Many users, including me, have a sort of nostalgic longing for functionality that was available in previous versions of ArcGIS. For instance, sometimes I like to use the classic editing and snapping interface as described in this previous blog, “Setting the Edit and Snapping Environments in ArcGIS 10 to the classic (9.x) Format.” Similarly, the new Search window is great, but I miss the ability to search tools using the index tab that was available in version 9.3.1.
Call it stubbornness, resistance to change, laziness or whatever, but some of us want to be able to type just a few letters (instead of the entire tool name) and have all the tools that begin with those letters reveal themselves. Evidently quite a few people wanted this functionality brought back, as the “Bring back the Index tab in Arc Toolbox” idea garnered over 2,400 points on ArcGIS Ideas. Thankfully, we can all stop shamelessly promoting this idea because an Add-in has been made available in the Code Gallery that creates a Dockable Geoprocessing Tool Index Window for ArcGIS 10. From the Code Gallery, you can download the Add-in and install it by following the instructions provided in the description. Enjoy the nostalgia!
Jake P. – ArcGIS Desktop Support Analyst
The Esri Support Services team will be at the 2012 Federal GIS Conference, and we will be offering appointments for your technical questions. Specialists in all areas of the software will be available to assist with your questions. Users attending the conference can set up a time slot for a specific technology area that they would like to discuss as well as register to attend one of the two presentations in the demo theater. Appointments are not required, so feel free to stop by in between sessions or during lunch.
Visit the Support Appointments website to setup an appointment to speak with a specialist or register to attend one of our sessions.ster to attend one of the two presentations in the demo theater. Appointments are not required, so feel free to stop by in between sessions or during lunch.
Hours of OperationThe Online Support Resources team has added RSS feeds to the technical articles repository on the Esri Support knowledge base. You can set up a custom RSS feed based on software, version, and article type. When an article that meets the criteria is published or updated, you can be notified either through your internet browser or via email.
If you would like to subscribe to an RSS feed, the process is described below.
1. Go to Support.Esri.com.
2. Click on the Technical Articles link under the Knowledge Base heading.
3. Select a software product.
4. Drill down to the folder level/topic you want.
5. Use the Browse Filter on the right to select the applicable software version and article types.
6. Click the Go button at the bottom. This reloads the page and returns only those articles that match your filter selections.
7. When the new page is loaded, click the RSS button at the top of the Browse Filter.
8. Subscribe to the feed. Two of the ways to do this are described below:
Browser Subscription
A. Click the link that reads “Subscribe to this feed” in the yellow box at the top of the page.
B. In the Subscribe to this Feed dialog box, select a folder (the folder is Feeds by default) and then click Subscribe.
Outlook Subscription
A. Copy the URL from the “Subscribe to the Feed” page.
B. Go to Outlook.
C. Right-click the RSS Feeds folder and select Add a New RSS Feed.
D. Paste the URL into the New RSS Feed dialog box and click Add.
Joe M. - Online Support Resources
ArcGIS for AutoCAD is a great tool for loading basemap layers provided by ArcGIS Servers to AutoCAD projects. In fact, it has gotten so popular that users have requested documentation regarding ways to load the ArcGIS for AutoCAD interface into AutoCAD at application initialization. To that end, the ArcGIS for AutoCAD team has provided the following workflow for automatically load this tool. Happy CADding!
The ArcGIS for AutoCAD toolbar doesn’t automatically load when installed on a machine with AutoCAD. This can cause some confusion, or it can just cause a hassle when you need to reload AutoCAD every day or multiple times a day.
It can be more useful to set up AutoCAD to automatically load this toolbar by editing the acad.lsp file. By default, this file is located in the directory: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD\support. Here are the steps to configure this file:
For steps to manually load the ArcGIS for AutoCAD toolbar, please refer to the web help topic Loading ArcGIS for AutoCAD.
Randall W. and Scott. P - ArcGIS Server Support Analysts
ArcGIS Desktop has a lot of useful extensions beyond the core product. Some of the available extensions include ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, ArcGIS 3D Analyst, ArcGIS Network Analyst, and ArcGIS Data Interoperability. Each of the extensions can be evaluated before purchasing.
