We received lots of good feedback from you this year, and we are pleased to announce that v3.0 Final of the ArcGIS API for Silverlight will support development with both Silverlight 4 and Silverlight 5!

In addition to talking with you about your work and getting feedback, one of our goals every year at the Developer Summit is to provide Technical Workshops with valuable information, best practices, and samples that you can take back with you. If you attended the Developer Summit but missed any of the Silverlight/SharePoint/Windows Phone presentations, or were unable to attend and would like the info, here are a few links you may find of interest:

Technical Workshops:

• Esri Developer Summit 2012 Plenary, Keynote, and Closing Session
• What’s new in ArcGIS API for Silverlight
• Advanced Development with ArcGIS API for Silverlight
• ArcGIS for SharePoint
• Esri Maps for Office
• Configuring and Customizing ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight
• Building Applications with ArcGIS Runtime for Windows Phone – Part 1
• Building Applications with ArcGIS Runtime for Windows Phone – Part 2

Samples:

• Configurable Text Control and Configurable Description Layout (ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight)
• Layer Summary Statistics Tool (ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight)
• Calculate Service Areas from Pop-up (ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight)
• Floating Title Layout (ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight)
• Developer Summit 2012: What’s New in the ArcGIS API for Silverlight Session Demos–Use of WebMaps, Use of KmlLayer, Auto-projection of graphics, Use of IdentityManager, Editor tracking and ownership based access, Statistics Queries
• Developer Summit 2012:  Advanced Development with ArcGIS API for Silverlight Session Demos–Use of GraphicsDataSource, Building a data source, Map overlays, Uploading files, Support for geometry with Z and M, Printing, Editor tracking and ownership based access
• Developer Summit 2012: Building Applications with ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Windows Phone-Part I
• Developer Summit 2012: Building Applications with ArcGIS Runtime SDK for Windows Phone-Part II

Thanks, and we hope to see you at the International User Conference in San Diego or next year’s Developer Summit!

ArcGIS API for Silverlight, ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight, ArcGIS for SharePoint, Esri Maps for Office, ArcGIS API for Windows Phone, & Windows Phone app teams.

This is the browser’s way of asking the user whether to allow the retrieval of string data from a source that is not SSL-secured.  Worse yet, when the prompt is dismissed, the web part will attempt to load the image tiles for the map.  But because cross-scheme downloading of image data (i.e. pulling images to a SSL-secured client from a non-SSL source) is completely disallowed, the map will fail to load and the web part will be unusable.

Fortunately, this problem has a simple resolution.  Because ArcGIS for SharePoint is designed to be highly configurable, all of the service endpoints used by the product can be updated to use https endpoints instead of http.  Better yet, all ArcGIS for SharePoint configuration is contained within the site collection scope, meaning that the product can be used on both SSL and non-SSL sites within the same SharePoint farm.  To make ArcGIS for SharePoint work on site with SSL security, simply follow the steps provided in the online help.

Rich Zwaap
Product Engineer
SharePoint, Silverlight, Office

For the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight, simply download and run the setup for a particular language. Then text within the Application Builder and all deployed Viewer applications will be shown in that language.

ArcGIS for SharePoint, like SharePoint itself, supports the display of multiple languages within the same SharePoint farm through language packs. To enable additional languages, download and deploy the corresponding ArcGIS for SharePoint language packs to your SharePoint farm. Once deployed, text within ArcGIS for SharePoint components – the Map Web Part, Geocoding Workflow, and Location Field – will automatically reflect the language of the SharePoint page or site hosting the component.

To download the releases, visit the Resource Centers for the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight and ArcGIS for SharePoint and click the download link. To get started using the products, refer to the Viewer and SharePoint’s online help. And, if you have questions or issues, be sure to visit the Viewer and SharePoint forums to get help from the community.

Enjoy!

The ArcGIS Applications Team

• ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight Applications do not load on Windows XP clients if data containing characters with diacritical marks (e.g. ü, ä, ñ, etc) is included in the map
• Several localization issues related to the forthcoming localized releases of the Viewer

Seamless upgrade has been integrated into the setup for version 1.0.1. If you currently have version 1.0 final installed, you can upgrade to the latest version by simply running the setup for version 1.0.1. The Application Builder and all deployed Viewer Applications will be automatically upgraded to version 1.0.1. All pre-existing configuration and customizations will be preserved.

