ArcGIS 9.3 SP1 fixes, Part 2

Here is a second part of list of fixes planned for SP1. Again, this is my pick from a very long list. These are fixes and new features for ArcSDE, Image Server and ArcIMS.

 

Image Server

• NIM012408 - Cannot add GRID (non-elevation) dataset.
• NIM035966 - Cannot add raster from file geodatabase.
• NIM036476 - Need improved documentation on SAN storage setup for ArcGIS Image Server--especially user account permissions.
• NIM037443 - The JPEG world file is not read for a JPEG file if the extension is *.jpgw.
• NIM037449 - Generating a histogram for a large dataset increases memory usage and eventually hangs.
• NIM037628 - Defining a port, other than 3982, is not used for the Server.
• NIM038015 - Add "ArcSDE Raster Dataset" to raster types list
• NIM038017 - JPEG 2000 JPX files are not added correctly.
• NIM038042 - Some JPEG 2000 headers cannot be read because the affine transformation is incorrectly translated (if read from the world file), and the rotation may not be taken into account.
• NIM038081 - The pyramids of an ArcSDE raster dataset are not read.

 

 ArcSDE

• NIM005384 - Memory Leak in ST_Intersection - EXTPROC.EXE grows indefinitely while processing.
• NIM033768 - The '-r' option does not work for the ArcSDE 'shp2sde -o init' command utility. The option works fine in previous versions of ArcSDE.
• NIM033557 - There has to be something contained within the Double Quotes for a sde dbtune parameter.
• NIM035236 - When sdeimport into STGEOMETRY is allowed to build the spatial index by default, the creation of the spatial index takes significantly longer than SDELOB.
• NIM035335 - Unable to create multi-version views.
• NIM035810 - The Mosaic tool is very slow when trying to mosaic to a large SDE raster dataset that has a pyramid.
• NIM036561 - ArcSDE for Oracle: memory leaks encountered when reconciling versions or performing a large number of update operations.
• NIM037121 - Spatial Type for Oracle: Attempting to rename a table can fail with an underlying DBMS error.
• NIM037727 - SQL Server 2008: New Geometry & Geography layers sometimes get inconsistent values in gsize column(s) of sde_layers table. The grids should always be -6,0,0 but some have other values, depending on the method used to create them.
• NIM037943 - SQL Server 2008: In some cases enabling archiving on a Feature Class loaded with the Geometry keyword causes a "Violation of check constraint" error.
• NIM038061 - Build projection engine libraries on Linux with gcc rather than g++. Using g++ adds an unnecessary dependency on the libstdc++.so library.
• NIM038152 - The sdemon command crashes ArcSDE service when trying to kill all active connections with Unix only.
• NIM038198 - Spatial Type for Oracle: Unable to register a table with an st_geometry attribute containing more than one spatial index grid level.

 

 ArcIMS

• NIM031617 - Identify tool on a WMS service within the Portal Map Viewer returns an invalid xml.
• NIM034688 - Searching with 2 or more disjunctive works against the CSW Connector generates an exception.
• NIM034773 - IMS ignores search order defined in the AXL request for the cloned layer.
• NIM035168 - Links to preview graphics in ESRI-ISO metadata records do not appear in the Dublin Core records.
• NIM035367 - GETFEATURES fails if Featureclass has a Subtype defined.

 

This list is very likely to get bigger before release of the patch in November. New updates will be posted on ESRI support site as usual.

ArcGIS 9.3 SP1 fixes, Part 1

In previous post I mentioned that there is a huge list of fixes and changes for service pack 1.

Here are my picks of fixes and improvement scheduled for this SP.

In second part I'll choose ArcSDE, Image Server and ArcIMS fixes.

 

