Arc Help Group Update Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 11:36:19 -0500 From: "Mark G. Negri" Organization: U.S. Geological survey To: gis.contacts@qvarsx.er.usgs.gov CC: "Mark G Negri, Computer Specialist, Reston, VA" , "SA - All System Administrators", rcs@qvarsx.er.usgs.gov, " Computer Policy Advisory Committee, Reston, VA" , "Gloria J Stiltner, Chief, DIS, Reston, VA" , "Thomas C Wood, Chief, ASU, Reston, VA" Subject: Arc Help Group Update Dear GISers, Hope you're having a great 98! Just wanted to touch base with you all to cover a few important topics. First, we're proud to announce that Boyce Blanks, South Carolina District, and Roland Viger, Central Region Research, have been added to Arc Help. Boyce gives Arc Help additional expertise on the use of ESRI products on the Windows NT platform. In an effort to distribute the ever increasing workload generated by ESRI's move to Windows NT, we ask that you NOT send email directly to or call Chuck O'Hara with your Windows NT questions, but to please email them to Arc Help. With many WRD sites now acquiring Windows NT for use with ESRI applications, the talent level for this much needed expertise will increase rapidly. We also ask that you refrain from sending GIS technical questions directly to any individual Arc Helper, but to send them to the Arc Help mailing list so we can maintain the Arc Help archives. Roland has been added on a "voluntary" basis to field questions on ESRI's new Open Development Environment (ODE) applications. Only a few WRD sites now have ODE capabilities, introduced at Arc 7.1.2, but soon all WRD sites with non-DG computer platforms will have this when Arc 7.1.2 is released, which will hopefully be this April. We'll keep everyone posted. The current Arc Help mailing list consists of: NAME OFFICE EXPERTISE =================== ======================= ================ Curtis Price NAWQA, Rapid City, SD Grid/TIN/ArcPress/AML Lorri Peltz-Lewis Nevada District ArcView and Extensions /Database Management Jennifer Sieverling Colorado District ArcPlot/Data Development and Output Chuck O'Hara Mississippi District Arc and ArcView on Windows NT Boyce Blanks South Carolina District Arc on Windows NT Roland Viger Central Region Research ODE Applications/AML/Grid Mark Negri DIS, Reston, VA ESRI Contracts /License Manager Bob Pierce Georgia District GIS Coordination/Training Tom Wood DIS, Reston, VA DIS Help Coordination FYI - In case some of you didn't see this, attached below is the "ESRI Directions" portion of DIS Memo # 3 sent out February 6, 1998. As always, please feel free to email Arc Help is you have questions or would like to discuss this further. Thanks, Mark N. =========== > ESRI Directions > --------------- > The DIS will release the last version of Arc/INFO (version > 7.1.1) software to run on DG in February 1998. ESRI is contractually > bound to provide technical support for Arc/INFO 7.1.1 on DG until > April 2000. > > ESRI recently released Arc/INFO version 7.1.2 for all non-DG UNIX and > Windows NT platforms, and Beta testing has begun on Arc/INFO version > 7.2. The DIS will hopefully release Arc/INFO 7.1.2 to WRD field > offices this March or April. The importance of this particular Arc > release is that it incorporates Open Development Environment (ODE), > Object Oriented (OO) interfacing for the first time. The ODE > interface is not platform independent between UNIX and Windows NT, so > we should begin to get a clearer picture of ESRI's divergent > functionality between the two platforms. ESRI has promised full > support of their "core" product, Arc/INFO, on UNIX and NT through the > remainder of Arc 7.x, but makes no promises for Arc 8.x. Some of the > remaining suite of ESRI products, such as 3-D Analyst for ArcView, > ArcExplorer, Map Objects, etc., currently have either more > functionality on NT or are only available on NT. > > We realize each WRD site has unique needs and requirements, so always > feel free to contact us for advice on what hardware platform(s) are > best for you. However, for sites that want to purchase hardware to run > the latest versions of ESRI products over the next couple of years, > DIS recommends Windows NT. It is IMPORTANT to note that sites can > transfer UNIX ESRI licenses to NT free of charge through September 30, > 1998. Sites that do not have the resources or cannot afford to endure > the learning curve associated with Windows NT may purchase a UNIX box, > such as Sun (preferably) or SGI. However, keep in mind it is very > possible ESRI code will be frozen for all UNIX platforms over the next > 12 to 18 months. For information on ESRI products, please contact Mark > Negri, phone 703-648-5613 (mnegri).