If you have chosen to evaluate or purchase an extension and found that you were unable to activate the extension on your machine, then there are a couple areas to check.
Check that the extension has been installed (Customize > Extensions)
The extension will be listed in this dialog if has been installed. An empty list means no extensions have been installed.
If the extension has not been installed, then you will need to modify the ArcGIS Desktop installation to include the extension.
1. Open Programs and Features (Add/Remove Programs) from the Control Panel.
2. Right-click the ArcGIS Desktop 10 > Uninstall/Change.
3. Navigate to ArcGIS Desktop 10 Setup > Modify.
4. Select the extensions to be installed by changing the drop down menu status beside each one.
5. Click Next to follow the remaining installation instructions.
(Note that the system may request that you provide the installation media.)
Once you have confirmed that the extension has been installed, activate the extension (Customize > Extension).
Check that the extension can be activated
Activating an extension from the Extensions window will allow that functionality to be available.
Note that you must activate the extension in each product that you use (ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene, etc).
If you are unable to activate an extension and get an error message that the license is not currently available, please check the ArcGIS Administrator to see if the extension is available on your existing system or through the license manager. The license may already be checked out by another user, or it may not be authorized for use on the machine.
Related Links
Adding additional installation features
About evaluating ArcGIS Desktop extensions
Viewing license availability
Authorizing ArcGIS single use products and features
Timothy H. - Raster/3D Support Analyst
An interview with ArcIMS and ArcGIS Server Analyst, Gaurav N.
To continue our “Getting to Know Esri Support” series, we’ve interviewed a member of the Redlands Server team. Gaurav has traveled far and is now living his dream working for Esri!.
Support Services Blog: Welcome Gaurav! Let’s jump right in with finding out a little about how you got into the GIS industry and what brought you to Esri?
Gaurav: While I was studying for my bachelor’s degree, I attended a conference on disaster management and learned how GIS is helpful in relief services. I tried to find out ways to enter the industry, did some research and found that Esri is the market leader in GIS. I contacted Esri India and took an ArcGIS Desktop and ArcIMS course. I started working in the GIS industry and later, I got hired at Esri India where I worked as a Technical Support Analyst. After working for 7 years in the GIS industry, I got the opportunity to come to the USA and work as consultant at the Esri Redlands headquarters. I am now working as a full-time Support Services Analyst in the Server Unit. My dream came true, and I even got to meet Jack Dangermond and talk to him in the Esri cafe one day during lunch!
SSB: Tell us a little bit about your daily responsibilities as an analyst.
Gaurav: I work as a Tier 2 Analyst in the Server Unit where I am responsible for troubleshooting complex problems reported by customers. My expertise is mostly on troubleshooting performance related issues with ArcIMS and the ArcGIS Server products.
Sometimes users call and report their production environment is down and need us to help. We help discover workarounds, if they reach a software limitation, to enable them to continue with their work. Also, we get calls at times for disaster relief where the customer application is down. For example:
I feel that my work is very important, and I take pride in being able to help in such situations.
SSB: What do you like about working as a support analyst in Redlands?
Gaurav: Interacting with customers and facing new challenges every day. Not only to help troubleshoot the problem, but also to assist with changing, improving, or optimizing their systems. I like the open and friendly work atmosphere. You have opportunities to engage with others throughout the company, allowing you to exchange ideas, learn from others, and leverage their skills to accomplish a task.
SSB: What do you enjoy when you are away from work?
Gaurav: I enjoy spending time with my wife and 2.5-year-old son. I am also taking guitar classes and working on my MBA.
SSB: Good luck with learning the guitar, and thanks for your time Gaurav!
Gaurav: Thank you. It was nice talking with you.
Previous "Getting to Know Esri Support" Interviews
We would like to notify you about the release of ArcGIS for SharePoint version 2.1.1. This is a quick-turnaround maintenance release to fix critical bugs that were identified in the 2.1 release. The ArcGIS for SharePoint team has worked hard to address these issues quickly to minimize their impact on our users. The issues addressed include:
Users that are currently using version 2.0, 2.1 beta, or 2.1 final can easily upgrade to the latest version. To do so, simply run the setup and select the upgrade option.
