ArcInfo
Encyclopedia
ArcInfo is a full-featured geographic information system
produced by Esri
, and is the highest level of licensing (and therefore functionality) in the ArcGIS
Desktop product line. It was originally a command-line based system. The command-line processing abilities are now available through the GUI
of the ArcGIS Desktop product.
The early releases of ARC/INFO were a set of FORTRAN
programs linked accessed through a command-line interface built with the scripting language of the minicomputer, (CPL on PRIMOS
, DCL on VMS, etc.). The software was built under a paradigm of tools that could be used together within a command-line interface to perform GIS database development, geoprocessing, and output functions.
Subsystems were added for surface processing ("TIN") network analysis ("Network"), and survey data processing ("Cogo").
The release of ARC/INFO 4.0 included the advent of an "Arc executive" which processed commands with a new command interpreter developed in FORTRAN and compiled for each platform, for performance and stability. The Arc Executive allowed the support a command language specific to ARC/INFO: the ARC Macro Language
(AML). This allows users automate input to the command line, and supports simple graphical user interfaces (menus and forms) for application specific tools and applications. AML was largely based on CPL
, the system scripting language of the original ARC/INFO development platform, PRIMOS. AML applications could be written to execute unmodified on all ARC/INFO supported platforms.
As computing shifted to Unix
and Windows
, ESRI followed by launching ARC/INFO on both platforms. The development platform for ARC/INFO was moved to Sun Solaris at version 5.0, and to Windows at version 7.1.
A subset of ARC/INFO functionality was released as PC ARC/INFO for DOS in 1987 and released later for Windows using a dBase
instead of Info file format and a 'Simple Macro Language' (SML).
8.0 late in 1999. With this release, ARC/INFO was discontinued and its code base largely frozen. ArcGIS
was a multi-scale architecture, with the Desktop product released at three licensing levels: ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo.
The ArcInfo license is billed by ESRI as "Professional GIS", allowing users the most flexibility and control in "all aspects of data building, modeling, analysis, and map display".
ArcInfo Desktop continued to be shipped with the older command-line software, now named "ArcInfo Workstation" -- with links to access some of its functionality from the ArcGIS Desktop interface. Most ArcInfo Workstation functionality missing from ArcInfo Desktop at the 8.0 release was implemented within the ArcGIS 9.x geoprocessing framework.
Many users who are familiar with ArcInfo Workstation still make use of it for its speed and large toolset, using it in conjunction with the GUI offered by ArcGIS. In addition, some users find that, despite certain limitations (especially database size), ArcInfo Workstation (lacking the overhead of a Windows COM
-based application) can offer more efficient processing than the same functions implemented in ArcGIS.
Geographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
produced by Esri
ESRI
Esri is a software development and services company providing Geographic Information System software and geodatabase management applications. The headquarters of Esri is in Redlands, California....
, and is the highest level of licensing (and therefore functionality) in the ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a suite consisting of a group of geographic information system software products produced by Esri.ArcGIS is a system for working with maps and geographic information...
Desktop product line. It was originally a command-line based system. The command-line processing abilities are now available through the GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
of the ArcGIS Desktop product.
ARC/INFO
The first version of ARC/INFO was launched in 1982 on minicomputers, as ESRI claims, the very first modern GIS. The name refers to its architecture as a Geographic Information System composed of a) geographic input, processing, and output tools ("ARC") with b) a complementary, but separate database ("INFO")The early releases of ARC/INFO were a set of FORTRAN
Fortran
Fortran is a general-purpose, procedural, imperative programming language that is especially suited to numeric computation and scientific computing...
programs linked accessed through a command-line interface built with the scripting language of the minicomputer, (CPL on PRIMOS
PRIMOS
PRIMOS was an operating system developed during the 1970s by Prime Computer for its minicomputer systems. It rapidly gained popularity and by the mid-1980s was a serious contender as a mainline minicomputer operating system...
, DCL on VMS, etc.). The software was built under a paradigm of tools that could be used together within a command-line interface to perform GIS database development, geoprocessing, and output functions.
Subsystems were added for surface processing ("TIN") network analysis ("Network"), and survey data processing ("Cogo").
The release of ARC/INFO 4.0 included the advent of an "Arc executive" which processed commands with a new command interpreter developed in FORTRAN and compiled for each platform, for performance and stability. The Arc Executive allowed the support a command language specific to ARC/INFO: the ARC Macro Language
ARC Macro Language
The ARC Macro Language is a proprietary high-level algorithmic language for generating applications in ArcInfo. It was designed by ESRI in 1986 specifically for their command line-driven ARC/INFO geographical information system...
(AML). This allows users automate input to the command line, and supports simple graphical user interfaces (menus and forms) for application specific tools and applications. AML was largely based on CPL
CPL
-In business:* Cost per Lead, associated with the Pay per Lead Marketing method* NYSE stock symbol of CPFL Energia* Irish resourcing company CPL Resources Pld...
, the system scripting language of the original ARC/INFO development platform, PRIMOS. AML applications could be written to execute unmodified on all ARC/INFO supported platforms.
As computing shifted to Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, ESRI followed by launching ARC/INFO on both platforms. The development platform for ARC/INFO was moved to Sun Solaris at version 5.0, and to Windows at version 7.1.
A subset of ARC/INFO functionality was released as PC ARC/INFO for DOS in 1987 and released later for Windows using a dBase
DBASE
dBase II was the first widely used database management system for microcomputers. It was originally published by Ashton-Tate for CP/M, and later on ported to the Apple II and IBM PC under DOS...
instead of Info file format and a 'Simple Macro Language' (SML).
GRID
ARC/INFO 6.0 added a major subsystem (GRID) for raster processing. The underlying raster processing software (and "ESRI GRID" raster data format) was adapted for use in ArcView 3.x Spatial Analyst and ArcGIS Spatial Analyst.ArcInfo
ESRI underwent a major change in its GIS product family when it released ArcGISArcGIS
ArcGIS is a suite consisting of a group of geographic information system software products produced by Esri.ArcGIS is a system for working with maps and geographic information...
8.0 late in 1999. With this release, ARC/INFO was discontinued and its code base largely frozen. ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a suite consisting of a group of geographic information system software products produced by Esri.ArcGIS is a system for working with maps and geographic information...
was a multi-scale architecture, with the Desktop product released at three licensing levels: ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo.
The ArcInfo license is billed by ESRI as "Professional GIS", allowing users the most flexibility and control in "all aspects of data building, modeling, analysis, and map display".
ArcInfo Desktop continued to be shipped with the older command-line software, now named "ArcInfo Workstation" -- with links to access some of its functionality from the ArcGIS Desktop interface. Most ArcInfo Workstation functionality missing from ArcInfo Desktop at the 8.0 release was implemented within the ArcGIS 9.x geoprocessing framework.
Many users who are familiar with ArcInfo Workstation still make use of it for its speed and large toolset, using it in conjunction with the GUI offered by ArcGIS. In addition, some users find that, despite certain limitations (especially database size), ArcInfo Workstation (lacking the overhead of a Windows COM
COM
COM is the original, yet still common, name of the serial port interface on IBM PC-compatible computers. It might not only refer to physical ports, but also to virtual ports, such as ports created by bluetooth or USB-to-Serial adapters....
-based application) can offer more efficient processing than the same functions implemented in ArcGIS.