ArcGIS Desktop

• NIM006247 - Saving shape file edits more than eight times in ArcMap leads to slower and slower performance.
• NIM008317 - Inserted Excel spreadsheets, as an object in maps, display as black boxes when exported to PDF (xls and xlxs) on Office 2007 machines. EMF is fine.
• NIM008646 - If the Geographic Transformation is not set when data from a personal geodatabase or SDE is initially added to ArcMap, setting the transformation at a later time through Data Frame Properties > Coordinate System tab > Transformations will not transform the data.
• NIM012443 - The IDW interpolation tool in Spatial Analyst ignores the maximum distance settings in search radius settings.
• NIM033727 - Converting symbology to representation with the 'Features in current extent' option chosen does not complete properly.
• NIM034181 - Calculate Field tool causes application (ArcMap, ArcCatalog) to hang when working with large datasets and sequential calculations.
• NIM034907 - A crash will occur if the Contour tool is used on a large, pre-93 file geodatabase.
• NIM035106 - Application failure when using the SHAPE" field in the Select By Attributes command."
• NIM035125 - New features created in checkout are not synchronized after adding globalid to parent replica.
• NIM035317 - When you have a subtype defined for a field that is of type Short – the subtype description is not displayed in Get Unique Values lists found on dialogs\windows where the SQL Query Builder is used.
• NIM035692 - Add support for third-party tiled Internet services into ArcGlobe.
• NIM035876 - Using classified renderer on a large raster dataset will receive unexpected error message in ArcGIS 9.3 final.
• NIM035931 - Connections to ArcSDE SQL Server Express geodatabases from ArcMap are not being closed successfully when a new map document is started without restarting ArcMap. This can cause SQL Server Express database detach operations to fail.
• NIM036057 - Repeated conversions of labels to annotation with append mode can result in duplicate label classes being created when they shouldnot be created.
• NIM036446 - Representation rules with identical internal identifiers can lead to data corruption.
• NIM036799 - Performance of the Dissolve tool is poor when the data contains a lot of features that are not candidates to be dissolved.
• NIM036816 - Contour tool fails with error 999999 and creates and empty feature class when output is written to a geodatabase.
• NIM036971 - Exporting attributes to PDF results in incorrect values for fields using a number format.
• NIM037274 - ArcSDE (for SQL Server Express) connections are not being released when a map document is closed but ArcMap remains open.
• NIM037410 - Exporting attributes to PDF is not preserving alias names for fields.
• NIM037580 - Crash due to lack of memory while building a spatial index for a complex polygon.
• NIM037689 - Maplex street labeling is much slower than at ArcGIS 9.2 for some cases.
• NIM037819 - When a model is invalid, then repaired and saved, the red X on the model does not go away.
• NIM037888 - Exporting attributes to PDF drops the value of a field called NAME when layer is using unique value renderer.
• NIM037960 - When setting transparencies in ArcGlobe, features in the background are displayed in the foreground.
• NIM038064 - Crash from Style Manager caused by representation rules with custom geometric effects when opening representation Rules style gallery.
• NIM038087 - When there is a drop down window in the SQL expression control, the expression typed into the control will be lost when the query builder dialog is launched.
• NIM038157 - Update Data Interop to include all available Transformers in FME2008.
• NIM038158 - Update FME engine to current FME2008 build 5208 or higher.
• NIM038159 - Update Data Interop to include all available Formats in FME2008.

 

 ArcGIS Server

• NIM013509 - ArcGIS Server ImageService WMS SVG output is not available.
• NIM033991 - WMS identify shows original field names instead of alias.
• NIM035825 - Unable to write to Blob field on mobile device.
• NIM036507 - Publishing an image service (using publish wizard) does not write some properties to the config file.
• NIM037827 - ArcGIS server at 9.3 supports WFS 1.1. Most 3rd party (non ESRI) WFS clients currently support WFS 1.0. ArcGIS Server 9.3 Service Pack 1 now supports the WFS 1.0 to assist with interoperability. The WFS 1.0 support is read only and does not support transactions.

 

 .Net Manager

• NIM035620 - The HTML editor in the Layer Format editor does not work in Firefox 3.
• NIM035634 - For web application settings, a previously entered IP address for host always displays a warning message.
• NIM036583 - Remove hard-coded e-mail address from Login and PasswordRecovery pages.

PLTS 9.3 Nautical Solution Patch 1 released

ESRI has released a patch for it's high end cartography extension, Production Line Tool Set. In particular this patch is for Nautical Solution.

This is a list of fixes for this patch:

• 26065 S-57 to Geodatabase—Depth units not set correctly during import
• 29459 Documentation—Need to add maintenance information regarding log files and sql express
• 30765 Populate—Receiving message about failure inside topology engine
• 30879 Populate—Receiving "Object Reference not set" error
  33838 Product Refresher—Receiving error after SpatialAttributeL features have been inserted
• 33922 Documentation—Need documentation on Advanced Configuration
• 33950 Documentation—Add 180° Grid scenario to charting production procedures
• 34086 Product Refresher removing collection records
• 34241 ClosingLinesL not listed in product XMLs as a support table
• 34269 No compilation scale message on Start Editing
• 35166 S-57 to Geodatabase - PLTS_COMP_SCALE not being set correctly for PLTS_SpatialAttributeL features
• 35387 Group Selected Soundings—Duplicate NOID values prevented soundings from being grouped
• 35495 GNtM2.xml cluster tolerance needs to be updated
  35582 Nautical Post not executing when called in conflict version
• 35687 Product Refresher removing Linear Depth Area features
• 35744 S-57 Metadata—Populate is incorrectly storing ISDT and UADT values, which opens a blank Metadata form during export

 

Full details are available here including the download location.

