Publishing a hosted tiled map service from a service definition file

You can create a service definition (.sd) file in ArcMap that contains all the information needed to publish a tiled map service, then load the service definition file as an item to your portal and publish the service. The service will be hosted on your portal's hosting server.

This is useful when your map authors are different from your portal publishers, or when your map authors do not have connectivity to the portal.

Create a service definition of a tiled map service

In ArcMap, create and symbolize the map you want to publish as a tiled map service, then save it as a service definition file.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap and create and save your map.

   For information on map services, see the map service topics in the ArcGIS help.

2. Click File > Share As > Service.
3. Choose to Save a service definition file and click Next.
4. Choose the My Hosted Services connection representing your portal and give your service a default name. Then click Next.
5. Specify in which directory on your client machine the service definition file will be created. Then click Continue.
6. In the left pane of the Service Editor, click Capabilities, then check Tiled Mapping to expose your map as a tiled map service.
7. Click the Caching item to set properties for the tile cache.
8. In the left pane of the Service Editor, click Item Description and enter a summary and tags for your service.

   You must enter this information before you can publish the service.

9. Set any additional properties that you want for your service. You can choose what users can do with your service and take fine-grained control of how the server will expose your service.
10. Click Analyze the file to be sure there are no errors.

    You must fix any errors before you can stage the service definition file.

11. Once you've fixed the errors and optionally any warnings and messages, click Stage.

The service definition file is saved in the location you specified.

Publish the service and create tiles

Once you have a service definition, you can upload it to My Content in your portal, create a service, and create the associated tiles. Follow the steps below.

Steps:

1. Sign in to your portal and open My Content.
2. Click Add Item.
3. Choose to load the file from your computer.
4. Click Browse to find the file.
5. Check Publish this file as a service.
6. Type or choose tags to describe the service definition file and service.
7. Click Add Item to add the service definition file and publish the service.

   The service is published to your portals hosting server, and both the service definition and the service are added to My Content.

8. Create tiles for your service.

   In some situtations where the service definition creator chose the option to create tiles automatically at publish time, you may see a dialog box appear immediately asking you to choose the scales for which you want to build tiles. If you don't see this dialog box, wait for a few seconds, then open the item details page for the service and click Manage Tiles.

   If you need to stop creating tiles, you can click the Cancel Tile Creation link under the table of scale levels.

By default, only you have access to the file and service. You can share the file and service with others in your organization or specific groups.