Note – Users that have version 2.1 installed must upgrade to version 2.1.1 to continue using the product.
You can obtain ArcGIS for SharePoint version 2.1.1 from here: ArcGIS for SharePoint 2.1.1.
Please check out the ArcGIS for SharePoint Resource Center for information on getting started, help using the product, and samples to show you how to build add-ins for the Map Web Part. If you have questions, be sure to take advantage of the ArcGIS for SharePoint forum to get help from the community.
We’re sorry for causing any inconvenience,
The ArcGIS for SharePoint Team
We have updated the search appliance on the Esri Support website. The search appliance now looks through the contents of PDF documents, such as white papers and service pack announcements, when performing a search. This means that it will be even easier to find answers to your questions and solutions to any issues.
For example, a search for bug such as “NIM004428 – ArcMap crashes intermittently when editing while GPS connection is open”...
now returns two results...
the bug description...
and the service pack announcement for the bug's fix.
Adding PDF content to the search results, in this case, helps you find more information about a known issue and also find the fix for that issue. This update is part of our on-going efforts to improve search on the Esri Support site.
Online Support Resources Team
So you have built a Geometric Network and encountered some errors in the process. Enter the NET_BUILDERR table, a resource to help you correct any potential problems uncovered during the build.
The NET_BUILDERR table is a table that is output during the creation of the geometric network. The table is generated if errors are encountered and if the geometric network is owned by the user or the schema that builds the geometric network. This table is created n the same Feature Dataset where your network resides and can be easily previewed in ArcCatalog.
When previewing this table in ArcCatalog, you will be able to see the Object ID, Class ID, and Errortype for each error encountered. In ArcGIS 9.x, the ClassID field corresponds with the ClassID found in the GDB_OBJECTCLASSSES table and identifies which feature class the ObjectIDs corresponded via the Layers table ‘Layer_id’. In ArcSDE 10 using the simplified geodatabase schema, this field now refers to the ObjectID in the ‘GDB_ITEMS’ table which will also enable you to determine which feature class the error corresponds with in the same way.
Same functionality, same ID, different table…
The Net_BUILDERR table is used by the Network Build Errors command in ArcMap to identify and select the features with invalid geometries for review and correction. It can also be used for manual review. Remember that this table is user managed, so it will not automatically update after an error has been corrected.
Related Links
- Identifying geometric network build errors
- Network build errors table
- Repairing network feature geometry
Jon D. - Geodata Support Analyst
By default, anyone using services that take advantage of token based security will need to get and hardcode a new token every 10 days. Without an updated token, web applications using the secured services will not work and you will not have access to your secure map services. If you dread having to get a new token every 10 days to keep your applications working, there is a solution! The following steps describe how to increase the token timeout past 10 days.
There are a couple of ways to edit the time limit for a token.
Method A
Change the token expiration period for both 'Short-lived' and 'Long-lived' tokens using the ArcGIS Server Manager.
Method B
Edit the web.config file to change the value of the 'Long-lived’ tokens to 365 days.
Nakul B. - SDK Support Analyst
Python, or even scripting in general, can seem like a scary thing to those who have no background in computer languages. Even though it might seem difficult, there are many times where automating common workflows can be very helpful in speeding up the monotonous parts of GIS that we all have to do.
These 10 tips are some basic ways to learn Python and get you more comfortable using scripts. I myself had no background in scripting or programming before working at Esri. I have used all of these tips to gain the confidence and practice I needed to help support customers. And I still use them today!
When helping customers troubleshoot support incidents, support analysts need to have a clear understanding of both the problem and the steps that lead to that problem.
If you are using Windows 7, you are in luck; Windows 7 has a built in program called “Problem Steps Recorder” that combines screen capture, mouse tracking, and log capture to record user actions.
To launch the program:
An interview with Desktop Senior Support Technical Lead, Todd S.
Before the end of the year, we wanted to introduce you to another member of our team - this time from the Charlotte office! We snapped a picture of him and his Charlie Brown tree as he reflects on his past GIS experiences and how he got to where he is today.
