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getting started

Question asked by imgooch on Dec 3, 2014
Latest reply on Dec 11, 2014 by rscheitlin

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Hello,

I've been using the Flexviewer for a few years now to display my services from arcgis server but since it is being phased out and Javascript seems to be the way to go I wanted to explore it. The problem is, I can't seem to find what i'm looking for on this new site layout! Where do I get the basic javascript viewer like the flexviewer? I can't seem to find the downloads I'm looking for. I would normally look at the forum for Javascript viewer and expect some "sticky" with getting started info but this new forum layout makes it so difficult to find anything.

Can anyone point me to where to get started using a javascript viewer?

Thanks!

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evtguy Dec 3, 2014 11:47 AM
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Most of the viewer app templates I'm aware of are tucked away within their focus community pages such as the Local Government Community or Public Safety. To my knowledge, there is not a direct equivalent to what you are familiar with within the Flex environment. Some links to check out:

JS API Home

Legacy JavaScript Template

Boilerplate JS Template (ArcGIS Online centric)

Local Government Template Gallery for JS

Sometimes it might be easier starting from scratch to develop what you need (that's what I did). Along those lines, the samples section of the API reference are pretty good to provide code snippits to accomplish specific types of tasks.
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- imgooch @ evtguy on Dec 3, 2014 11:56 AM
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  Thanks Steve.
  
  Oh boy....It looks like I'm in for a ton of learning and work migrating to JS. Despite having the OOTB FlexViewer on hand, working with customizing it was quite a learning experience (i'm no developer...just dabble...and don't know anything about JS). JS seems way beyond that since I'll basically have to learn everything before I can start rather than how I usually work which is have a starting product, look at the guts of it, and customize as needed.
  
  Maybe I'll change my mind on diving into this lol but I'll take a look at the links you gave. Thanks for the response.
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  - timw1984 @ imgooch on Dec 3, 2014 12:08 PM
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    Eric,
    
    I had the same feelings when I looked at the javascript API. I tried to dive into it a bunch of times and gave up. But here is the way I learned it.
    
    First I finished 2 chapters at code academy :
    
    JavaScript | Codecademy
    
    HTML & CSS | Codecademy
    
    With this understanding I was able to start working with the intro that ESRI provides.
    
    Build your first application | Guide | ArcGIS API for JavaScript
    
    Hope this helps!
    
    Tim
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rscheitlin Dec 3, 2014 12:13 PM
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Eric,

Or you just hold out until Web AppBuilder is released with 10.3 and it is the direct equivalent of ArcGIS Viewer for Flex.
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- imgooch @ rscheitlin on Dec 3, 2014 12:34 PM
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  that last reply was to Tim.
  
  Robert, I did see that web appbuilder existed (just today) but when I started looking into it seems to be tied directly to ArcGIS Online rather than a separate platform to use ArcGIS server services? I know very little of ArcGIS Online and assumed it existed for those that do not have ArcGIS server. Not to mention the viewer used seems to leave a lot to be desired and wouldn't I then have to point users to that account rather than my own webserver?
  
  I'm probably missing something. Unfortunately I've just been too busy to keep up with the changes around here! What is the relationship between Web AppBuilder and ArcGIS Online or, more importantly to me, other platforms? When I do some research it isn't explained at all and the getting started instructions point right to ArcGIS Online and I don't understand why.....which must be because I'm used to server service > viewer that consumes that service > end user browses to said viewer hosted on local web server.
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  - rscheitlin @ imgooch on Dec 4, 2014 5:52 AM
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    Eric,
    
    WAB is currently (Beta 3) tied to web maps hosted on an AGOL online organizational account. But Beta 2 allowed for the adding of basemaps and operational layer from an ArcGIS Server url just like ArcGIS Viewer for Flex does. I can only hope that this ability will be brought back in the final release. But even if it is not that is not a show stopper as a web map can be just a pointer to services that reside on your own ArcGIS Server. As an example I have a Crime Map in my organizational account that is NOT publicly visible that uses data from one of my ArcGIS Servers. So I can use this map in my WAB app using the web map id from AGOL but all the data resides on my server and is only visible to people in my organizational that I give access to. If you are currently under maintenance with esri than you ALREADY have an ArcGIS Online Organizational Account. Hope this clears things up.
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    - imgooch @ rscheitlin on Dec 4, 2014 9:09 AM
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      When I went through the process of using the WAB beta, found here Make your first app—Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS (Beta) | ArcGIS I was able to add my own map service to it. But the app itself still lives within ArcGIS Online and I can't seem to pull that creation out to host on my end (and therefore customize it further).
      
      However, I did find a download elsewhere (in the gallery once logged into my organization) for what seems to be a sample version of the WAB that should give me a starting point.
      
      Yes I do have the organizational account (though I have done very little in there) but I wish I really understood the purpose/advantages of it all. If I already have ArcGIS Server, why would I want to use AGOL?
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    - LANDVEST @ rscheitlin on Dec 11, 2014 8:45 AM
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      Robert,
      I've been working with WAB in beta right on through. I know you've been heavily engaged in Flex efforts over the years, so don't take this the wrong way when i say that I'm much more excited about the java script based application. That said I have a comment and a question:
      Currently, I don't see the WAB as an equivalent until it provides data file upload for GP Services like Flex supports. I added an enhancement request at the Beta site, but then also saw that someone else made the request.
      Question: any sense as to why ESRI is trying to put so many hooks into the WAB and AGO. I'm not trying to imply anything sinister here, but the changes you describe at 3.0 was my major reason for staying with 2.0. Even the application itself is tied to AGO to a degree. I'm pondering where this is all going with the final release.
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      - rscheitlin @ LANDVEST on Dec 11, 2014 10:10 AM
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        Zachary,
        
        WAB is going to do nothing but get better, just like the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex did. Everyone has to remember that WAB is just about to be release for it's first official debut and is a GREAT start, that will continue to evolve over time. Its is natural that all enhancement requests will not make it into the first full release. I have a very small enhancement request in that is maybe three lines of code that will really help one of my widgets, but I am not sure that it will make it into the first official release or not. The Teams has a lot of work to do fixing some core issues and there is the big 3D push behind the scenes are the JS API is going to support this a 4.0.
        
        As far as the Question... Well it seems to be a high level push from the top managers at esri (IMHO). AGOL (the Platform) seems to be a flagship that esri is hanging a lot of things on and it is only logical that they have products move users in that direction, if that is the case. They (esri) will have to answer to all the people that have invested in ArcGIS Server over the years if they stick with this direction to make WAB dependent on an AGOL web map. But really I don't see this a any kind of a show stopper. If you have ArcGIS at some level then you have an ArcGIS Organizational Account, and using that account you can publish a web map that just points back to your own internal ArcGIS Server where the actual data resides and you can secure access to this web map though AGOL (so it is not public if you don't want it to be, and you still maintain your own data).
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imgooch Dec 3, 2014 12:14 PM
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I believe that will be very helpful....and your reply that I'm not alone may help drive me to give it a go. thanks!
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