Welcome

The ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for Virtual Earth application programming interface (API) combines the ease of mapping available in Microsoft's Virtual Earth with the power of ESRI's ArcGIS Server. To use this API, you will take advantage of services created with ArcGIS Server and made available to you over the Internet or your local network. ArcGIS Server provides geographic information systems (GIS) functionality to perform tasks such as:

Visualization and symbolization of geographic and related attribute data. You can use the Virtual Earth map control to display a base image or street map, and then overlay customized map layers from ArcGIS Server. Examples might include land parcels, utility networks, fire stations, or species habitats. These layers can have customized symbolization authored with ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop product and then served in ArcGIS Server.
Custom locating functionality beyond basic geocoding. For example, an ArcGIS Server service can be created that locates address points in a government database, rather than approximating the location along a street segment. Locators can work with other types of data, such as place locations, utility data or stream networks.
Analysis of spatial and attribute data, through geoprocessing tools and models. For example, a geoprocessing service that determines the market potential of a retail location can be run and its results displayed over the Virtual Earth map.
Network analysis through a service that uses the Network extension to ArcGIS Server. For example, a service could perform a trace along a water utility network to determine customers affected by closure of a valve for repairs.
Using the same data and services with both this API and other modes of access, such as desktop GIS, server-based Web applications using .NET or Java, and ESRI's ArcGIS Explorer.

This Help system includes a guide for getting started with the ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for Virtual Earth, along with a reference to the API. The Getting Started section provides discussion and examples to help introduce you to the API. You may also want to consult the Interactive SDK, available online at ESRI. The Interactive SDK provides live demos and code samples for each demo. It is a great way to learn many of the features available with the ArcGIS JavaScript Extension for Virtual Earth.

Contents of this Help