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ESRI-Authorized Introduction to Programming ArcObjects with VBA (v.9x)
Overview
ArcObjects components are the building blocks of ArcGIS software. To support or automate organizational work flow tasks, ArcObjects can be used to extend core ArcGIS functionality and create custom applications. This course provides a foundation for application development using VBA and ArcObjects. In course exercises, participants create usable ArcObjects code for typical GIS programming tasks. Participants work with VBA development tools and the ArcGIS Customize dialog box and learn how to access online help resources. After completing the course, participants will have a variety of sample code from which they can build their own applications.
This course is designed for developers and for experienced ArcGIS users who may be new to programming with VBA.
Audience
This course is for those who work with ArcGIS on a technical level but may be new to programming with VBA. It is ideal for users who want to increase productivity by extending ArcGIS applications and for developers who want to create custom applications using VBA.
Goals
Those completing this course will be able to:
Customize the ArcGIS graphical user interface
Understand basic VBA concepts
Navigate ArcObjects object model diagrams
Access ArcObjects help resources and determine the appropriate objects for code
Program with geographic data, display, geometry, and other objects
Topics covered
VBA development environment: Customizing the user interface and writing and debugging code
VB language fundamentals: VB syntax, code storage, VB functions, branching and looping, and creating user forms
Object-oriented programming concepts: Objects and classes; class libraries; methods, properties, and events
COM: Advantages of COM, defining a COM class, and interface programming
Reading OMDs: Class relationships, class types, and using diagrams to write code
Maps and layers: Accessing maps and layers; Adding a layer to ArcMap; Classifying and symbolizing layers
Working with data: Accessing data sets on disk, creating new data, editing data, and applying a domain to a geodatabase field
Geometry: Creating various types of geometry, displaying geometry on the display, storing geometry, and spatial operations; Spatial reference
Spatial and attribute selections: Accessing a user selection, defining an attribute or spatial query, and processing a subset of records
Symbology and layer rendering: Creating new symbols and modifying their characteristics; Accessing different types of renderers; Applying custom symbols to a renderer
Layouts: Programmatically formatting a map layout, adding elements, defining symbols and colors for map elements, and accessing items from the ArcMap style gallery
Creating tools: Getting user input, transforming mouse input to map units, and working with the display
Programming ArcObjects events: Outbound versus inbound interfaces, finding events on OMDs, and accessing an object's outbound interface
Using ArcObjects beyond VBA: An overview of creating your own custom components in VB; What the ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit and ArcGIS Server products can be used for
Prerequisites and recommendations
Registrants should have taken Introduction to ArcGIS I or Learning ArcGIS 9, or have equivalent knowledge. A basic proficiency in Visual Basic or VBA programming is also required.
It is mandatory that registrants gain basic proficiency with VB/VBA before taking this course. Registrants for this course should already know how to:
Declare and use variables
Write function and sub-procedures
Use conditional statements (If..Then..Else, Select Case)
Work with loops (Do and While loops)
Create forms, add controls, and write event procedures
Those without the requisite VB/VBA experience can gain proficiency before taking this course in one of the following ways:
Read the first four chapters of the Getting to Know ArcObjects book by ESRI
Take Introduction to Visual Basic 6 (ESRI Virtual Campus course)
Take the Visual Basic for Applications Web Workshops available at the ESRI Virtual Campus
Take a third-party introductory VB/VBA course
Price: $2,000 (Five days)
