Adding .RPDefs to an image service definition using the Advanced workflow

Legacy:

ArcGIS 10 is the last release of the stand-alone ArcGIS Image Server product. The image service definition (.ISDef) has been replaced by an improved geodatabase data model—the mosaic dataset—which can be published as an image service using the ArcGIS Server Image extension.

When you add the raster dataset to an image service definition, a raster process definition (.RPDef) is created that encapsulates the definition of the raster dataset. The only information about a raster dataset that is not included in the .RPDef is the actual pixel values; instead, these are explicitly referenced. In the image server, whenever a raster dataset is used to create a requested image, the service provider obtains all details on how to access and process the pixels using the properties defined in the .RPDef. Metadata about the raster dataset sent to the client application is also included in the .RPDef.

Learn more about the raster process definition

These .RPDef files can be moved, removed from an image service, or added to another image service to manage the raster datasets contained in an image service definition. You can save time by adding the .RPDef files to an image service rather than adding the original raster dataset because the raster dataset does not have to be queried and an .RPDef file does not have to be written.

In some cases, an .RPDef file may be provided by the raster data vendor.

Steps:

1. On the Image Service Definition Editor toolbar, click the Image Service drop-down menu, point to Advanced, then click Add Raster Dataset.

   The Select Raster Type dialog box is displayed.

2. Scroll down the list and click Raster Process Definition files.
3. Click OK.

   The Add Rasters dialog box is displayed.

4. Choose one of two options: select a single file or select multiple files.

   Select files	Use to choose a single raster file or just a few.
   Select folder	Use to choose a folder containing multiple raster files. Filters are used to identify the extensions that are searched in the selected folder. The Search folders recursively option lets you search for rasters in folders contained within the selected folder.

5. Click OK.

   Using the raster process definitions, raster datasets are added to the image service definition and the footprints are displayed.