Esri's newest viewer, ArcGIS Viewer for Flex 2.0 (beta), can now be downloaded at no cost from the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex Resource Center.
ArcGIS Viewer for Flex is a ready-to-use, configurable Web mapping application built on ArcGIS API for Flex 2.0. It enables staff at any organization to quickly and easily deploy a Web mapping application without having to do the development work themselves.
The application is designed to support existing business workflows that need mapping visualization, editing, and analysis on the Web. The look and feel, functionality, and data content of ArcGIS Viewer can be easily customized by editing an XML configuration file. Organizations can add their own corporate logo and branding to the viewer, extend functionality by adding widgets, and set the viewer to work with their own GIS services. The viewer also simplifies access to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Server services. ArcGIS Viewer for Flex 2.0 includes more than a dozen core widgets that extend its functionality. No programming skills are required to configure the viewer.
"ArcGIS Viewer for Flex allows nondevelopers to set up and deploy a fast, modern-looking Web mapping application very quickly," says Derek Law, product manager for the viewer. "Mapping content from ArcGIS Online is already preloaded in the application, including worldwide street, imagery, and topographic maps, as well as a set of sample ArcGIS Server map services and several widgets."
Downloading the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex application provides end users with an out-of-the-box viewer application that can be served by any Web server software. GIS professionals can use the viewer to quickly deploy a Web mapping application for their organization and/or help create proof-of-concept applications for delivery of GIS services. Application developers interested in exploiting the ArcGIS Viewer for Flex framework can download the application source code and use Flash Builder 4 or the integrated development environment (IDE) of their choice to develop more customized Web mapping applications.
The ArcGIS Viewer for Flex Resource Center hosts online sample applications showing different configuration possibilities along with interactive previews of each of the widgets. The center also offers online help documentation, samples, and a forum where users can post comments and share ideas about ArcGIS Viewer.
