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Centralization & Mobile GIS. The OR/WA BLM Experiment. Issue : GPS Hardware connects to local PC, but needs to interface with software on remote machine(s). Question : Can GPS hardware connect to Citrix boxes?. Answer: Yes, if ActiveSync is involved. ActiveSync Introduced.
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Centralization & Mobile GIS The OR/WA BLM Experiment
Issue: GPS Hardware connects to local PC, but needs to interface with software on remote machine(s)
ActiveSync Introduced • Software that connects Windows Mobile Devices to PCs (normally local). • ActiveSync runs as a Windows Service. • Constantly “listening” for a Mobile Device connecting through USB connection. • Standard software on local workstations that need to connect to Mobile Devices to transfer data. • Devices that run any form of Windows Mobile use ActiveSync (Newer Trimble, IPAQ, etc)
Enable COM Port Mapping at the ICA-TCP Properties • Under Terminal Services Configuration and then ICA-TCP Properties uncheck Com port mapping to enable
Screen Grabs of the Process • Open up Citrix as normal and choose ActiveSync. • Click Explore to open up Windows Explorer.
Access Mobile Device and Citrix Drives • Copy and Paste routine to move data.
What Works…. What Doesn’t • Any device running: • Windows Mobile • Pocket PC • Win CE .NET • Trimble post-2001 • Devices running: • ArcPad • Terrasync • Must run ActiveSync • Connect via USB • Older Trimble devices • Geo 2 • Geo 3 • Pro XR • Non-ActiveSync units • Non-USB Trimble units • Garmin – Have had no success with DNR Garmin Citrix Compatible Not Citrix Compatible
…Many Interrelated Software Pieces Will the Mobile GIS software work together in a centralized environment???
Question: Will various software pieces work together seamlessly in Citrix?
Types of Mobile GIS Workflows • ArcPad (a) • ActiveSync • ArcMap/GPS Analyst • ArcPad (b) • ActiveSync • Pathfinder Office • ArcMap • Terrasync • ActiveSync • Pathfinder Office • ArcMap • Garmin • DNR Garmin • ArcMap DNR Garmin
Tested: • Created ActiveSync Partnership with local PC-Citrix-Mobile Device • Copied data to/from Mobile Device via Citrix • Used PFO Data Transfer Mobile Device to Citrix • Checked In ArcPad Data to Citrix • Differentially corrected GPS data • Uploaded Garmin data to Citrix using DNR Garmin • Worked • Worked* • Worked** • Worked • Worked • Failed *Copied slowly, many users may affect future performance **USB Devices only
Tested: • Worked • Worked • Worked • Worked • Trimble Planning Software • BLM_SDE2Mobile Tool • Pathfinder Office Suite • ArcMap/GPS Analyst
The Good: GPS Analyst ArcMap/GPS Analyst has worked really well. GPS Analyst Toolbox had to be manually overwritten with updated version to get AXF Tools properly added in.
The Bad: DNR Garmin • DNR Garmin software installed locally • User copies the .shp up to Citrix after download to local PC • No direct interaction between Citrix ArcMap & DNR Garmin extension • Adds complexity to Garmin work flow
The Ugly: Pathfinder Office • Antiquated software designed prior to Windows 2000. • Registry Key and Permissions Intensive. • Issues with Windows Installer for many users. • Time Zone has not been reading correctly (C:\WINDOWS\TIMEZONE.ini).
Non- USB Trimble Units • Data Transfer Utility installed locally • User transfers files to local PC • Copies them to Citrix • Not an elegant solution • Adds complexity
Question: Will various software pieces work together seamlessly in Citrix?
Answer: Yes… only if all applications are running on same Citrix box
More Specifically…. • ActiveSync and GPS Pathfinder Office must be on same Citrix Box. • Data Transfer Utility depends on this. • BLM SDE2Mobile Toolbar for GeoBOB requires this. • Bottom Line • Anytime you are using software that uses ActiveSync for data transfer you need that software to run on the same box as the ActiveSync that is connected to your Mobile Device.
ActiveSync Tip: Disable Synchronization(Does not work on BLM System) • HKEY_LOCAL_Machine>SOFTWARE>MICROSOFT>WINDOWS CE SERVICES>GUESTONLY
Other Things to Consider • No elegant solution to ensure all Mobile GIS apps will run on same box when user needs multiple apps to work together • Pathfinder Office settings need to be standardized for all users • Serving up Mobile Base Data to devices • GPS data file structure on Citrix
Questions? • Remember Information is a click away. • http://web.or.blm.gov/gis/resources/mobile_gis.asp • ArcPad Tools and Utilities • http://web.or.blm.gov/gis/resources/mobile_gis_tools.asp