Support Services Blog: Welcome Todd. Can you tell us what position you have within Support Services?
Todd: I am the Senior Support Technical Lead for the Desktop Unit.
SSB: What do you do as a Technical lead?
Todd: I create content for our new Learning Management System (LMS) within Support Services. I also create and deliver training for new analysts as they come on board and help keep existing analysts up-to-date on the current software. In addition, I am a technical resource for analysts when working with users that need help troubleshooting issues with our software.
SSB: How did you get into GIS?
Todd: Honestly, it was by complete accident. Here’s the condensed version of how it happened… Against better judgment, I received my undergraduate degree in anthropology. The subject matter was interesting, but I decided that I did not want to spend the rest of my working career begging for money in the form of government grants and making next to nothing in the process. That being said, I decided to start taking masters classes for environmental planning. My advisor at the time suggested I take a GIS class over the summer. I had never heard of GIS but I took the class, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
SSB: What brought you to Esri?
Todd: Prior to Esri, I worked as a GIS analyst for eight years at a civil engineering firm in upstate New York. Then I ran an office concerned with providing mental health services. I oversaw the maintenance of their statewide GIS, which consisted of 28 campuses and nearly 3000 layers of data. Now I know this may sound like an exciting way of life, but it was too much of a good thing and I was antsy for something different. On top of that, my complete hatred of cold weather, snow, and long gray northeast winters made a job opportunity with Esri in Charlotte a no brainer.
SSB: Do you use GIS outside of work and how?
Todd: My wife is getting her PhD in geography, and she picks my brain every once in a while. Sometimes I’ll get driving directions online. Other than that, not really.
SSB: What was the coolest/strangest/most interesting GIS project you worked on?
Todd: The most interesting was a pavement management system I helped build at my old job for a busy local airport. The system itself was actually pretty boring, but the data collection was crazy. It was cool climbing under all the planes on an active tarmac and runway. The jet blast from some of them was pretty powerful. We ended up buying some of the guys in the control tower a couple of pizzas and they let us out on the runway a lot more than they probably should have.
SSB: How do you describe to family members and friends what you do for a living?
Todd: No one in my family really has a clue what GIS is. Most of the time I’ll tell them that I work for a company that makes mapping and analysis software. 90% of the time this is good enough, but sometimes I’ll need to explain in more detail. My mom, however, still doesn’t get it. Ask her what I do and, after nearly 14 year of explaining, she’ll tell you that I “do something with maps.” Sigh.
SSB: What is one of your favorite hobbies or pastimes?
Todd: I’m a home brewer. There’s nothing quite like coming downstairs in the morning and seeing ten gallons of pale ale happily fermenting in your laundry room.
Previous "Getting to Know Esri Support" Interviews
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we lived in a world where our boss just handed us a 100 percent accurate table of XY data so that we could generate the point feature class using the “Display XY” tool and be done?
Hey, we can dream can't we?
In the real world, though, you’ll probably find that the XY locations you were asked to plot were not 100 percent accurate. The story usually goes like this:
“Two days after creating a point feature class from thousands of XY locations, my boss walked into my office and gave me updated XY information for a few specific points. Now, I have to update these locations on the table and re-create the feature class, or I have to create a feature class using the new table and then append the two. This is sure a lot of work.”
Well, read on because I’m about to make your world a little brighter! It’s actually not too hard or too much work to easily handle these update-type jobs!
Running geoprocessing tools on thousands or even hundreds-of-thousands of features to update just a few can be slow, depending on the size of the data. Consider the following alternative workflow when updating XY locations.
Example: You have a feature class called ‘S’ that has 105 point features. You received a new XY table that has updated locations for 13 points. Update the point locations by doing the following:
Now, we know the points are placed in the new “exact” locations, but the X and Y fields still need to be updated. How can the X and Y fields be updated for just these few features?
To update the XY fields in the attribute table, do the following:
Sample Script: def XYsetVALUE( shape, X_value, Y_value): point = shape.getPart(0) point.X = X_value point.Y = Y_value return point __esri_field_calculator_splitter__ XYsetVALUE ( !SHAPE!, !X_COORD!, !Y_COORD! )
Sisi Y. (with help from Todd S.), Esri Support in Charlotte, NC.
