Using ArcGIS online
ArcGIS makes it easy to share maps and geographic information with others. You can share all kinds of geographic information: maps, map layers, features, editing templates (using layer packages), imagery, and analytic results.
Once you have created maps and geographic information with ArcGIS, you can share them with other users:
- Package the information into a single dataset as map packages and layer packages that contain all the necessary information as well as metadata.
- Load and share your packages using the online ArcGIS infrastructure or share it as a dataset available on disk, as an e-mail attachment, and so on. This online ArcGIS infrastructure is referred to as ArcGIS online. For more information, read What is ArcGIS online?
Within ArcGIS Desktop, you can select one or more items and choose to share them. ArcGIS Desktop will walk you through the process of preparing, packaging, and sharing the information online or to disk. You can share a number of information types—maps, layers, imagery, and GIS services.
In addition, ArcGIS Desktop provides tools for sharing map and layer packages using Python and ModelBuilder, which can be used to automate the sharing workflow.
The following sections cover many of the common tasks used for sharing and exchanging maps, layers, and other geographic information using ArcGIS online.
Working with your content within ArcGIS online
As an ArcGIS Desktop user, you can sign up and use your own personal online ArcGIS workspace "in the cloud." You can upload and share GIS maps and data using your online workspace as well as search for and find others' content, which you can use in ArcGIS Desktop. Here are the steps:
- If you have not already done so, sign in to ArcGIS online. In ArcMap, click File > Sign In on the main menu.
- To open the ArcGIS online window, click File > ArcGIS online on the main menu.
- Click My Maps and Data in the window to view, manage, and share your uploaded content.
Loading maps and layers into ArcGIS online
You can create and upload map packages and layer packages into ArcGIS online. Packages include not only all the map properties and layer properties but also all the data referenced by the map or layer.
Learn more about the steps for creating and sharing map packages and layer packages and how to upload them to ArcGIS online.
Downloading maps and layers
You can also use ArcGIS online to download ArcGIS content to your desktop as map packages and layer packages. When you add a map package or layer package to your ArcGIS Desktop session from ArcGIS online, all the content in the package is downloaded and unpacked for use on your desktop.
Note:The sizes of map packages and layer packages can be large and may take time to download.
Here are the steps used to download map and layer packages into ArcMap:
- If you have not already done so, sign in to ArcGIS online. In ArcMap, click File > Sign In on the main menu.
- To open the ArcGIS online window, click File > ArcGIS online on the main menu.
- Navigate to the item that you want to work with in your ArcGIS Desktop session. You can find content featured by Esri or from a group, or you can search for content.
- Select the desired item and click Add or Open to add the item to your desktop. If you add a layer package, its contents are downloaded to your desktop and unpacked, and one or more layers are added to your current map document. The new layers appear in your map's table of contents.
If you open a map package, its contents are downloaded and unpacked, and the new map is opened. You may be prompted to save your current map document, which will be closed before the downloaded map package is opened.
What types of geographic information can be shared?
The ArcGIS content types that you can share using ArcGIS online include the following:
- Map packages
- Layer packages
- ArcGIS Server map services and image services
- ArcGIS Web maps
- Desktop add-ins
Managing map packages and layer packages that are downloaded to your computer
When you add a map package or layer package to your ArcMap session, it is downloaded to your system's default ArcGIS folder location into a subfolder named Packages—for example, \\<path>\My Documents\ArcGIS\Packages.
Each package will be saved in a separate subfolder in the Packages directory, and its contents will be unpacked. This location will be referenced by new layers added to your map document.
The contents of your Packages directory can become large over time. It's a good idea to delete unwanted package folders and move content from the geodatabases contained in each package's subfolder into your working geodatabase(s).
Working with groups
When working online, you can choose the users that you want to work with and with whom to share content. One of the ways this is managed is by creating and joining groups. You can create groups and invite other participants to join. You can send invitations to others to join groups (and they can invite you) using ArcGIS online messages.
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Working with Web maps
One of the types of maps that you can open and work with in ArcMap is a Web map, which can be created in a Web browser with ArcGIS.com and used in any ArcGIS client—ArcMap, ArcGIS Explorer, ArcGIS Web applications, iPhones, and so forth. All ArcGIS map services are shared and used as Web maps.
You can search for and open Web maps using ArcGIS online as follows:
- If you have not already done so, sign in to ArcGIS online. In ArcMap, click File > Sign In on the main menu.
- To open the ArcGIS online window, click File > ArcGIS online on the main menu.
- Use the Search tool to find Web maps that you want to use. Add Web Map to your search string.
- Find the Web map you want to use in your search results and click Open to open it in an ArcMap session. Opening the Web map closes your current map document and opens the new Web map in your ArcMap session. You are prompted to save your current map before the Web map is opened.
Searching for GIS content
You can also search maps and data to find GIS content that you can then use in your work, or search groups to collaborate with other people.