Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ covers most of the questions that come up with the installation and use of ArcExplorer 9.3—Java Edition. If you cannot find the answer you are looking for here, visit the online discussion forum.

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General Questions

I am unable to download the software.

ArcExplorer is available for free download from ESRI's ArcExplorer Web site. Some users may have trouble downloading the installation file because their Internet Service Provider (ISP) limits the amount of data they can download, or their connection to the Internet is slow (28.8 modems may require an hour or more to download the software).

What data formats are supported by ArcExplorer 9.3?

• Shapefiles
• ArcSDE Layers (3.02 or later)
• Coverages using ArcSDE for Coverages (8.02 or later)
• Images

What image formats are supported?

ArcExplorer 9.3 uses Java Advanced Imaging (JAI) to support TIF, PNG, BMP, GIF, and JPG. More image formats will be supported in future releases.

Other images are supported if they are in a MapService started by ArcIMS Administrator.

Does my image need a world file?

Yes. For those formats that use world files, the world files must accompany the image when used in ArcExplorer 9.3.

Are there any limitations with MrSID on Solaris?

1. MrSID on Solaris does not support CMYK imagery.
2. 11- or 16-bit imagery is not supported.
3. Encrypted MrSID files are not recognized.

For more information, go to www.lizardtech.com.

Software Questions

Can I use UNCs in my AXL file?

Yes. UNC (universal naming convention) pathnames instead of mapped drives can be used in AXL files; UNC is the "\\" part of an NT network path name.

Note: You cannot use UNC pathnames in the Open Project dialog box.

I see an *ImageDirectory entry in the Catalog. What is that?

If ArcExplorer 9.3 finds more than one TIF, PNG, BMP, GIF, or JPEG in a folder, the *ImageDirectory entry appears at the top of the Catalog. Clicking this will allow you to add every TIF, PNG, BMP, GIF, and JPEG found in the folder.

Can I add an AXL that references server side supported images using the Open Project button?

Yes. If you create an AXL with shapefiles and images that are not supported client side, you can open the AXL (using the Open Project button) in ArcExplorer 9.3, but you will not see the image displayed in the map (it will appear in the legend). An AXL referencing an image that has a non-standard extension, such as the CIB image format, cannot be opened in ArcExplorer 9.3.

Why can't I see my transparent GIF?

Displaying a transparent GIF is currently a known limitation with Java Advanced Imaging (JAI); support for transparency for PNG is available.

While using ArcExplorer 9.3, I am getting Out of Memory errors. How can I avoid this?

You can increase the memory parameters for the Java VM to avoid "Out of Memory" errors.

On NT, go to Start | Programs | Java Plug-in Control Panel, and on the Basic Tab set the required memory parameters in the field named Java Run Time Parameters:

javaw.exe -Xms10m -Xmx256m

Click the Advanced tab, check Enable Just In Time Compiler, and click Apply.

On UNIX (HP-UX, Linux, and Solaris), open the Java Plug-in Control Panel located at <JRE Installation Directory>/bin/ControlPanel. Set the required memory parameters in the field named Java Run Time Parameters:

-Xms10m -Xmx256m

Click Apply.

Note: On AIX, the Java Plug-in Control Panel located at <JRE Installation Directory>/bin/JavaPluginControlPanel.