Esri's support for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET at ArcGIS 8.3 provides developers with the ability to build better mapping applications and extensions using ArcGIS ArcObjects controls, objects, and base classes. Visual Studio .NET is a comprehensive development environment for creating and deploying advanced applications.

The support for Visual Studio .NET gives users the tools they need to develop and deploy specialized desktop GIS solutions built using Microsoft's .NET Framework and ArcObjects. Solutions can be contained within any of the ArcGIS applications, including ArcMap, ArcCatalog, or ArcScene, or within a stand-alone ArcObjects application. Developers can extend ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo using Visual Studio .NET like they have done previously with Visual Basic and Visual C++. Typically this is accomplished through the creation or customization of commands, tools, layers, renderers, and extensions. Any .NET solution created using ArcObjects requires a valid ArcGIS Desktop license to run.

To help developers using GIS and mapping utilities get the most out of their Microsoft Visual Studio .NET experience, Esri is providing signed Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Primary Interop Assemblies (PIAs). These assemblies, along with Visual Studio .NET specific documentation, tutorials, an integrated help system, and samples (for Visual Basic .NET and Visual C#), are included with the ArcGIS 8.3 release.

Support for Visual Studio .NET, Microsoft's next generation development environment, is the latest advancement in Esri's ongoing creation and support of industry-standard and open technology. Visual Basic 6.0 remains a popular choice for ArcObjects developers and continues to be supported by Esri. Esri also provides ongoing support and training for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), and VBA will continue to be included with every license of ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo. For more information on developing with ArcObjects, visit www.esri.com/arcobjects.

See main article, "ArcGIS 8.3 Focuses on Topology and Editing"