Making a local copy of a feature service for editing

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

To create a local copy, first add a feature service to your map. This will create a group layer containing feature layers that reference the layers of your service. Layer properties, including the symbology and feature templates from the service layers, are preserved in the new layers. Then, pan and zoom to the area you want to edit. The extent of the map defines the data that will be in the local copy. To create the local copy, ensure the table of contents is in List By Drawing Order mode, right-click the group layer, point to Edit Features, then click Create Local Copy for Editing. If the service is not editable, the command will be disabled.

Once the local copy is made, the data source of each layer in the group layer is changed to point to the local copy. You can now make edits to the data in the new layers. If you plan to make edits over several ArcMap sessions, save the map document to make it easier to work with the local layers again.

Steps:

1. Add the feature service to ArcMap from a user connection, since these commands are disabled with administrator connections.
2. Pan and zoom to the extent you want to edit.
3. Right-click the feature service group layer and point to Edit Features, then click Create Local Copy For Editing.
4. Click the Editor menu on the Editor toolbar and click Start Editing.
5. Edit the data as you would edit any other geodatabase data, then save your edits and stop editing when you are done.