ArcGIS 8.1.2 addresses many issues including performance, scalability, stability, and functionality. In addition, ArcGIS 8.1.2 includes all the improvements of ArcGIS 8.1 Service Pack 1 (SP1). As a result, users do not have to install ArcGIS 8.1 SP1 or any of the ArcGIS 8.1 patches before installing ArcGIS 8.1.2. The 8.1.2 update version is made available as complete installations for ArcGIS Desktop products, ArcInfo Workstation, and ArcSDE.

This release will be provided on CD to all ArcGIS users with current software maintenance agreements at no additional charge.

ArcGIS Survey Analyst--A joint project between Esri and Leica, ArcGIS Survey Analyst will add support for survey measurements in the geodatabase and new COGO and survey editing tools in ArcEditor and ArcInfo. Users will be able to create and modify features using survey measurements, import data from survey instruments, and integrate surveying and geographic data in a common environment.

ArcGIS Network Analyst--Transportation network functions, such as optimum path, traveling salesman, and nearest facility calculations, will be provided along with advanced tools for editing and managing address databases.

ArcGIS Maplex--This extension adds the Maplex labeling engine to the ArcMap environment, providing high-quality automated labeling for digital and hard-copy maps.

ArcGIS Publisher--With the Publisher extension, ArcGIS Desktop users will be able to publish their maps as published map documents called MXP files. All MXP files can be read and used with the free ArcReader application as well as ArcMap, which lets GIS users freely share their GIS maps with anyone inside or outside their organization.

ArcReader--The free ArcReader application will allow users to access GIS maps and services that have been published with ArcGIS Publisher. ArcReader will change the way we share maps, similar to the way Adobe Acrobat Reader and PDF changed the way we share documents.

ArcIMS 4--The next version of ArcIMS will include many exciting new features that will broaden the software's existing capabilities and more tightly integrate ArcIMS with ArcGIS. New platforms planned to be supported with ArcIMS 4 include Linux, HP-UX, and SGI operating systems in addition to existing ArcIMS support on IBM AIX, Microsoft Windows NT/98/2000/XP, and Sun Solaris platforms. ArcIMS 4 is expected to be released in spring 2002.

ArcIMS Route Server--ArcIMS 3.1 and 4 will also support the new ArcIMS Route Server. The ArcIMS Route Server extension gives ArcIMS users the option of adding high-performance routing capabilities to their Web sites. With ArcIMS Route Server, users can obtain point-to-point directions for locations throughout the 50 U.S. states. It allows users to set routing preferences, obtain detailed route descriptions, and use precision settings to fine-tune results. It is compatible with data sets provided by GDT and Tele Atlas/TomTom.

ArcIMS Metadata Server--The ArcIMS Metadata Server allows ArcIMS users to build a central, online metadata repository that facilitates discovery and sharing of published data. When users publish metadata using the ArcIMS Metadata Server, the data becomes searchable by others. Questions--such as when, why, how, where, by whom, and from what sources the data was created--are typically answered using metadata. The ArcIMS Metadata Server provides the framework to allow discovery of individual user's data, and helps other users find the data they need.

The ArcIMS Metadata Server allows users to create their own Geography Network--a portal for searching, accessing, and utilizing geographic data--by providing a central place for keeping track of all the user's data, wherever it may be, and whatever format it may be in. The ArcIMS Metadata Server also allows users on any platform to quickly search for data based on keyword, extent, or other criteria. It can be supported, updated, and maintained from the ArcCatalog desktop application in ArcGIS, and it is fully integrated with ArcGIS clients. This allows users to publish, manage, and search metadata using familiar tools and interfaces.

The ArcIMS Metadata Server is distributed and scalable, allowing the contents of multiple servers to be combined and searched simultaneously.

ArcIMS ArcMap Server--With ArcIMS ArcMap Server, users can author and publish ArcGIS map documents that have been created using ArcMap. Its services are based on ArcObjects, the underlying framework for ArcGIS. The ArcIMS ArcMap Server gives users the ability to publish MXD files using ArcIMS.

JSP Connector for ArcIMS 4--The new Java Server Page (JSP) Connector is a fully supported connector that replaces the Application Server Link in ArcIMS 3.1. The connector allows users to program JSP clients and Java applications that use a set of serverside Java beans. JSP tag libraries and a full range of samples are included.

JSP Site Starters for ArcIMS 4--The JSP Site Starters will provide powerful applications and tools for Web developers of the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) platform. Both the ASP and JSP Site Starters provide alternative lightweight application solution sets to ArcIMS. These server-scripted applications can be used straight out of the box. Alternately, their development libraries can be adopted by GIS Web developers for enhancing existing Web applications or constructing new ones.

MapObjects-Java Edition--MapObjects-Java Edition is a suite of nearly 900 Java developer components that developers can use to build custom, high-powered GIS client applications or applets. Using MapObjects-Java Edition in any standard Java development environment, developers can create customized applications that allow users to perform a wide variety of geographic-based display, query, and data retrieval activities.

For detailed information on ArcGIS, visit www.esri.com or call Esri at 1-800-447-9778, call your Esri regional office, or contact your local reseller. Outside the United States, please contact your local Esri distributor.