File format (preferably open) for defining web service endpoints for ArcGIS Desktop?

Question

Aside from .LYR files, is there a file format (preferably open) for defining web service endpoints for ArcGIS Desktop?

For example, if I publish a WMS feed, can I provide a downloadable resource for ArcGIS Desktop users?

Note endpoint is not ArcGIS Server - I'm looking for a simple method to allow ArcGIS Desktop users load OGC services for specific layers from a download.

What about .FDL?

It seems the .NMF (ArcGIS Explorer) formats can do the job. Are NMF files supported by ArcGIS Deskop 10?

Answer 1

You could try an OGC Web Map Context (WMC) file.

Certainly there is a WMC client extension to add WMC support to ArcGIS Desktop.

The purpose of the WMC file is to bundle together web services (such as, but not limited to, ArcGIS services), such that you can share maps composed of Web Map Services to aware clients...

For example the following WMC of the Geology of Ireland can be opened in such WMC aware clients as:

• The OneGeology Portal (http://portal.onegeology.org/?language=eng&method=addExternalContext&url=http://ogc.bgs.ac.uk/wmc/IrelandGeologyEdited-wmc.xml)

• OpenLayers http://openlayers.org/dev/examples/wmc.html (as the below image).

• ArcMap 10 With extension

Answer 2

Nope, that is your only option for a downloadable file.

Now you can provide a document with appropriate information to connect to the ArcGIS Endpoint itself, so giving the http://mypublicserver.mydomain.com/arcgis/rest so that the public can connect/consume your services.

Some of my consumers have actually enjoyed that more.