Common Questions

You can use the QuickProject tool to create a ready-to-use data capture project. QuickProject enables you to take ArcPad into the field, with or without pre-existing data, and quickly start capturing data into new shapefiles. When you choose New QuickProject, with only two screen taps you can create ArcPad map, point, polyline, and polygon shapefiles with custom input forms and editable category values that can then be changed dynamically in the field.

In addition, a collection of ArcPad templates is available as a starting point for creating your own ArcPad project. The templates highlight specific applications of ArcPad technology to solve industry problems. These templates vary from tools to applets to forms, all of which illustrate the practical benefits of ArcPad.

ArcPad users are able to customize ArcPad and build focused applications using ArcPad Studio. Developers can build focused applications within the desktop environment and deploy them on numerous ArcPad devices in their organization.

Because these technologies run on handheld devices under the same Windows mobile environment and support some of the same functionality, they are often confused. Both of these technologies boost mobile productivity and are used to support GIS professionals and their field efforts. However, they are built with different code bases and are different in their deployment and application.

ArcPad is an efficient GIS solution for mobile applications and field data collection; it provides dozens of tools for mapping, query, field editing, and analysis. It operates entirely in a disconnected environment where users download information from ArcGIS Desktop; take information out into the field; and, upon return' upload the edits and collected data to the desktop. ArcPad can also be customized for specific field tasks or projects.

By contrast, ArcGIS Mobile is used to build and deploy custom mobile applications and is installed as a part of ArcGIS Server. ArcGIS Mobile is designed to support specific field workflows. Work done in the field can be published and made instantly available to the entire organization. ArcGIS Mobile is considered an enterprise application because it synchronizes directly with an enterprise server.

ArcGIS Mobile is used to develop focused applications. It is also a platform for real-time tracking where users can build an application that tracks the location of mobile workers from a central server environment (e.g., to create and share a common operating picture). One can easily imagine how an organization with many field workers may wish to track the workers’ locations as well as receive input and observations from their field activities.

ArcPad Studio is the desktop customization application included with the latest version of ArcPad software, ArcPad 8. All customization for ArcPad is performed on the desktop, primarily using ArcPad Studio, and deployed with ArcPad on the mobile device. ArcPad Studio gives users the tools to customize ArcPad but is not required to utilize a customized version of ArcPad.

With the purchase of ArcPad 8, one year of maintenance is included. Additional maintenance can be purchased for successive years. Software maintenance combines technical support services along with software upgrades.

The customization files (applets, extensions, default configurations, and layer definition files) can be deployed to any, ArcPad user. No special ArcPad runtime is required. Simply copy the customization files to the appropriate folders on the end user's device. More advanced installations can be created if necessary.

ArcScripts has numerous templates and scripts that have been created for ArcPad. These range from adding functionality to streamlining processes. The ArcPad Templates pages have been created as a resource for downloading a variety of industry-focused applications.

Using the ArcPad Data Manager extension for ArcGIS Desktop included with ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo, you can check out feature classes including relationships from a multiuser or personal/file geodatabase for use in ArcPad. Using these same tools, data and any changes can be checked back in to the geodatabase.

ArcPad supports vector map and raster image display, which includes industry standard data formats.

ArcPad does not support Palm operating system. For a list of supported operating systems, see the ArcPad System Requirements.

ArcPad does not require a GPS. Creating features can be accomplished with a tap on a map. A GPS is recommended for more accurate location information.

ESRI does not publish a list of supported GPS receivers for ArcPad. However, ArcPad supports the following protocols for communicating with GPS receivers:

• National Marine and Electronics Association (NMEA) 0183, version 2.0
• Trimble Standard Interface Protocol (TSIP)
• Rockwell PLGR Protocol
• Delorme Earthmate

ArcPad is software that is designed to run on mobile computers in much the same way as traditional desktop software. Using ArcPad, you can save and store data on the device's internal memory or removable storage. If a wireless connection is available, ArcPad can take advantage of built-in tools for accessing data from ArcIMS and the Geography Network.

ArcPad does not support Palm operating system. For a list of supported operating systems, see the ArcPad System Requirements.

ESRI does not publish a list of supported range finders for ArcPad. However, ArcPad supports the following range finder protocols:

• Laser Atlanta LA1KA (original)
• Laser Atlanta LA1KD (extended)
• Laser Atlanta LA1KC (CMT, Corvallis MicroTechnology)
• LaserCraft Contour PLCI
• Laser Technology Criterion 400 format (PLTIT)
• Leica DISTO interface protocol
• Leica Vector/Laser Locator data transfer format
• Measurement Devices Ltd. PMDLA

ArcPad 7.0 includes drivers for the following connected digital cameras (support for additional connected cameras can be provided via custom camera modules):

• Cameras integrated into some of the HP iPAQ Windows Mobile device models—these include the HP iPAQ rx3700 and hx6300 series devices.
• On PCs, ArcPad includes a driver for cameras that interface via the standard Windows Multimedia API (MCI). These cameras usually connect to the PC via a USB cable, and typically include PCcam and webcam cameras that are capable of taking still photos although some standard digital cameras can also operate as a webcam. There are a number of webcam cameras available from various vendors. Creative Labs and Logitech are two of the better, known vendors of webcams.
• Cameras integrated into Windows Mobile 5 devices and use the standard Windows Mobile 5 camera API.

The ArcPad user interface is available in a number of languages. Localized versions of ArcPad are currently available for the following languages:

• Chinese (Hong Kong)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Danish
• Dutch
• French
• German
• Hebrew
• Hungarian
• Japanese
• Norwegian
• Polish
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Romanian
• Spanish
• Swedish