Getting started with ArcGIS Explorer customizations

Summary
This section provides a pathway for learning about creating customizations for ArcGIS Explorer. If you are customizing ArcGIS Explorer for the first time, begin by reading through the topics described here.

Before beginning to create your own customizations for ArcGIS Explorer, you should have some familiarity with using the ArcGIS Explorer application. You should also have some familiarity with developing for the .NET Framework using Microsoft Visual Studio.

About ArcGIS Explorer

ArcGIS Explorer provides a simple and flexible approach to both configuration and customization. The new ArcGIS Explorer application programming interface (API) is concise (less than 100 classes) and intuitive to use. Common scenarios are easy to code, and the objects have been designed for maximum convenience and coding efficiency making this API ideal for developers with limited training as well as for more experienced programmers.
The following topics guide you through beginning development with the ArcGIS Explorer API:
  • Customizing ArcGIS Explorer
    You can configure ArcGIS Explorer to do many things without having to program. Learn the difference between configuring and customizing ArcGIS Explorer, and find out what typical customizations do.
  • Developing with .NET
    ArcGIS Explorer depends on the Microsoft .NET Framework. This topic explains what you need to know about the .NET Framework for ArcGIS Explorer development.
  • Using Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and 2010 are the supported development environments for ArcGIS Explorer customizations. Learn about the Visual Studio tools for ArcGIS Explorer that can help you create customizations for ArcGIS Explorer quickly and easily.
  • How to create add-in projects
    This topic provides an overview of the process used to create a customization for ArcGIS Explorer.
  • How to deploy add-ins to other users
    When you compile a customization in Visual Studio, it is automatically packaged and deployed ready for testing on your machine. This topic describes what to do when you're ready to deploy your customizations to others.
  • Migrating from ArcGIS Explorer 500 to ArcGIS Explorer 900
    Developers with existing solutions built on earlier releases of ArcGIS Explorer should read through this topic.
To find out more about ESRI’s suite of geographic information system (GIS) software, visit the ESRI Web site.