ArcGIS 9.3 SP 1 announcement

ESRI Support site as announced Service Pack 1 for ArcGIS 9.3 It is not available yet and planned release is in November. Full list of current fixes is available here. Mind you, this list will be updated as required.

If you are concerned with increase in number of fixes I would say that is actually a good sign. One of new features in ArcGIS 9.3 is crash reporting feature. It is very much like the one in Microsoft Office. The reports generated from this tool are examined and provide an insight into problem areas.

Hopefully, next time when you are asked would you like to send the crash/error report say "Yes" and you will help ESRI to make better product.

In a few days time I'll compile a list of my favourite bug fixes for this service pack. Stay tuned.

USB 3.0 specifications and performance

About month ago Intel has released USB 3.0 or "SuperSpeed" USB specifications. It is not released to public but to technology partners and manufactures. Get it from here if you have xHCI contributor agreement. Release of this information was not as simple as it sounds. Intel was accused of withholding the information so they could get a head start in design and manufacture of first boards and devices.

Eventually, information was released and USB 3.0 will have the following specifications:

 

• 5 Gb/s data rate
• Fast Sync-N-Go
• download 27 GB in 60 - 70 sec
• Optimized power efficiency
• lower active and idle power requirements
• Backward compatibility with USB 2.0
• new devices interoperable with USB 2.0 platform
• hosts support USB 2.0 legacy devices

 

USB 3 cable interface

 

 

Results of speed test. If this is real life test this means it is very fast.

 

First commercial devices with USB 3.0 are not expected before 2010 and for widespread use until 2012.

Cartography Design Annual book available

Nick Springer has compiled a series of maps published during 2007. This is presented by CartoTalk.com Here is a description of this book as published on Lulu:

This unique collection of maps clearly illustrates that the art of map making has not been lost. This is the first edition, showing maps published or released during 2007, in what we hope is a continuing series showcasing some of the top cartographic talent in the world. 

The book contains 78 pages in full colour in paperback. I just hope it will showcase maps similar to the one shown below.

 

If possible I will buy this book and post my review of it here.

Another example of maps collection is from ESRI - Map book series. These are published every year at the time of International ESRI User Conference. The latest one is Volume 23. In these books ESRI is publishing user created maps (of course using ESRI products).

 

 

I always look forward to reading these book because they are great inspiration and insight for cartography work I may be involved in.

GeoCart 2008 impressions

GeoCart 2008 has finished this week. It was second GeoCart I have attended. Even is smaller numbers than the last one it was a very good conference.

Organization

Firstly, the organization was very, very good. This is thank to great effort of Igor Drecki and other individuals that made great effort ensuring everything works flawlessly. I have not seen that anything went wrong or was out of schedule.

Programme

Programme was very interesting. Every day there were two parallel streams. The streams were:

• Visual exploration
• Spatial data and knowledge sharing
• 3D visualisation
• Spatial modeling and data mining
• Social, human and egocentric studies
• Spatial analysis

Authors, co-authors and presenters came from quite a few countries. The map below shows what these countries are (after all this was cartographic conference).

Presentation were interested and very well presented (in most cases). I have noticed something that kind of surprises me. There are highly educated experts and academics that are having hard time delivering the message to the audience. In some cases the visual presentation (slides) are making this even worse. On the other hand I've seen really crafted slides and exceptionally presented papers. Top three presentations (I didn't see all of them) were:

• (Re)considering Geographical Information Communication in the Era of Web 2.0 by Professor William Carthwright
• Comparing the Performance and Attitudes of Undergraduates and Adult Professionals in an Online Course in GIS&T by David DiBiase
• Cloud-based Geospatial Data Processing by Robert Coup

Map exhibition

This time there were fewer maps and posters in the exhibition area but they were quite interesting. Exhibited posters were:

• Adding Value to the National Geospatial Data Holdings: Bundles of data and manifestations of maps
• Land Use Change for Cambridge and Surrounds, New Zealand: 1991-2006 – a raster comparison using the Map Comparison Kit
• Mapping the Future: An integrated, multi-scale, spatial decision support system to support long-term community planning
• Coordinated Visualization of Human Daily Activity Patterns with Ringmaps

For the end here are some photos from the conference.