Working with the Preview layer

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 The image service definition (.ISDef) has been replaced by an improved geodatabase data model—the mosaic dataset—which can be published as an image service using the ArcGIS Server Image extension.

ArcGIS Image Server lets you preview image service definitions using the Preview layer. It also lets you check the output of an image service definition without having to compile and publish the image service definition. The preview is generated by processing the raster data as it would be when it is served to the client applications; therefore, it lets you decide whether the input processes, output properties, bands, and so on, match your expected results. It is not optimized for speed, but it is dynamic, and any new changes to the image service definition are reflected when you refresh the Preview layer.

The Preview layer will appear in the ArcMap table of contents as a layer in the image service definition group layer. When creating an image service definition using the New Image Service Wizard, the preview layer is added to ArcMap when the wizard is finished running. However, if you're building a new image service definition using the Advanced options, you need to run the build process before you can preview a newly created image service definition. The first time an image service definition is built, you can check the option to load the preview; the preview will remain until you remove that image service definition from ArcMap. If you add an existing image service definition (whose boundary has been generated) to ArcMap, the Preview layer will load automatically.

Learn about building an image service definition

Right-clicking the Preview layer displays the context menu with the following options:

• Zoom To Layer—Sets the display extent to the extent of the Preview layer.
• Visible Scale Range—Allows you to set or clear a visible scale range. When the scale of the data frame is outside the layer's visible scale range, the layer will not be drawn.
  • Set Minimum Scale—Sets the minimum visible scale for the layer to display
  • Set Maximum Scale—Sets the maximum visible scale for the layer to display
  • Clear Scale Range—Clears the minimum and maximum scale ranges
• Export Data—Displays the Export Image Properties dialog box.
• Properties—Displays the Layer Properties dialog box with properties you can set for this layer. When you change the image service definition properties, you need to zoom to or pan the image service definition for the changed properties to take effect.