As always, you can check out the ArcGIS for Viewer for Silverlight Resource Center for information on getting started, help using the product, and samples to show you how to build add-ins for the Viewer. And if you have questions, be sure to take advantage of the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight forum to get help from the community.

Enjoy!

The ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight Team

Here are a few highlights of what’s new in the 3.0 beta 2 APIs:

• New resource centers for the Silverlight and Windows Phone APIs are available to the public.
• Silverlight 5 is now required to develop Silverlight Web applications. Silverlight 4 is no longer supported. (Silverlight only)
• Silverlight project templates have been removed from the install.  They will be available online with 3.0 final. (Silverlight only)
• Support for new ArcGIS Server 10.1 beta 2 services and capabilities:
  • Change layer rendering, layer order, or add layers on the fly in map services
  • Generate data classifications on the server for layers in map services
  • Use enhanced query options to order results and generate statistics
  • Track user identity of edits and use ownership to limit edits to a layer in a feature service
  • Support for geometry with Z and M values
  • Generate printable output using the new PrintTask
  • Query and edit support versioned layers in a geodatabase
  • Restrict feature editing using more granular service capabilities (add, update, delete)
  • Use inputs from a query url, geometry with M and Z values, compressed geometry, and time with network services
  • Use batch geocoding and search extents with geocode services
  • Define calculation types on area and length measurements, do geodesic buffering, and reproject geometry with datum transformation using a geometry service
  • Use item uploads or GPMultiValue for inputs, discover record set fields, and use the cancel operation when working with geoprocessing services
• Use IdentityManager to access token secured services and webmaps from ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Online

The ArcGIS API 3.0 beta 2 for Silverlight requires Silverlight 5 Tools for Visual Studio 2010 SP1 to develop applications. Expression Blend SDK for Silverlight 4 is still required to use the behaviors and actions included with the API (ESRI.ArcGIS.Client.Behaviors.dll). Microsoft Expression Blend Preview for Silverlight 5 is not supported at this time.

The ArcGIS Runtime SDK 3.0 Beta 2 for Windows Phone requires the Windows Phone SDK 7.1 to develop applications that target Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) devices.

Enjoy!

The ArcGIS Silverlight and Windows Phone Development Teams

With this version, you can:

• Add and configure map data from ArcGIS Server map and image services, Spatial Data Services, Bing Maps, OpenStreetMap, and GeoRSS feeds
• Open Web Maps from ArcGIS Online that are public, shared within your organization, or owned by you
• Run GIS analysis operations using ArcGIS Server geoprocessing services
• Include a configurable map contents with legend
• View informational popups for features in the map by clicking on them
• Configure any layer to update automatically at a specified interval
• Edit features on the map
• Search for addresses and places
• Develop and plug in add-ins containing custom functionality
• Much, much more…

The viewer, which has been in beta for a while, has generated buzz for its ability to easily create a Silverlight-based web mapping application through an intuitive WYSIWYG ‘Application Builder’.

ArcGIS for Silverlight Viewer 1.0

ArcGIS for Sharepoint 2.1 allows you to incorporate your GIS web services into SharePoint through a Map Web Part. You can also visualize your SharePoint data using a geocoding workflow.

ArcGIS for Sharepoint 2.1

For details on what’s been added since the last release, check out the What’s New topics for ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight and ArcGIS for SharePoint.  To get started using the products, refer to the Viewer and SharePoint’s online help.  And to get started developing your own tools, behaviors, controls, and layouts have a look at the Interactive SDK for both the Viewer and SharePoint.

And don’t forget, if you have questions or issues, be sure to use the Viewer and SharePoint forums to get help from the community.

Enjoy!

The ArcGIS Applications Team

• When clustering:
  • Selection color does not change when non-clustered graphics are selected
  • Non-clustered graphics with only a symbol defined (no renderer) are not displayed
  • Hit test on graphics returns a copy of the graphic instance
• Serializing FeatureSet with no feature or features with no geometry creates invalid JSON
• FeatureSet.ToJson() can only be called on the UI thread
• ArcGISDynamicMapServiceLayer not visible when crossing the dateline
• Change GpsLayer accuracy from default to high
• Namespace clash on CodedValueSource between Toolkit and WebMap assemblies
• MapTips close unexpectedly when hide delay timeout set on two or more layers.

