This guide assumes that the reader has a basic understanding of what ArcGIS and the .Net framework is, as well as a rudimentary understanding of how object oriented programming works. For more information about .Net and object oriented programming, follow the links in Appendix B.

In order to program with ArcGIS there are two products that you will need to have installed on your computer. First, you must have either ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS ArcInfo or else have the ArcGIS Engine installed. Once these one of these are installed you will be able to run the code you compile in the ArcGIS environment. The other ArcGIS product you need is the Developer Tools for Microsoft.Net that provides access to the .Net framework and the functions that ESRI has made for .Net as well as the Developer tools that install an API for ArcObjects. It is also important to make sure that your software is up to date, which you can do by checking the ESRI website to see if there are updates or service packs for your software (this tutorial was written using ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack1).

The other major required software is a C#.Net compiler. I recommend using Microsoft Visual Studio, because ESRI has created various resources to make coding faster and easier for that environment. If you are looking for a free compiler you can try using the Microsoft Visual Studio C# Express edition, or the SharpDevelop program which is an open-source initiative. Links to these programs are provided in Appendix B.

The ESRI Developer Network provides three samples that introduce C#.Net programming for ArcGIS. Unfortunately these were written specifically for MSVS (Microsoft Visual Studio) 2003, and some of the steps in their tutorial do not translate to MSVS 2005. This guide has been written for MSVS 2005.

Getting used to the ArcGIS framework is a steep learning curve, and an understanding of how COM (Component Object Model) works can be quite helpful. Understanding COM will be helpful when working with the ArcObjects model, but is not necessary for this tutorial

After starting MSVS from either the start menu or your desktop, the opening screen has several useful links including news articles, information of getting started and lists your most recent projects.

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