As an ArcGIS Server Support Analyst, I often assist customers with web traffic related incidents. While there are many applications available to monitor and capture web traffic from an internet browser, I have found Fiddler (a popular freeware solution) to be invaluable in troubleshooting web applications that fail to display some or all of a web map.
This works fine on Windows machines where Fiddler can be installed and work with the Windows browsers, but what happens if the web application is being accessed from an iPhone or iPad? Fortunately Fiddler provides an option where it can be installed on another machine and configured as a proxy server to capture the web traffic from these types of mobile devices.
NOTE: This configuration assumes there is a Wi-Fi network available for the connecting mobile device. From this Wi-Fi network, the mobile device needs to be able to communicate with the machine that has Fiddler installed.
To configure Fiddler to capture web traffic from iOS devices, just follow these steps.
Jeff S. - Server Usage Support Analyst
Support Services is constantly updating the functionality available on the Support Services Website. The key to accessing all of the capabilities of the Support site is to login using an Esri Account (also referred to as Global ID or eCAS).
While anyone with an Esri Account can access certain functionality such as bugs online , customers that are considered ‘Authorized Callers’ will also have the ability to log email- or chat-based support incidents, view and manage your organization’s open support issues and more.
What is an "Authorized Caller"?
They are the folks within an organization who can open an official incident with Esri Support via phone, email or chat. Customers that have a valid maintenance contract with Esri Support are entitled to a certain number of “Authorized Callers.”
How is someone setup as an Authorized Caller?
Esri Support Reception (SSR) manages the authorized caller database within Support’s Incident Management System. Once an Organization identifies the individuals who will act as a Esri Support Authorized Caller, the following information will be requested by SSR:
For example, I might provide the following:
This individual’s information would be added into Support’s Incident Management System and used to validate incident requests.
Creating and Configuring an Esri Account
Once Support has received the necessary information from an authorized caller, that caller is then ready to create a new Esri Account and link it to the Support database.
(If you already have an Esri Account you will not need to create a new one! Skip to the ‘Tying it all Together’ section)
Tying It All Together
After being added as an authorized caller and then creating an Esri Account, the final step to unlocking all of the functionality of the Esri Support website is tie the two account together through account validation.
If you have any problems validating your account or using the Online Support tools, please click on the Feedback button at the bottom of the Web page.
Once your account has been validated, you will have full access to the Support site. Some of the funtions you can use include the following:
Related Links
Updates to My Support
Show Me the Incident
New Changes Coming Soon to the Esri Online Support Gateway Page
Allison R. and Halina B. – Technical Account Leads
With the US Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has written, worked on, read, commented on, or otherwise utilized the Esri Support Blog during 2011.
Thank you to all these dedicated Support Analysts
The Geodatabase Support Blogger Jon D, who helped us put everything in its right place using ArcGIS Diagrammer, so "άγνωστο σφάλμα" turns into something I understand.
The Server Support Bloggers Chris O and Randall W, who provided us with documentation on Using ArcGIS Mobile 10 as well as let us know where to put ideas for product enhancements.
The Implementation bloggers Phillip W and Eynar G, who forgave me for forgetting to deauthorize before I uninstalled my Single-Use software and wrote a swell blog to help others, then helped me find my missing licenses – and changed my tire (not part of our Standard Support service, but I sure do appreciate it Eynar and Juan).
The ‘Dynamic Raster Duo’ of Jeff S and Timothy H, who have made sure we are all able to create KML files with attributes, answer the question ‘What happened to our Spatial Analyst Toolbar’, ‘light-up’ our Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst toolbars when they are gray, choose the right option to display our TINs, made our dull images more Intense, explained that Null is not equal to zero, and shared the secret of where to get raster data for FREE!
The Desktop Support Bloggers: Jake P, Sisi Y, Darrin C, and Juan L, who told us what to put in our Metadata, how to modify our Business Analyst Online reports to use different size study rings, how to send ourselves emails when our python script completes, how to unpack our map and layer packages, even if we get an invalid package error, and gave advice on deploying ArcPad to my mobile device.
