ESRI, Redlands, Calif., released ArcView 8.1 with Visual Basic Applications (VBA). ArcView, a desktop GIS and mapping software, provides data visualization, query, analysis and integration capabilities along with the ability to create and edit geographic data. With VBA, ArcView 8.1 users can perform customization needs with less development effort. ArcView 8.1 with VBA included is currently available for Windows NT and Windows 2000.

ArcView 8.1 includes new architecture and is designed with an intuitive Windows user interface. Customization is performed using the built-in Microsoft VBA scripting capabilities or a COM-compliant programming language such as Visual Basic or Visual C. The open programming environment allows users to further extend the ArcView 8.1 with their own custom commands, tools, menus and modules using the scripting capabilities of built-in VBA.