Authoring a map to be used by ArcGIS Server on Linux/Solaris

A map document (.mxd) or map service definition (.msd) can only be authored on the Windows platform. If you want to publish the mxd or msd file to the ArcGIS Server on Linux/Solaris, you need to move the map file and the related data to an area that can be accessed by the ArcGIS Server install user. You also need to make sure the map file is still good (without any broken links) and is ready to be published to ArcGIS Server on Linux/Solaris. Below is an overview of the map authoring process for ArcGIS Server on Linux/Solaris.

I. Create your map file in ArcMap.

II. Make sure the path names in your map file point to the proper Linux/Solaris version of each dataset. You need to edit your path only if you are using data sources not based on ArcSDE. You can do this in three ways:

1. Use the relative path in your map file.
   • When you create a map file, specify that path names will be stored as relative path names.
   • Copy your map file and your data sources onto your Linux or Solaris computer, keeping the same relative structure of your map file and your data source. For example, your .mxd or .msd file and data may be stored on Windows as the following:
     C:\mydirectory\data\test.mxd
     C:\mydirectory\data\test1\test1.gdb
     C:\mydirectory\data\test2\test2.gdb 
      

     If this is the case, they need to be stored on the Linux or Solaris machine after copying as the following:

     <Unix path>/test.msd
     <Unix path>/test1/test1.gdb
     <Unix path>/test2/test2.gdb

   • Open your map file in the Map Path Editor. To launch the Map Path Editor tool, run the <ArcGIS Server Installation Directory>/server10.0/java/tools/mappatheditor/startMapPathEditor.sh script as the install owner. Make sure all the layers show up correctly.
2. Use the Map Path Editor to edit the path in your map file.
   • Copy your map file and your data sources onto your Linux and Solaris computer.
   • Organize the data sources referenced in the map file to be used for publishing a map service on Linux/Solaris. Retrieve the SDE connection properties if your map file contains feature classes and tables stored in ArcSDE.
   • Use the Map Path Editor to repair and replace the workspace paths or SDE connection properties in your map file.

     To launch the Map Path Editor tool, run the <ArcGIS Server Installation Directory>/arcgis/server10.0/java/tools/mappatheditor/startMapPathEditor.sh script as the install owner. Make sure all the layers show up correctly.
3. Use ArcCatalog to edit the path in your map file.
   1. Copy your data sources onto your Linux or Solaris computer.
   2. In ArcCatalog, navigate to the location of your .msd or .mxd file.
   3. Right-click the file and select Set Data Source(s).
   4. In the Set Data Source(s) dialog box, do the following:

      In the Output file text box, specify the location and file name for creating the new .msd or .mxd with updated Unix paths.

      Example: C:\mydirectory\data\test_unix.msd

      If you do not choose a new location or file name, a new file is created in the current location with a file name prefix "Copy_of" added to the current file name.

   5. In the Data Frame area, display all data frames by selecting <All>.
   6. In the New Data Source column, click the path of the first layer. Click Replace All.
   7. In the Replace dialog box, in the Find what text box, edit the path name and leave only the path that is common to all the layers.

      Example: C:\mydirectory\data\

   8. In the Replace dialog box, in the Replace With text box, type a Linux/Solaris-compliant path name to replace the above Windows path. Make sure there are no uppercase characters in the path name.

      Example: /net/mymachine/mymachine1/mydirectory/data/

   9. Click Replace All.
   10. Click OK to save the Linux/Solaris-compliant data path in the .mxd or .msd file.
   11. Move the .mxd or .msd file to your Linux/Solaris machine.
   12. On your Linux/Solaris Server machine, open your map file in the Map Path Editor. To launch the Map Path Editor tool, run the <ArcGIS Server Installation Directory>/arcgis/server10.0/java/tools/mappatheditor/startMapPathEditor.sh script as the install owner. Make sure all the layers show up correctly.

III. Use ArcGIS Server Manager to publish your map service.