Adding ArcGIS Online map services

Local basemaps, such as Street Map and a Cached Base Map, have distinct advantages—they are local to the device and can be displayed if you lose your network connection in the field. However, they need to be copied to the mobile device, and deployment can be cumbersome without a good third-party deployment tool.

If you can ensure connectivity when in the field, you can leverage online map services as a source for your basemap content. ArcGIS Online services are a set of maps hosted by ESRI that you can add as layers in your mobile project.

Note:

The spatial reference of operational map layer content and basemap layer content must be the same. Within ArcMap, you can project your operational map layer content using the Data Frame Properties dialog box. Ensure that the WKID (spatial reference ID number) matches the basemap layer ID number.

ArcGIS Online includes standard or free map services and premium map services. To use premium services, you must provide an ESRI Global account user name and password. Using the Mobile Project Center, you can choose an ArcGIS Online map service when adding basemap layers to your mobile map.

When using the Windows Tablet or Windows Mobile handheld application, ArcGIS Online Map Services will temporarily cache basemap data while you are using the project. Caching during the use of the project improves application performance, and if you temporarily lose connectivity, you will still be able to view the cached tiles. When the project is closed, the cache that was created will be flushed from your device.

With a project already open, you can use the Add Layer dialog box to select ArcGIS Online from the lefthand column and either use the free map services or sign in and use the premium services. If you check the box to remember your settings, they will be stored for future use with the project center. You can access your account settings from the ArcGIS.com page on the Settings dialog box.

Steps:

1. With a project already open, select ArcGIS Online from the lefthand column of the Add Layer dialog box.
2. There are two lists of services to choose from:
   • Free services—Select free services and scroll through the list to find the service you wish to use in your project.
   • Premium services—First, click the red circle to sign in using your ArcGIS Online account credentials, and you will see that you can then access premium services. Clicking Remember Me will save your credentials for future use. It is important to note that if you add premium services to a project, the field application will prompt you for a user name and password the first time it tries to open the service.
3. Locate the map service that you would like to add to your project and click the Add button.