Overview of Encompass
Encompass is a set of ActiveX and .Net components for building ArcObjects, MapObjects, GeoMedia Objects, and Encompass-only GIS applications.
Encompass is...
  • a set of ActiveX and .Net components created in Visual Basic and Visual C.
  • a growing list of component-based client-server and web applications.
  • a consortium of component developers and users.
Encompass is used to...
  • create quick, targeted applications that make the greatest use of GIS data, yet require minimal user training and support.
  • add GIS capabilities to existing Windows applications.
  • augment the use of Intergraph’s GeoMedia Objects or ESRI’s MapObjects or ArcObjects.  With Encompass, you can port applications between GIS platforms with minimal effort, minimizing reliance on a single GIS vendor's technology.
  • access GIS data in any ODBC or ADO database (Access, SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, etc.).  This means you can move data between databases without modifying applications or re-training users.
  • optionally avoid per-user license costs by creating applications that use a license-free mdb data store and the Encompass map engine.
Encompass is used by...
  • Visual Basic and C# programmers to create custom mapping applications from a kit of parts.
  • web developers to create GIS web pages and web services for IIS servers.
  • AutoCAD users to turn their file-based map drawings into a continuous feature-based GIS.
  • ESRI and Intergraph product users to speed (or start) the development of custom applications and add functionality beyond stock ArcObjects, MapObjects, and GeoMedia Objects.
  • database users to add graphics to their databases.  A "BLOB" column can be added to any table to place a graphic feature in each row.