have access to. If you right click on the layer and click properties, you can click "source data" to find out where the data is being accessed from. If you want to share local data (shapefiles, rasters (imagery), filegeodatabases), creating and uploading layer packages to ArcGIS Online and building your ArcGIS Explorer maps out of the online content, is the best way to go. Especially if you are sharing to computers that have access to the internet, but not your local machine or local area network. http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisexplorer/1500//en/sharing_map_and_map_content_files.htm It is easiest to share with others if the data sources are internet based (http://)  ArcGIS Server Services and ArcGIS online (layer packages) work great for enabling this. Possible Solution for 2 The map is using symbols that are comprised of ESRI Fonts.  The second machine does not have ArcGIS Desktop installed on it, and only has ArcGIS Explorer.  The base ArcGIS Explorer install, does not install all of the ESRI Fonts (they increase the download size too much).  To get the ESRI fonts on the second machine, you just need to install the Fonts Expansion Pack at http://resources.arcgis.com/content/arcgis-explorer/1500/download Download fonts expansion pack now Mark ... View more

Uli, You can use a filegeodatabase for this exercise.  You will not encounter the field size character limit using a filegeodatabase. Mark ... View more

Ben, 'Get unique values' only works for local data sources.  It is not supported for services. Interrogating the service for the unique values can be a costly operation for the server and the client.  There is no option to turn it on for services. Mark ... View more

When you start the application configuration manager it loads the dialog with previous configurations. As a test: In windows explorer address bar type %appdata% This will show you the appdata folder for your user account. In the 'esri' folder rename the 'arcgis explorer' folder to somethng different, and try starting the application configuration manager again. If this allows it to start, then look at the 'configuration manager' folder in the ArcGIS Explorer folder, one of the files in there, may be causing a conflict. Mark ... View more

can you access this URL?  http://www.esri.com/software/basemaps/basemaps.xml Starting with version 1200, the basemaps are pulled from the URL. Mark ... View more

As you have already figured out, ArcGIS Explorer online only works with GIS data through services.  You need to publish your data to a service to use it with ArcGIS Explorer online. Mark ... View more

Brad, You may want to try adjusting the coordinate system in ArcGIS Explorer.  If it is reprojecting the service that will have the biggest impact.  In general mapservices work best in ArcGIS Explorer 2D if the ArcGIS Explorer coordinate system (set in map properties http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisexplorer/1200//en/map_properties_coordinate_systems.htm) is the same as the services coordinate system.   This results in the sharpest and fastest display. Mark ... View more

Kayla, You can get around this issue for ArcSDE data by changing a map property to store the authentication in the NMF or NMC file. To write the authentication into the map. 1. Click the File Menu (ArcGIS Explorer Logo upper left corner of the application). 2. Click Map Properties 3. Click Data Access 4. Check "Write authentication information for secure services into the map document" 5. Save the Map or Export from the contents window. This will store the authentication in the NMF or NMC files that you create, and the layer will connect to the geodatabase server correctly. Currently you are seeing a broken link, when you should be prompted to enter the authorization information.  This is a problem that will be worked on for the next release.  You should only see broken links when the server is not reachable, or you are unable to provide the proper authentication. -Mark ... View more

If you single click on a feature, using the left mouse button, the popup window should appear.  If it is a service layer, you will need to turn the popup functionality on for the layer. 1. Right Click on the layer in the contents window. 2. Click Properties 3. Click Popup and check the box to enable popup content for the layer. Also, for ArcGIS Explorer questions use this forum - http://forums.arcgis.com/forums/25-ArcGIS-Explorer Thanks, Mark ... View more

Srikanth, You are not missing anything.  The popup window does not automatically show file paths as links. In the popup properties you could choose to "use the value of a field as popup content" to see the PDF file when you click the feature. Keep in mind that anything you author that relies on a drive letter file path will only be useable on your computer, or another computer that duplicates the folder structure that you have on yours. Mark ... View more

Mark, Our agency will not allow us to upgrade to 1200. What about upgrading to 9.3.1 sp1 or ArcGIS 10 when it is released? Thanks, Mark ... View more

John, When you install ArcGIS Explorer on a machine where ArcGIS Desktop is already installed, It is important to let the installation complete without interruption.  It can take upwards of 30 minutes to uninstall 900 and install 1200 (The precise amount of time depends on computer speed).  While it may appear that the installation process is uninstalling ArcGIS Desktop it is really scanning the system, if an installation repair is necessary, everything can be put back the way it was prior to the installation. The ArcGIS Explorer setup is designed to be installed with ArcGIS Desktop.  The software does not share installation files, each software installation is independent.  However, both products do make use of ArcObjects infrastructure and everything needs to be in the proper place in your computer�??s registry. Once installed, if ArcGIS Desktop starts and ArcGIS Explorer 1200 starts, you do not have a problem with the installation.  There are no software dependencies between ArcGIS Desktop and ArcGIS Explorer. Indirectly, if a bug in either software product is using up computer memory, it can affect all applications that you are running on your computer. There is a known installation conflict with ArcGIS 9.3.1 and Image Server �?? a patch for ArcGIS 9.3.1 is available http://resources.arcgis.com/content/patches-and-service-packs?fa=viewPatch&PID=43&MetaID=1563  or you can install ArcGIS 9.3.1 service pack 1. If the install completes successfully and ArcGIS Desktop software no longer starts, You can try running a repair on ArcGIS Desktop (Windows Control panel �?? un-install program) If the repair fails to resolve the issue, you will need to enter a support call.  Be prepared to provide information about all ArcGIS related products and custom extensions that you may have installed on your computer. After installing ArcGIS Explorer , if ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap, ArcGlobe, ArcReader, etc..) start up, but ArcGIS Explorer fails to start, it is likely not an installation issue. It could be a graphics card issue.  You can use this site to find out specific information about your graphics card http://cyri.systemrequirementslab.com/1186/10895   and the graphics card requirements for ArcGIS Explorer. Graphics card performance is the number one cause of an ArcGIS Explorer crash on start.  It is not the only cause but it is the most prevalent.   In many cases updating the graphics card driver will resolve the issue. Mark ... View more

John, What do you mean by change the configuration?  Are you using application configurations? Can you share the .ncfg, if you are? Thanks, Mark ... View more

John, Tell me more about the disappearing line problem. Which view are you in �?? 2D or 3D? What kind of line is it?  (Note, KML, ArcGIS layer,  GeoDatabase, Shapefile, does it have Z values,  etc�?�) Thanks, Mark ... View more