ArcGIS Engine is a software developer kit (SDK) and a runtime platform for building and deploying custom geographic information solutions. The SDK contains all the components and resources required for developing custom, standalone desktop GIS and mapping applications that are then deployed on the ArcGIS Engine Runtime platform.
ArcGIS Engine includes the following CDs:
- ArcGIS Engine SDK for the Microsoft .NET Framework: Software developer kit for the .NET API, along with developer resources and tools that are integrated within Visual Studio 2005.
- ArcGIS Engine SDK for COM (VB6 and VC++): Documentation and samples for working with the COM API, along with supporting developer resources.
- ArcGIS Engine SDK for the Java Platform: Documentation and samples for working with the Java API, along with supporting developer resources. There are separate CDs for Windows, Red Hat and SUSE Linux, and Sun Solaris.
- ArcGIS Engine SDK for Cross-platform C++: Documentation and samples for working with the cross-platform C++ API, along with supporting developer resources. There are separate CDs for Windows, Red Hat and SUSE Linux, and Sun Solaris.
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime: Redistributable version of ArcObjects needed
to run applications developed with any of the ArcGIS Engine SDKs. There are separate CDs for Windows, Red Hat and SUSE Linux, and Sun Solaris.
Your yearly subscription to the ESRI Developer Network ships with registration numbers for building custom solutions with the ArcGIS Engine SDKs and one copy of the ArcGIS Engine Runtime (including
extensions) for testing purposes. You should receive an ECP registration number
with the product packaging or via e-mail for the following:
- ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit (includes the design-time ArcGIS Engine
and all extensions)
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime Geodatabase Update extension for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime 3D extension for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime Spatial extension for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime Network extension for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime Data Interoperability extension for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime Maplex extension for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime Schematics extension for testing
- ArcGIS Engine Runtime Tracking extension for testing
In this topic:
-
Installation of ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit
-
Registration of ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit
Installation of ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit
The ArcGIS Engine Runtime is a prerequisite for the ArcGIS Engine SDKs. Install this CD first. For more
details on installing the ArcGIS Engine Runtime see the Installation of ArcGIS Engine Runtime topic.
Since ArcGIS Desktop is a superset of the ArcObjects components included in ArcGIS Engine Runtime, it can also be used to meet the prerequisite requirement for the ArcGIS Engine SDKs.
To install any of the ArcGIS Engine SDKs, insert the appropriate CD into the CD drive to automatically start the setup program and follow the setup instructions. The installation directory created when you installed the prequisite ArcGIS Engine Runtime or ArcGIS Desktop software will be used.
The available features depend on the SDK you are installing.
- Documentation: Object Model Diagrams, API reference, and other help topics.
- Samples: Code projects and/or snippets that demonstrate common uses and best practices.
- Tools: Executables that facilitate ArcObjects development.
- ArcGIS Visual Studio 2005 Integration Framework: Wizards, templates, and code snippets that integrate into Visual Studio 2005 to aid you in coding against ArcObjects. Available for use by C# and VB.NET developers in the .NET SDK only.
- Addins: Utilities to automate some tasks and assist in debugging code when developing with ArcObjects. Available as Visual Studio add-ins for use by Visual Basic 6 developers in the COM (VB6) SDK only.
At the end of the installation of the ArcGIS Engine SDK, the Software Authorization wizard appears, enabling you to either:
- Register the software with ESRI using the ArcGIS Engine Developer
Kit registration code included in your EDN package; this results in you receiving an ESRI Copy Protection (.ecp) file.
- Finish the registration process by authorizing the software with the .ecp file
to unlock the underlying software components for development
use.
Registration of ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit
The ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit and the ArcGIS Engine Runtime need to
be registered with ESRI and authorized for use on a per-machine, single-use basis
via a .ecp file to unlock the underlying software components for use. This
registration is a two-step process:
Copy protection for ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit
To receive an ESRI Copy Protection file for the ArcGIS Engine Developer
Kit, the registration code supplied with your EDN package must be registered
with ESRI.
The registration codes supplied with the
EDN package for ArcGIS Engine Runtime testing
can be registered at the same time the ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit is registered.
The products can be registered either during installation or after
installation via:
- The ESRI Customer Service Web site
at http://service.esri.com.
- The Software Authorization wizard at <install_location>\bin\SoftwareAuthorization.exe.
Software authorization for ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit
To complete the registration process the ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit must
be authorized with the .ecp file to unlock the underlying software components
for development use. The product can be authorized by:
- Using the Software Authorization Wizard found
in <install_location>\bin\SoftwareAuthorization.exe to navigate to the
.ecp file.
- Registering the ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit online
at http://service.esri.com gives you the option to dynamically authorize the product over the
Internet. In this case, no .ecp file will be sent.

- The Authorization Summary tool in <install_location>\bin\AuthorizationSummary.exe can be used to verify
the license configuration of the ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit. All levels
of functionality are available for you to develop with including the
extension functionality.