Getting to Know ArcObjects (With CD-ROM)

*NOTE* The book will not be published with a 180-day version of ArcView 8.1. It will include a CD with data needed to complete the exercises. The customer must own a licensed copy of ArcView, ArcEditor, or ArcInfo 8.3 or higher to run the exercises.

Overall, what impressed me most was Burke's exceptional ability to take complex concepts (like interface-based programming) and explain them in a clear and concise manner. The writing is impeccable, and I found very few flaws in the book, which is incredibly uncommon for computer books. Obviously, a great deal of care and attention went into the preparation of this book. The reader won't be disappointed.

I currently own every ArcObjects book in print, and in my opinion, this is the ONLY book useful for those trying to learn ArcObjects. Highly recommended.


Excellent for beginner   March 27, 2004
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is the book you need to start learning scripting for ArcGIS. It has an introductory chapter teaching about the basics of VB and then the Arc objects themselves. The examples are very clear and easy to follow. A very suitable book for people who doesn't know programming at all.


Save your money: Ditch the ESRI class and buy this book instead   February 21, 2007
Chaotic42 (Mississippi, USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I've read the ESRI ArcObjects course material and I have to say that this book is far better. I'm not a programmer, I just need to occasionally write code at work. For the last project that I was working on, I dug through the ESRI coursework and then a friend at work mentioned that they had this book. I asked to borrow it, and I must say that I'm impressed.

The examples were excellent, and the book took the time to actually explain what was going on. Using this book I had a working core for the program in about two hours, with no previous experience. I dug through the ESRI coursework for about six hours and came up fairly empty handed. I've ordered a copy of this for work and now I've ordered one for home use (which is kind of like unpaid work). The examples work with ArcGIS 9.1, which is nice. I haven't tried them in 9.2, but I have no reason to doubt that the book would still be relevant.

With a price this low, the book is a good deal. Even if it only helps you learn a few new tricks with ArcObjects, it's certainly worth the price.


easy to follow; great for beginners of VBA or ArcObjects!   May 18, 2005
Paul A. Petersen
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This book teaches you the core of what you need to know to get around in VBA and ArcObjects. I had already read the Sam's VB 6 in 21 Days book, but the VBA section helped reinforce what I had already learned, and most importantly, taught me how to understand and use ArcObjects, even the Object Model Diagrams, which is really important for a beginner to grasp.

This is a great tutorial and reference to have for anyone with no computer programming background, because it really teaches you from the ground-up, and contains easy-to-follow exercises. I doubt more advanced programmers would find the book too helpful, and they should probably stick to Zeiler's "Exploring ArcObjects," which is a reference book, not a tutorial.


Very Helpful For Beginners   July 20, 2005
Scott Davis
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I have no prior experience with VBA or programming in general and I was able to complete the examples and implement what I have learned. I'm about half-way through the book. I would recommend this to anyone.