Add-ins extend ArcGIS Explorer's out-of-the-box functionality, and are delivered as add-in files (.eaz files). Like you can add layers to your map with .nmc files, you can add tools (buttons, dockable windows, and more) to ArcGIS Explorer with add-ins. Let's take a closer look.

Add-ins can be created using the ArcGIS Explorer SDK, and the ArcGIS Explorer team has created a number of ready-to-use add-ins that are shared on ArcGIS Online in the ArcGIS Explorer Labs group. To get there, you can start at the ArcGIS Explorer resource center and click the data tab. There you'll see links to the various ArcGIS Online resources including the Labs group.

Or you can go to ArcGIS Online, toggle to search for groups, and search for "AGX" or "ArcGIS Explorer."

Another way to find add-ins is at the ESRI Mapping for Everyone site. You'll find a selection of the same ones that are published on Labs.

These add-ins are both interesting and useful, but they're prototypes and examples and are not supported. Some of these will eventually find their way into the core product, others may not. If you're a developer the source code for several of them can also be found in the Explorer Gallery.

Whichever way you find them, just click to open. When you see the dialog below, you can choose Open or Save.

 

If you choose Open, ArcGIS Explorer will start with a new Add-In tab.

 

Just click the tab to use your chosen add-in. Here we've clicked the tab to see the Weather Forecast add-in we've just chosen.

If you choose Save instead of Open in the File Download dialog you can store the add-in (.eaz file) anywhere.

To add an add-in from a .eaz file, or manage add-ins you already have, use Manage Add-Ins found in the Resources section of the ArcGIS Explorer Options. First click the ArcGIS Explorer button

Then click ArcGIS Explorer Options

Click the Resources section and choose Manage Add-Ins


Click Add to place more on the Add-Ins tab by browsing for the EAZ files you've saved. You can also view properties of existing add-ins, or remove the ones you don't use anymore.

We'll showcase a few of the add-ins in upcoming posts. For more information on the topics we've discussed above you can check out the following in the ArcGIS Explorer Help: