Clients for map services
Once you've published your map service to a GIS server, it will be available to clients both locally and on the web. Because of the many capabilities the map service exposes, it can be used in a variety of Esri and non-Esri client applications. These include ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS web API, ArcGIS for Desktop, mobile GIS, Google Earth, OGC, and AutoCAD applications.
Esri client applications
ArcGIS.com ready-to-use applications
- ArcGIS.com map viewer
- ArcGIS Explorer Online
You can use these applications to quickly build and share GIS maps and applications that work with the map services hosted on your ArcGIS Server site. Additionally, ArcGIS Online has a repository of useful basemaps, data, applications, and tools that you can view and use, plus communities you can join, to help focus your online audience. For more information, see the topic What is ArcGIS.com? in the ArcGIS.com Help.
ArcGIS configurable web applications
Available as a free download, you can use these configurable web applications to easily create functionality for map services on the web without the need for programming. Visit the links above for more information.
ArcGIS web API applications
Esri offers web APIs that can help you build Internet applications that use your map services. The ArcGIS APIs for JavaScript, Flex, and Silverlight are fully documented with conceptual help, samples, and API reference topics and have been designed to offer similar functionality so you can choose the platform with which you're most comfortable programming.
Visit the links above for more information about ArcGIS web API applications.
ArcGIS for SharePoint
ArcGIS for SharePoint offers interactive and configurable mapping components that can give you a geospatial view of your organization's data. ArcGIS for SharePoint includes a Web Map Part component, which allows you to reference, display, and interact with map services residing on your GIS server.
For more information, see Introduction to ArcGIS for SharePoint.
ArcGIS for Desktop applications
- ArcMap
- ArcGlobe
- ArcGIS Explorer Desktop
- ArcReader
If you are accessing a web-enabled map service using ArcGIS for Desktop, the binary messaging format must be enabled for ArcGIS Server. By default, both binary and SOAP messaging formats are enabled. You can, however, choose to use just one of these formats. Be aware that if you choose just binary, standard web clients will not be able to consume the service; only ArcGIS clients can use the binary messaging format.
To change the messaging format for your services, you must use the ArcGIS Server Administrator Directory to edit the site's properties. For instructions, open the Administrator Directory Help and navigate to the topic Server Properties under the System resource.
ArcGIS Engine applications
Developers use ArcGIS Engine to deploy GIS data, maps, and geoprocessing scripts in desktop or mobile applications using APIs for the following:
- Component Object Model (COM)
- Microsoft .NET
- Java
- C++
ArcGIS Engine is a collection of GIS components and developer resources that can be embedded, allowing you to add dynamic mapping and GIS capabilities to existing applications or build custom mapping applications that use GIS services.
Mobile GIS applications
- ArcGIS for Windows Mobile
- ArcGIS for Windows Tablet
- ArcGIS for Windows Phone
- ArcGIS for iOS
- ArcGIS for Android
You can use mobile GIS applications to extend the reach of your map services to a broad range of mobile devices including Tablet PCs, in-vehicle mounted systems, Apple iOS devices, Android devices, and Windows smartphones. Once your map services are synced with a mobile device, you can begin viewing, collecting, and updating your geographic information in the field.
For more information, see Mobile data services.
Non-Esri client applications
- Google Earth (as KML)
- WCS client applications (as WCS)
- WFS client applications (as WFS)
- WMS client applications (as WMS)
- WMTS client applications (as WMTS)
- AutoCAD (as ArcGIS for AutoCAD plug-in application)