Once you have installed ArcGIS Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE) Integration Framework, you can create new projects for ArcGIS customization by using one of the ArcGIS project templates available in the New Project dialog box.
For general information on creating and using solutions and projects in Visual Studio 2005, see the documentation on the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site. You can also find step-by-step information on using the different elements of the ArcGIS Visual Studio Integration Framework in the .NET development walk-throughs.
Opening the New Project dialog box
You can open the New Project dialog box by selecting the following:
In Visual Studio 2005: Click File, New, then Project. -or- Click Add, then New Project (if an existing project is open).
In Visual Studio Express: Click File, then New Projects.
To access the ArcGIS new project templates, click the Visual Basic or Visual C# node in the Project types pane. After choosing the language, click the applicable ArcGIS node, then click the Desktop or Engine project type, depending on the ArcGIS products you have installed. See the following screen shot:
When you first started Visual Studio 2005, you were prompted to choose a development setting; choosing different settings changes the options displayed in Visual Studio in various places. If you cannot find the project templates as previously described, locate and expand the Other Languages node in the left-hand pane.
Once you have made the selection in the Project types pane, a list of the available ArcGIS project templates will be displayed in the Templates pane. Each project template creates the code files and the references and property settings appropriate for the selected project type. When you select a template, a brief description of that item appears beneath the Project types pane.
When you have selected a project template and set the appropriate name and location for your new project, click OK. Depending on the project template you have selected, the ArcGIS Project Wizard appears to guide you through the rest of your project setup.
Available ArcGIS project templates
The following are the available project templates:
