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What's New in ESRI Business Analyst Server 9.3.1

Upload and Run Custom Report Templates

Custom report templates are created with Business Analyst Desktop Advanced Editor, then uploaded for use in Business Analyst Server. Once a report template is published to the repository, Business Analyst Server client applications can consume this template to generate reports using Business Analyst. Developers can also consume the report output in XML format to supply data for application features.

Usability Improvements: New Select By Attribute Tool

The Select By Attribute tool allows you to select features in a layer based on an attribute value. For example, you can select all the ZIP Codes in a given market that have a median household income greater than $74,999, or select all the stores that have more than 100 parking spaces.

New Create Store/Customer Layer Using a Table of X,Y Coordinates

If your data is already geocoded, you can take advantage of those values directly. Whether you upload a dBASE file (.dbf), Excel 97–2003 file (.xls), or Excel 2007 file (.xlsx), it is now possible to include the latitude-longitude value pairs for the points.

2009/2014 Data

This release includes updates to ESRI demographics and consumer spending data, Directory of Major Malls (DMM) shopping centers, infoUSA businesses, Tele Atlas streets and address points, and updated geocoding locators.

New MSD Used instead of MXD as the Default Background Map Service Definition

Optimized Map Service, a new map service type available beginning with ArcGIS 9.3.1, significantly boosts the performance of dynamic operational layers in Web maps. The Business Analyst team has completely optimized the earlier map document (.mxd) file that was used as the background map service. Business Analyst Server takes advantage of the improved cartography and drawing speed of the new optimized map service definition (.msd) file.

Import Excel 2007 Files (Upload Custom Table)

It is now possible to upload and use Microsoft Office 2007 Excel (.xlsx) files as input to create store or customer layers, supply the list of items to be included in a standard geography trade area, or create segmentation profiles. The spreadsheets should have data arranged in columns that include field names in the first row.

New Methods in SOAP/REST API: ReturnStdGeography

Use this new method to return the standard geography areas for an address location. For example, you can use this method to find out what county, state, and ZIP Code an address is located in. This method can be used in conjunction with the Benchmark Reports API to compare trade areas around a location against one or many standard geography areas.

Import Shapefiles

This method can be used to import trade area polygons to be used in other Business Analyst Server methods. For example, you may have a model or other analysis that produces a service area polygon. This shapefile can then be uploaded to Business Analyst to be used with other methods such as Benchmark and Summary reports.

Simplified XML Output for Summary Reports and Benchmark Report

A new format is available for integrating or repurposing report output in Business Analyst Server applications. The hierarchy of the previous XML output has been removed in favor of a flatter structure that is easier to process programmatically. The XML files can also be imported into Microsoft Excel through the Get External Data tools. This new simplified structure makes it easier to bind Business Analyst Server XML directly to chart, table, and other Web programming controls.

ArcGIS Online Maps

ArcGIS Online basemaps can easily be integrated into Analysis Center. These tiled map services offer superb cartography and high-performance redraw speeds. Information about ArcGIS Online basemaps can be found here at http://resources.esri.com/ArcGISOnlineServices/