Creating a locator package

A locator or composite locator can be saved as a locator package (.gcpk). A locator package includes the locator or the composite locator with its participating locators. Other users will be able to add the locator packages directly into their map and use the locators for geocoding. Locator packages can be created in ArcCatalog or using the Package Locator tool.

Once you finish creating a locator or composite locator in ArcCatalog, you can create a locator package.

License:

Locators created with ArcGIS version 9.3 or newer can be shared as a locator package.

Steps:

A locator package can be created for one locator at a time. Regardless of which workspace the locator is stored in, including ArcSDE geodatabase, the locator is copied and compressed into a package file.

The best way to package multiple locators in a locator package is to create a composite locator and package the composite locator. By default, the composite locator and each participating locator is copied and compressed into a package file. If the composite locator contains participating locators that are stored in an ArcSDE geodatabase, you have an option to either copy the locators in ArcSDE or reference them in the composite locator. If the participating locator is a geocode service, the service connection, or URL, remains in the composite locator.

1. In ArcCatalog, right-click a locator or composite locator and click Share As > Locator Package.

   The Locator Package dialog box opens.

2. On the Locator Package window, specify where to save your locator package, either in your ArcGIS Online account or as a file (.gcpk) on disk for sharing.
   • Check Upload package to my ArcGIS Online account to save the locator package into your ArcGIS Online account and share with other ArcGIS users.
   • Check Save package to file to save the package file in a folder.

     Enter the path and name of the locator package or click the browse button and navigate to the folder where you want to save the locator package.

3. Check Include locators in Enterprise geodatabase instead of referencing them if the locator is a composite locator and you want to include locators from ArcSDE.
4. Click the Item Description tab and enter the information for the locator package. Items in the Summary and Tags are required for creating a locator package.
   Note:

   If you have documented the items of the locator in the Item Description window in Catalog, the information will populate this Item Description tab.

   Learn more about documenting items in the Catalog window

5. If you want to add additional files to the package, click the Additional Files tab. Then click the browse button and navigate to the files you want to add to the package.

   Additional files, such as .doc, .txt, .pdf etc. can be added to the package to provide more information about the contents and purpose of the package.

6. Click Analyze to validate your locator.

   You must analyze the locator before you can save it to disk or share it with ArcGIS Online. The process will examine your locator for any errors or issues. If any issues are discovered, the list of issues and messages will be displayed on a Prepare window.

   Learn more about analyzing your locator

7. Right-click each item in the Prepare window to get more information, read help for the error, and to click on suggested fixes.
8. When finished analyzing the locator, click Share to create your locator package.