Importing the properties of an existing definition file or service

The Import button on the Service Editor allows you to automatically import the properties of an existing service definition file or published service. Using this method, you can avoid manually configuring service properties; instead, you can import the properties of a similar service definition file or published service.

For example, if you published a feature service or service definition file (.sds) that allowed query and update operations and returned a maximum of 800 features, and you want the same settings for other feature services that you publish, you can import the properties of the published feature service or .sds file.

To import the properties of an existing service definition file or published service, follow these steps:

Steps:

1. After you have prepared your map for publishing and saved it, choose File > Share As > Service from the main menu in ArcMap.
2. Choose Publish a service on the Share as Service dialog box and click Next.
3. Select the ArcGIS Server connection you want to use from the Choose a server connection drop-down list.

   If the server connection you want to use is not listed, make an administer connection to the spatial data server.

4. Type a name for the service in the Service Name text box.
5. Click Continue to open the Service Editor.
6. Click Import .
7. On the Import Service Definition dialog box, choose to import properties from either a service definition file or a published service.
   • If you want to import the properties of a service definition file:
     1. Choose Import from an existing Service Definition File (*.sds).
     2. Click the ellipsis (...) button and navigate to the service definition file.
     3. Choose the service definition file and click Open.
   • If you want to import the properties of a published service:
     1. Choose Import from a published service.
     2. Choose the server connection that has access to the service. If the server connection is not in the list, you can create it by clicking the Add ArcGIS Server button and providing the connection information.
     3. Choose the service from the list.
8. Click Import on the Import Service Definition dialog box.

Your GIS resource is now configured with the properties of an existing service definition file or published service. You can review these properties before publishing by stepping through the tabs of the Service Editor.