[Mapserver-users] OGC versus ESRI's ArcGIS Server {Scanned}

[Andrew Haigh]

Simon,

It's a minor point but ESRI have just released MapObjects 2.3 (Windows  
Edition) with a number of new features / bug fixes. As I understand it  
MapObjects is developed and maintained by ESRI in the UK and not ESRI  
in the US. That said ESRI have just released ArcEngine (which is the  
same but uses the full ArcGIS object model), they are two different  
beasts (MapObjects = basic application while ArcEngine or ArcServer =   
complex application full ArcSDE Editing and all extentsions (3D,  
Spatial, etc).

Andrew

On 30 Jul 2004, at 09:14, Simon Greener wrote:

> I have to admit that your request is rather confusing... but here
> goes...
>
> MapObjects can't do what you want to do. MapObjects (MO) 2.x is,
> effectively, no longer being
> promoted or sold by ESRI Inc. Anyone care to correct me on this?  MO
> used to have a companion extension
> called MOIMS which was nothing more than a single ActiveX control
> called the WebLink control that allowed any MO application
> to respond to HTTP requests and hence publish on the web. But this is
> old technology using a proprietary call
> interface (ie POST name/value pairs) and it not compatible with
> anything at all really.  With the release of ArcIMS 3.0 MOIMS
> was withdrawn from sale. You can no longer buy the MOIMS extension (ie
> the WebLink control). Though I doubt it was really
> worth the money ESRI wanted for it anyway.
>
> Anyone know of a commercial ActiveX control that can plug into IIS and
> all traditional VB applications to respond to HTTP Posts?
> The signature of the WebLink control was extremely small with (from
> memory) functions to start and stop it, listen for a request,
> unpack its name/value pairs and write out a response. Less than a
> handful of functions and properties.
>
> I know of a MO based application exactly like what you want to build.
> Its IMS capabilities had to be withdrawn when ESRI
> withdrew the WebLink control from sale but which could do what you want
> if only someone, anyone, out there knew where
> one could source a simple ActiveX control that implemented what MO's
> WebLink control did.  I suggest you contact the author
> of the application, Valerie MacDuff at (val.macduff at intragis.com.au).
>
>
> Her application, IntraGIS, is rather like MapInfo's recently announce
> Exponare but with many years more development.
> She recently implemented support for MapServer image catalogs and, with
> me pushing hard, is thinking about extending her
> server code to access Open Source GIS data sources and services.   It
> will do all that you want but it is a product that would
> supercede what you have done.
>
> An alternative to MO for GIS development in the standalone and IMS
> sphere's is TatukGIS's DK and IMS products. YOu should contact
> them at www.tatukgis.com as their products are very cheap, powerful,
> functional and cost $0 for deployment for desktop apps an
> only USD1000 per server for their IMS product.
>
> Remember that ArcGIS Server is not comparable to OGC web offerings.  It
> is more about being a powerful, high-end, geoprocessing engine
> rather than an IMS. I think you probably mean ArcIMS vs OGC?  There are
> some good commercial SDKs out there to do OGC Web Service
> integration within an application, one of the best of these is Nuke
> Gold's Carbon Tools VS.NET components.
>
>> 1) Display Maps & Labels
>
> If you want these to come from an ArcIMS powered server then you will
> need ArcObjects development
> kit. Expensive is all I can say! Not just in terms of the developer kit
> but also the runtime deployments.
> If you go the OGC route then you will need some developer components.
> Unfortunately there are no
> open source development products for VB/VS.NET controls for accessing
> and displaying GIS data (eg OCX)
> or for accessing WMS/WFS servers.  You have to go commercial - see Nuke
> for client tools: there are no
> tools around to help you turn your application into an OGC server
> itself.
>
>> 2) Is Point In
>> 3) Touch or Area Intersect
>> 4) Record sets
>> 5) Create points from Coordinates
>
> I take it that these are the functions you want YOUR server to perform
> for YOUR clients?
> Certainly TatukGIS's DK can do all these things and can make them
> available to your clients.
>
> But if you want your client to talk to an OGC server to do this, then
> MapServer is probably not
> what you want.
>
> regards
> Simon
>
> GIS - A Great Profession, and a lifelong Passion!
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> ----------
> Simon Greener           email: simon.greener at forestrytas.com.au
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