Making a local copy of a service for editing

This topic applies to ArcEditor and ArcInfo only.

To create a local copy, first add data from an ArcGIS Server map service with an associated feature service or geodata service. 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, right-click the map service group layer (or individual sublayers), point to Edit Features, then click Create Local Copy for Editing. If the service is not editable for some reason, you will receive an error message when you attempt to create the local copy.

Once the local copy is made, new layers referencing the local copy are added to a new group layer in the map. Layer properties, including the symbology and feature templates from the service layers, are preserved in the new layers. You can now make edits to the data in the new layers. The service layer is still present in the map, but it is unchecked in the table of contents so it does not display. 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.

The local layers and the new file geodatabase are stored in a folder in the map document's home location. To find this location, open the Catalog window and click the Home button. In addition, the original source group layer is copied to this location if you need to add it to the map at a later time.

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 map service group layer or sublayers within the service, point to Edit Features, then click Create Local Copy For Editing.

   The data is copied locally, the new layers referencing the local data are added to the map, and visibility for the original source layers are turned off.

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.