9.3.1 Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to uninstall ArcGIS 9.3 before I install ArcGIS 9.3.1?
No. ArcGIS 9.3.1 installs on top of ArcGIS 9.3.

I am still using ArcGIS 9.2. Do I need to install ArcGIS 9.3 before I install ArcGIS 9.3.1?
Customers who are current on maintenance will receive the ArcGIS 9.3.1 update install by default. In this case, you have two options:

1.     Install ArcGIS 9.3 (which requires uninstalling previous versions of ArcGIS) before installing the ArcGIS 9.3.1 update.

2.     Request the ArcGIS 9.3.1 complete install (includes ArcGIS 9.3 and ArcGIS 9.3.1 on one installation media) from service@esri.com or visit service.esri.com for more information.

What makes dynamic map services faster in ArcGIS 9.3.1?
We have worked on several major areas in ArcGIS 9.3.1 to improve the performance of dynamic map services. First of all, we have incorporated a new toolbar in ArcMap, which allows you to tune your map documents easily. This toolbar "analyzes" your map document and tells you how you could make it better performing. For example, it will detect if

• any of your layers are being projected on the fly.
• building a specific index on a field in your geodatabase is advisable.
• a layer does not have scale dependencies.
• a complex multilayered symbol is being used.
• Etc.

Additionally, through this toolbar you can export your map document to a map service definition (msd) file, which is optimized for performance in ArcGIS Server.

ArcGIS 9.3.1 also uses significantly improved drawing technology to accelerate map display, boosting your server's throughput.

Finally, we have optimized the output images created by the map service to make sure that they are as small as possible (while maintaining high cartographic standards). Smaller files mean faster download times, especially on low bandwidth networks.

Can I accelerate caching times with 9.3.1?
Yes. You can optimize your map documents and publish them through map service definition files, which will accelerate your map caching process.

Can I create a map service definition file from any ArcMap document?
Yes. However, the Map Service Publishing toolbar in ArcMap will warn you if there are any data sources that are not compatible with making high performance maps.

Can I access ArcGIS 9.3.1 Map Services from 9.3 Web applications?
Yes. From a client point of view, ArcGIS 9.3.1 dynamic map Web services look just like 9.3 map Web services, but they are faster. Web applications built with the ArcGIS JavaScript API and the ArcGIS API for Flex will be able to transparently connect to your 9.3.1 map services. Web ADF applications will be able to connect to 9.3.1 services as long you do so over Internet connections.