HOW TO

Work with ArcIMS serialization files

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Summary

When troubleshooting certain problems, it may be necessary to delete or rename files to return the spatial server to its default state. Instructions provided describe how to work with ArcIMS serialization files.

What are serialization files and why rename them?
<a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/26357' target='_blank'>[O] ArcIMS serialization files</a>

Procedure



  1. Start ArcIMS Administrator.
  2. From the Servers link, record changes made to the default configuration, spatial servers, virtual servers or to the number of instances associated with each virtual server.
  3. Record the properties of each map service: the name (case-sensitive), the map file, the output format for Image services, and variations from the default Server Output properties.
  4. Close ArcIMS Administrator.
  5. Stop the ArcIMS Server in the following order:

    On UNIX or Linux:
    <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/24157' target='_blank'>How To: Stop and start the ArcIMS processes on Linux/UNIX</a>
    On Windows:
    <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/24155' target='_blank'>How To: Stop and Start the ArcIMS services on Windows</a>

  6. Navigate to the ArcIMS Application Server directory:
    <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/26358' target='_blank'>[O] Navigate to the ArcIMS Application Server directory</a>
  7. Locate the ArcIMSSite.sez and ArcIMSFolders.sez files.

    Note:
    In ArcIMS 3.x, these files were called EsrimapCookies.ser and EsrimapCatalog.ser.


    Note:
    In ArcIMS 9.x, the ArcIMSFolders.sez file may not exist. It is only created when MapNotes or EditNotes are used with an ArcIMS Java Viewer, or it may exist if it was retained from an ArcIMS 4.x installation.

  8. Rename these files. For example:
    -- ArcIMSSite.old and ArcIMSFolders.old
    -- ArcIMSSite.Jan2004 and ArcIMSSite.Jan2004.

    Warning:
    Deleting or renaming the serialization files will remove all the currently available map services. Therefore, renaming them would be a more prudent course of action in most cases. Original map services can be recovered by re-renaming these files back to '.sez', stopping and then starting the ArcIMS Servers.

  9. Start the ArcIMS Servers.

    On UNIX or Linux:
    <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/24157' target='_blank'>How To: Stop and start the ArcIMS processes on Linux/UNIX</a>
    On Windows:
    <a href='http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/techarticles/detail/24155' target='_blank'>How To: Stop and Start the ArcIMS services on Windows</a>

  10. Start ArcIMS Administrator. Confirm that the Servers are in their default state and that there are no existing map services.

Article ID:000006678

Software:
  • Legacy Products

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