Volume 26 • No 10 • 2003
ISSN 0742-468X • Since 1978
On-line Since 2000
Getting to Know ArcObjects
a book review
A decade or so ago I gave a speech about “The Future of GIS” –delivered with the certainty of a person who really knew the future. Naturally, I was doing little more than extrapolating, conjecturing, surmising and guessing. I ended the speech by telling the audience that if their present GIS supplier was not moving toward object-oriented programming, it was time to look for a new supplier.
Later that evening, someone whispered in my ear that I may be right, but he did not think that ESRI was going in that direction. Ordinarily, this would not have been a big deal, except that the presentation was made to an ESRI users group. After a quick tap dance, I simply blurted out “Well, they will – just wait.” Paranoia quickly set in, and I began to wonder if I would ever be invited to another ESRI function.
Like most futurists, I pride myself on my ability to remember only the predictions that come true. As this new century began, we saw the dawning of an ESRI–based object–oriented GIS solution called ArcObjects™. Maybe it is time to drop The Harlow Report, move to the Cayman Islands and start FutureGIS.com
The objective of ArcObjects
ESRI describes it as “a collection of software components with GIS functionality and programmable interfaces. ArcObjects technology is based on the COM protocol. Customization is performed using the built–in VBA scripting capabilities or a COM–compliant programming language such as Visual Basic, Visual C++, or Delphi.”
In turn, ArcGIS is built on this technology. A licensed copy of ArcInfo, ArcEditor, or ArcView is required to use ArcObjects
Memo to the guy who whispered in my ear: See, I told you so!
How do you learn about ArcObjects?
As with any new software, there are a variety of ways to learn how to use it. There is no single correct way – not everyone learns in the same manner.
For those of you who like to dive in and take a look, you can download an evaluation copy from http://www.esri.com/software/devsolutions/arcobjects/evaluate.html
Or, you could take a class, read the documentation, or ask the guy next to you. I like to use a combination of techniques, and am especially partial to a well–written book on the subject. When it comes to ArcObjects, Robert Burke has done a great job in …
Getting to Know ArcObjects
 “Getting to Know ArcObjects” by Robert Burke is a just released publication from ESRI Press. It lists for $59.95 with 436 pages and a supplemental CD. The CD contains a complete set of ArcObjects object model diagrams plus excursive data and results. You can get the book from ESRI for $59.95 or, through Amazon.com for $41.97.
Burke does a magnificent job of walking you through the labyrinth of object modeling. This book could be called a "Visual Approach to learning ArcObjects," because of the liberal use of graphics and screen shots used throughout the book.
A peek inside
Burke makes no presumptions about your understanding of object programming. He starts out with a brief, but adequate description of what it is you are about to learn. But Burke also understands two things about GIS developers:
- If you want to learn a lot about objects, you will take a course (you don’t so go to step two)
- You really want to dive into ArcObjects.
Just five pages into this book, Burke starts Chapter 2 “Building a Custom Application.” That’s right, roll up your sleeves and start using the technology. You can get the theory later. Better still, leave the theor to the guys in the ivory towers. You have an application to write.
From there on in you will be given clear instructions on how to manipulate objects to your needs. Burke cleverly merges the visual effect of learning on the web with the vivid impressions of the printed word. You read, you see, you program. What a way to learn!
Recommendation
I haven’t gone through every example in the book. Being an ArcObjects developer is not my dream. But I have gone through enough of the book’s instructions to know that it is an excellent tutorial.
You will not be an ArcObjects expert just by reading this book. But you will understand the technology to get a jump-start on the rest of us. The drawback of any book is that it is a bit hard to ask questions and get feedback. On the other hand, unlike a live course, you can go back to the book for clarification any time you want.
I would encourage Mr. Burke and ESRI to develop a web site for this book. At the site the inevitable errata could be published – especially in coding. Readers could ask questions in a forum and an FAQ section. The site could also have a living value of ideas and solutions from readers.
If you are at all interested in ArcObjects, I suggest you start by downloading the demo copy and reading “Getting to Know ArcObjects” by Robert Burke.
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