Day 1 Afternoon Plenary Session At The ESRI International User Conference 2008

Updates:
Added some of the new functionality that’s coming in ArcGIS 9.4

After the Morning Plenary Session At The ESRI User Conference 2008 where ArcGIS 9.3 was showcased and talked about the focus moved ArcGIS 9.4 and what’s coming.

ArcGIS 9.4 development projects that are currently underway. To go with this a preview of ArcGIS 9.4 was showcased.

Some of the new features include simplified editing. New authoring and dynamic map release features will be coming in ArcGIS 9.3 Service Pack 2. Dynamic map release is server dynamic mapping. Improvements has been made to the server rendering pipeline.

It appeared in the demo that the authoring process immediately created a dynamic map experience

A bundle more features where highlighted as well.

Updates:

Other features coming in ArcGIS 9.4.

• Lots of new visuals  – new toolbars, transparent table of contents, looks a little like MS Office.
• Faster, smoother rendering of map data when panning and zooming. Looks a little like tile based rendering.
• Streamlined editing – looks like a souped up version of editing using subtypes. You can select a feature type, and add them already attributed from a palette of feature types. Very nice looking. Also the attribute editor has been streamlined – you can hide unused field frm the display and define the editable fields. Also snapping has been made more interactive and easy to use.
• Identify tool can now be used to bring up layer properties
• You will be able to get a report on an MXD before which will list any problems likely to occur when the map is published to a web mapping application – performance issues, missing data etc. The dialog looks a little like the topology error dialog.

The new visuals are going to be great. Microsoft Office 2007 like toolbars. I think a few people have been asking for an updated look for a while now.

The MXD report looks to be another great feature. Another feature which I know a few people have asked about. Being able to get a list of problems would be great!

ArcGIS Explorer Build 600 was showcased!

Euan noted that Explorer has a rapidly paced release schedule, and that Explorer 600 will leverage some of the new capabilities being developed for ArcGIS 9.4, but will be released sooner.

The new interface is based on the Microsoft Office 2007 ribbon. The great advantage of this is that the new experience will reveal only the tools when you need them.

And the question of when will it be available was answered. ArcGIS Explorer Build 600 released Quarter 1, 2009! It’s still a way off but it’s shaping up be outstanding and very much worth the wait!

Even more screen shots and information on what was showcased with ArcGIS Explorer Build 600 can be found here:  http://blogs.esri.com/Info/…

During the plenary session, attendees were treated to a live ArcGIS Mobile presentation.

Outside the convention center, several ESRI staff posed as Mobile workers collecting information about various assets and their condition, while inside the center, the audience was captivated as the Web browser was continuously updated. Each time the view refreshed, that data was available to the presenter for viewing and editing.

This is similar to the demonstration that I saw at the ESRI Developer Summit earlier this year. It’s a great way to show the new features of ArcGIS Mobile 9.3.

The ArcGIS Mobile Team is giving users the ability to try it for themselves.

Are you ready to try it for yourself? Users who have a Windows Mobile 5 or 6 touchscreen device are encouraged to try a similar application to the one that was demonst
rated. See the instructions on installing and using the ArcGIS Mobile Client to record interesting locations around the Gaslamp District.

http://arcgismobileuc.esri.com/arcgis/mobile/

This is a great chance for attendees to have a play with ArcGIS Mobile 9.3. Its a great application and hopefully this will give those interested parties an insight into what is possible.

Well that wraps up the afternoon session at the ESRI International User Conference 2008. I will be updating post with more information as it has been made available.