The 2.4 APIs are being released in concert with the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight 1.0 and ArcGIS for SharePoint 2.1 so that application builders and developers working with these products will be able to benefit from these fixes. The extensibility API included with both the Viewer and SharePoint is built on version 2.4 of the ArcGIS API for Silverlight.

Enjoy!

The ArcGIS Silverlight, WPF, and Windows Phone Development Teams

The Image Service Explorer sample has been created and updated by Wenxue Ju.

Configuring ASP.NET forms-based authentication for the Application Builder and published ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight applications.

ASP.NET forms-based authentication provides a simple way to present a login page to your user prior to allowing access to the Application Builder or a published Viewer application. The example in this topic presents a simple implementation of ASP.NET forms authentication that requires a user to enter a user name and a password. After the user’s credentials have been validated, the ASP.NET web form redirects to the application.

In the example below, the client requests a protected resource, Default.aspx. There is only one user who can gain access to the protected resource: user1, with a password of password. The user name and password are hard-coded into the Login.aspx file.

For more information on ASP.NET forms-based authentication, see:

• How to: Implement Simple Forms Authentication
• How To Implement Forms-Based Authentication in Your ASP.NET Application by Using C#.NET
• Securing your Silverlight Applications
• Forms Authentication Using An XML Users File

Securing the Application Builder and published Viewer application

The process for using forms-based authentication to secure both the Application Builder and a published Viewer application is very similar. The instructions presented here are applicable to both scenarios.

To secure the Application Builder and a published Viewer application with forms-based authentication, three files are required: the Web.config file, a Login.aspx page, and a Default.aspx page. These files need to reside in the application root directory, whether that is the Builder root directory (e.g. \Inetpub\wwwroot\Builder) or the Viewer application root directory (e.g. \Inetpub\wwwroot\Apps\Earthquakes).

Application Builder

For the Application Builder, the Web.config and Default.aspx files already exist in the root directory, but need to be modified. The Web.config file will be modified using IIS Manager. The Default.aspx file will be modified using a basic text editor. The Login.aspx file does not yet exist, so you will create it using a basic text editor.

Published Viewer application

For a published Viewer application, there is an existing Index.htm file in the root directory that will become the Default.aspx page. The Web.config file will be created using IIS Manager. As with the Application Builder, the Login.aspx file will be created using a basic text editor.

Web.config

1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager and navigate to the virtual directory containing your application (for example, Sites>Default Web Site>Builder). If you are configuring security for a published Viewer application, right-click the folder containing the application and click Convert to Application. Click OK on the Add Application dialog.
2. Double-click Authentication in IIS Manager and set Forms Authentication and Anonymous Authentication to Enabled.
   
3. Return to the virtual directory and double-click .NET Authorization under the ASP.NET heading. Under Actions on the right side of the IIS Manager window, click Add Deny Rule.
4. In the Add Deny Authorization Rule dialog, select Specified users and type a question mark (“?”). Click OK. This denies access to Anonymous users.
   

   Note: If you are unable to use IIS Manager, you may copy and paste the following text in to the web.config file:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
     <configuration>
      <system.web>
        <authentication mode="Forms" />
        <authorization>
         <deny users="?" />
        </authorization>
      </system.web>
     </configuration>

Default.aspx

1. If you are configuring security for a published Viewer application, locate the Index.htm file in the root directory and rename this file to Default.aspx before continuing with these steps. If you are configuring security for the Application Builder, the Default.aspx file already exists in the root directory.
2. Open the existing Default.aspx file in Notepad or a similar text editor. The Default.aspx file is the requested, protected resource. In the case of the Application Builder, the Default.aspx is the default Welcome page that is shown when the Application Builder is started.
3. Add the following header at the top of the Default.aspx file to specify the programming language that is used for the server-side code:

   <%@ Page Language="C#" %>

4. Add a Label for the Welcome message and a Button to allow the user to Sign Out of the application. Place the elements shown below directly above the <div id=”silverlightControlHost”> element. The Welcome message and the Sign Out button will display at the top of the Application Builder.

   <asp:Label ID="Welcome" runat="server" />
   <asp:Button ID="Submit1" OnClick="Signout_Click"  Text="Sign Out" runat="server" />

5. Add the following script after the closing </head> element and before the opening <body> element. This script displays a Welcome message to the user and redirects the user to the main Login page when they click the Sign Out button.

