Working with the ArcIMS API

The ArcIMS application programming interface (API), which is included with the Web Application Developer Framework (ADF), provides a comprehensive framework for interacting with an ArcIMS server. You can use the ArcIMS API to develop custom client applications built on the Microsoft .NET Framework.

The ArcIMS API provides an object model that can be used to consume ArcIMS image and ArcMap services. More specifically, the ArcIMS API communicates with an ArcIMS server by generating Arc Extensible Markup Language (ArcXML) requests and processing ArcXML responses. The API provides basic mapping functionality, such as panning and zooming; tools to interact with layers, such as querying and geocoding; and classes to administer services.

The ArcIMS API includes components in the following assemblies:

ESRI.ArcGIS.ADF.IMS—Contains most of the classes you'll use to work with ArcIMS
ESRI.ArcGIS.ADF.Connection—Contains classes to establish a connection with an ArcIMS server and to send and receive raw ArcXML
ESRI.ArcGIS.ADF.Web—Contains foundation classes for some ArcIMS components, such as CartoImage, which is used to manage map image rendering
ESRI.ArcGIS.ADF—Contains foundation classes for the ADF in general

Because the Web ADF controls and Common API are designed to work with the ArcIMS API, an ArcIMS .NET developer can leverage the generic capabilities of the Web ADF with the data source specific characteristics available in the ArcIMS API.

For additional information on the Web ADF controls and Common API, see Developing Web applications using the Web ADF.

Working with the ArcIMS API

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