Adding layers from the web

One way to add a data layer to your web map is to reference the URL to a specific service layer you know about. You can add the following types of layers through a URL:

• ArcGIS Server web service—A map, image, or feature resource that is located on ArcGIS Server.
• OGC WMS—A map that follows the OGC Web Map Service specification. See an example.
• OGC WMTS—A set of cached image tiles that follows the OGC Web Map Tile Service specification. See an example.
• Tile Layer—A set of web-accessible tiles that reside on a server. The tiles are accessed by a direct URL request from the web browser. The URL contains values which are used by the map viewer to dynamically request the tiles that correspond with the extent and scale of the web map as you pan and zoom. See an example.
• KML—A file of geographic features.
• GeoRSS—A web feed that includes geographic features and locations. See an example.
• CSV—A web-based, comma-separated values text file of features that includes location information.

If your organization is configured for Bing Maps, you can also add Bing Maps basemaps.

Adding ArcGIS Server services

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose An ArcGIS Server Web Service
5. Enter the layer's web address in the URL field.
6. If you want to use the layer as a basemap, check Use as Basemap.
7. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

You can add map, image, and feature services. You can add secure services created with ArcGIS Server 10 SP1 and higher if you know the user name and password. You will be prompted for this information when you add a secure service to the map. Anybody viewing your web map will also be prompted for the login. The web map will display without the layer if the login is not valid. For more information, see About ArcGIS Server web services.

Adding WMS OGC Web Service

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose A WMS OGC Web Service
5. Enter the layer's web address in the URL field.
6. If you want to use the layer as a basemap, check Use as Basemap.
7. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

Pop-up windows and feature editing are not supported. For more information, see About OGC WMS.

Adding WMTS OGC Web Services

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose A WMTS OGC Web Service
5. Enter the layer's web address in the URL field.
6. If you want to use the layer as a basemap, check Use as Basemap.
7. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

Pop-up windows and legends are not supported. If the service does not support the Esri tiling scheme, the service can only be added as a basemap. In this case, the basemap option is automatically selected.

Adding tile layers

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose A Tile Layer
5. Enter the layer's web address in the URL field.
6. If the tile layer contains one or more subdomains, specify the tile layer's subdomain labels in the Subdomain field. Delimit the labels with commas.
Subdomains are used by the tile layer provider to distribute tile requests across multiple servers. Not all tile layers have subdomains. If the tile layer does not have any subdomains, the Add Layer from Web window does not display the subdomain field. If you are unsure of the subdomain labels, contact the tile layer provider.
7. Enter the title of the tile layer in the Title field.
The Content panel of the web map will display the title you enter as the name of the tile layer.
8. Enter any copyright information or required attribution information for the tile layer provider in the Credits field.
The web map will display the credits in the lower right of the map.
9. Click the Set Tile Coverage button to set the extent of the tile coverage.
Tile coverage represents the extent of all the tiles. This is an optional setting. When the extent is set, tiles are only requested for the extent specified. However, because the tiles are not clipped to fit the extent, tiles may extend beyond the extent.
10. If you want to use the layer as a basemap, check Use as Basemap.
11. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

If the tiles are distributed across multiple servers, you need to give the ArcGIS.com map viewer information about the layer's subdomains.

Tip:

For more tips on adding tile layers, see the blog post Adding tile layers to your web map.

Adding KML

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose A KML File
5. Enter the layer's web address in the URL field.
6. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

Features from placemarks, network links, ground overlays, folders, and extended data are displayed. Other features and using a KML layer as your basemap are not supported at this time. For more information, see About KML.

Adding GeoRSS

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose A GeoRSS File
5. Enter the layer's web address in the URL field.
6. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

GeoRSS files can contain three layers, one for points, one for lines, and one for polygons. If your file has multiple layers, they appear as one layer in the Content of the web map. You cannot change the symbols or configure pop-up windows at this time.

Adding CSV

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose A CSV File
5. Enter the layer's web address in the URL field.
6. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

If you have features stored in a .csv or .txt file and that file contains latitude and longitude information and is available on a publicly accessible website, you can reference it as a layer on the web. Whenever the web map is opened, it shows the latest data from your file. You can add a .csv or .txt file from the web that contains address information, but the file will be stored with the web map. Any updates you make to the original .csv or .txt on the web won't be reflected in the web map. When using latitude and longitude, the first 1,000 rows of features are displayed on the map. With Internet Explorer 7 or 8, the first 750 rows of features are displayed. When using addresses, the first 250 rows of features are displayed. For more information, see About CSV, TXT, and GPX files.

Adding Bing basemaps

Steps:

1. Open the ArcGIS.com map viewer.
2. Click the Add button.
3. Choose Add Layer from Web.
4. Choose Bing Basemap
5. Choose the type of Bing Map you want to use: Road, Aerial, or Hybrid.
6. Click the Add Layer button.
The layer is added to your web map.

The Bing Basemap option only appears if your organization has configured the map viewer with a Bing key.