   <script runat="server">
      void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
      {
         Welcome.Text = "Hello, " + Context.User.Identity.Name;
      }
      void Signout_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
      {
         FormsAuthentication.SignOut();
         Response.Redirect("Login.aspx");
      }
   </script>

Login.aspx

The Login.aspx file does not exist in either the root directory of the Application Builder or a published Viewer application. There are many options for designing a login page, but the following is an example of a simple form containing two text boxes (User Name and Password) and a Submit button that is presented to the user. The user enters the user name and password, and then clicks Submit. The code then compares this name and password to the pair that is hard-coded into the Login.aspx file. If the comparison succeeds, the user is connected to Default.aspx. If it fails, an error message is presented to the user.

1. Open Notepad or a similar text editor and copy the text below into the empty file.
2. Save the file as Login.aspx in the Application Builder or published Viewer application root directory.

   <%@ Import Namespace="System.Web.Security" %>
     <html>
       <head>
         <style type="text/css">
           .auto-style1 {
           font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";
           }
           .auto-style3 {
           font-size: small;
           }
           .auto-style4 {
           font-size: small;
           font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";
           }
           .newStyle1 {
           font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";
           padding: inherit;
           margin: auto;
           }
         </style>
       </head>
   <script language="C#" runat="server">
   void Logon_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   {
     if ((UserName.Value == "user1") && (Pass.Value == "password"))
     {
       FormsAuthentication.RedirectFromLoginPage(UserName.Value, Persist.Checked);
     }
     else
     {
       Msg.Text = "Invalid Credentials: Please try again.";
     }
   }
   </script>
   <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
   <form runat="server" class="auto-style1">
   <h3 class="auto-style1">ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight</h3>
   <table>
    <tr>
     <td class="auto-style4" style="height: 30px">User:</td>
     <td style="height: 29px">
      <input id="UserName" type="text" runat="server" class="auto-style3"/>
     </td>
     <td style="height: 29px">
      <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ControlToValidate="UserName" Display="Static" ErrorMessage="Cannot be empty."
       runat="server" Font-Size="Small"/>
     </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
     <td class="auto-style4" style="height: 30px; bottom: 5px;">Password:</td>
     <td style="height: 29px">
      <input id="Pass" type="password" runat="server"/>
     </td>
     <td style="height: 29px">
      <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ControlToValidate="Pass" Display="Static" ErrorMessage="Cannot be empty."
       runat="server" Font-Size="Small"/>
     </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
     <td style="height: 29px; top: auto;" class="auto-style1">
      <span class="auto-style3">Remember me</span>:
     </td>
     <td style="height: 28px">
      <asp:CheckBox id="Persist" runat="server" autopostback="true" Font-Size="Small"/>
     </td>
     <td style="height: 28px"></td>
    </tr>
   </table>
   <asp:Button ID="Submit1" OnClick="Logon_Click" Text="Log On"
   runat="server" />
   <p>
     <asp:Label ID="Msg" ForeColor="red" runat="server" />
   </p>
   </form>
   </body>
   </html>
   
   

This post provides an example of using ASP.NET forms-based authentication to secure the ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight. ASP.NET forms-based authentication is a common way to secure Silverlight applications that involves validating a user’s credentials (user name and password) and then redirecting to the application. Both the Application Builder and resulting Viewer applications may be secured, and as demonstrated here, the process is essentially the same for each. The links listed at the beginning of this post provide additional information on securing Silverlight applications and implementing forms-based authentication.

Katherine Dalton
Esri Product Engineer
ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight

Free Live Training Seminar on ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight

Thursday, December 8, 2011

• 9:00 a.m. PST (US and Canada)


• 11:00 a.m. PST (US and Canada)


• 3:00 p.m.(US and Canada)

The ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight is a ready-to-deploy, configurable client application that is built on the award winning* ArcGIS API for Silverlight. It includes an Application Builder that enables users to easily and quickly deploy a custom web map without programming or configuration file editing. It is an ideal solution for novice users who want to create web mapping applications. The Viewer application is designed to work with ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Online Web services, and fully supports the new capabilities offered at ArcGIS Server 10. *2011 Visual Studio Magazine Readers Choice Winner for Mapping & GIS Components

Update
The ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight live training seminar is now available online:
Introduction to ArcGIS Viewer for Silverlight