The SDK Support Bloggers: Kripa J, Nakul B, Shwentambari G, who told us why our maps were no longer displaying in Visual Studio 2010 and helped us troubleshoot ArcGIS Mapping for SharePoint problems.
Special thanks to Melissa J from the Geodatabase Support Team, who has helped coordinate the technical content for the blog and explained to me how to tell which bit version is installed for ArcSDE, how to uninstall a Service pack at 10 without uninstalling Desktop, as well as created a list of the Popular Esri Technical Articles for ArcGIS 10.
The Blog Team
Kristen, Joe and Vin, who edit and post all the Support Blogs. Thanks for all your help and support. I hope you enjoy learning about GIS as much as we enjoy learning how to ‘write good.’
The Web Development Team, the Online Content Team, and the UAG
Mike H, Chris F, Denise K, and the other members of the UAG team, thanks for always posting the ‘Breaking News’ about new Patches, Service Packs, Software Updates, Beta Programs, and all the other stuff that goes into constantly enhancing Esri software.
Sanjay and his dedicated team of Web Development/Online Content folks, thanks for all your efforts in enhancing the Support site, creating the application used to schedule face time with Support at the UC, giving wiki.GIS its new look (yeah!), and continuing to make searching the Support Site better.
Finally, thank you to all of the customers, users, hobbyists, and co-workers who have read our blog posts. We look forward to providing more information to you in the future.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Allison R, Technical Account Manager, Charlotte, NC
Has this ever happened to you? You go to activate an extension within ArcMap 10, but you get the dreaded message that the license you need is not available.
You check your license availability to make sure you’ve authorized it, but you see there are no licenses currently available for that product.
Now you’re wondering who took your Concurrent Use license and how you can find out who’s got it. If you have access to the License Server Administrator, follow these steps below to find the culprit:
* To determine the Feature Name for a license do the following:
For example: In Spatial Analyst, the Internal Feature Name is Grid as shown below.
An interview with ArcSDE Enterprise Geodatabase analyst Shan C.
To continue our “Getting to Know Esri Support” series, we’ve recapped our talk with Shan Chen regarding his experiences with GIS. We hope you enjoy this blog and getting to know some of the members of the Esri Support Services team!
Background
Shan’s home town is Beijing, P. R. China and he now works at Esri’s Pleasant Hill, CA office. In school, he studied environmental sciences and completing his Ph.D. in Spatial Information Systems. Shan worked for ERDAS prior to coming to Esri. After six years of working in support, he has developed a strong raster background and can help users with just about everything related to the ArcSDE Enterprise geodatabase. When Shan is not at work he enjoys movies, soccer, and spending time with family; including a new addition - 8 month old son Edwin.
How did you get into GIS?
During the last year of his undergraduate studies in environmental science, Shan had access to remote sensing data where he used GIS to solve environmental case studies. This helped Shan gain an interest in using GIS to resolve real world problems. Shan always aspired to work for Esri and to take his use of the software to a higher level.
What do you like best about being a support analyst?
Shan finds it very rewarding to work with ArcGIS users on a daily basis. Working in support for six years Shan enjoys the daily collaboration with colleagues and access to learning materials. Shan’s typical day involves working with users that have problems that impact their workflow and sometimes the entire organization. He is able to help them through his background knowledge of the software and use of support resources. While the user is happy, Shan also feels like he accomplished something great along the way by learning new aspects of the software.
Do you use GIS outside of work and if so how?
Shan uses GIS outside of work in discussions with his wife. She is an environmental engineer, so he often answers her questions related to the use of GIS. Mainly, Shan helps his wife understand if she could implement GIS to answer some of her work studies and questions.
How do you describe to family members and friends what you do for a living as a GIS Software Analyst?
Shan laughs and pauses. Using his parents as an example, Shan says since our software is so complex in its uses and implementation he just goes with the standard, “I make maps” explanation to avoid confusing them!
Previous "Getting to Know Esri Support" Interviews
Today, November 16, is GIS Day. GIS Day is an opportunity for GIS professionals and educators to spread awareness about the field of GIS. Learn more about how and where people are celebrating at GISDay.com.