Frequently asked questions
Problem: I cannot load data from my ArcGIS Server or Spatial Data Service or another SharePoint farm.
- If accessing ArcGIS Server or Spatial Data services, make sure that the Services Directory is set up and functioning. Navigate to http://<host>/arcgis/rest/services or http://<host>/sds/databases in a browser. You should see the Services Directory main page.
- If the ArcGIS Map Web Part is not hosted on the same server or domain as the data (services) you are accessing, you need a clientaccesspolicy.xml file on the remote server. See the answer to this question for more information.
- View the HTTP request and response using a standard tool for interrogating HTTP communication—for example Fiddler, Silverlight Spy, or Firebug (Firefox add-on)—to determine whether a failure has occurred.
Problem: I cannot load data from an external data source outside my Silverlight application's domain.
To access data from a remote server (a different server from the one where the ArcGIS Map Web Part is hosted), the remote server needs to have a clientaccesspolicy.xml file in the web server root directory.
The Map Web Part is built on the Microsoft Silverlight platform. For security reasons, a web browser is not allowed to access data that resides outside the exact web domain where Silverlight application (Map Web Part) originated. However, a Silverlight application can load data across domains if permission is granted from the server. This is accomplished by having a small clientaccesspolicy.xml file on the remote server that permits Silverlight to connect to services on that server. For additional information, read the topic Making a Service Available Across Domain Boundaries. For more information on the structure and function of a clientaccesspolicy.xml file, read the topic Network Security Access Restrictions in Silverlight. As an example, you can also view the policy file used by ArcGIS Online: http://services.arcgisonline.com/clientaccesspolicy.xml.
Question: Why does ArcGIS for SharePoint store properties in configuration lists?
Some shared properties used across ArcGIS for SharePoint components are stored in lists at the site collection and site level to provide flexibility and ease of use in configuration. The lists are replicated at the site collection level so that shared properties (for example, basemaps in the Basemap gallery) can be configured differently for different site collections. Exposing the properties in lists accommodates scenarios where it is appropriate to allow nonadministrative users to configure these properties as well as scenarios where these should only be editable by administrators; users of ArcGIS for SharePoint components do not need edit rights to the configuration lists. Additionally, using lists for configuration provides an intuitive, easy-to-use user interface that will be familiar to most SharePoint users.
Problem: I created a new site collection within a web application that has ArcGIS for SharePoint, but the components and configuration lists are not available.
ArcGIS for SharePoint is not automatically activated when you create a new site collection. For new site collections, navigate to the Site Settings page, click the Site Collection Features link, then activate the ArcGIS for SharePoint feature. This makes all the functionality included with ArcGIS for SharePoint available on the site collection.