Manage map tile cache

The cache settings for a hosted map tile layer (item) can be used to control the map tile service cache.

The tile settings allow you to:

• Set the minimum and maximum scales at which a hosted map tile layer draws when added to a map.
• Manage the scale levels at which tiles are built.
• Define how tile updates are managed: manually or automatically to reflect changes to feature data.
• Allow tiles to be used in offline maps and apps.

What is a map tile cache?

Map tile services published to and hosted in ArcGIS support fast visualization of large datasets using a collection of pre-generated map tiles. Map tiles are stored in an image format, such as PNG32 or JPG. Map tile layers are ideal when you want to display a large number of complex features efficently. For example, you may have high density elevation data that you want to be able to view seamlessly for an entire county.

To take advantage of the drawing performance of hosted map tiles, you can publish them from hosted feature layers or hosted feature layer views you own. Tiles published from hosted feature layers reflect the changes you make to the source feature data, and these tile layers automatically have popups enabled.

How to manage tile cache properties

The steps to manage map tile cache settings are:

1. Log in to a data management tool with your ArcGIS account:

   • ArcGIS.com (ArcGIS Platform or ArcGIS Online)
   • ArcGIS Enterprise portal (ArcGIS Enterprise)
2. Find the item.
3. Use the item page to manage tile settings.

Types of management operations

You can use an item page or the ArcGIS REST API to perform map tile service management operations.

• Service properties: The service properties contain the current settings of the map tile service. These include a reference to the source layer, the tiling schema and levels of detail.

• Visible range: The visible range is the minimum and maximum scales at which the layer will draw.

• Cache: The map tile cache can be set to generate tiles automatically or manually. When you configure a map tile service to create tiles automatically, ArcGIS Online creates tiles on demand as they are needed. Once enabled, tiles are cached and available for all subsequent views. When the source hosted feature layer or feature layer view is edited, changes are reflected in the hosted map tile layer within a couple minutes.

• Offline mode: Allow the tiles to be downloaded and used in an offline map.

Code examples

You can use data management tools to manage the tile cache settings of a hosted map tile layer or you can use the ArcGIS REST APIs. The following examples illustrate how to programmatically get the cache properties, set the visible range, set automatic cache creation, build tiles and set the offline mode of a map tile service.

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GET https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Point_Dume_Parcels_Tiled/MapServer?f=json&token={{access_token}} HTTP/1.1

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{
    "id": 13,
    "name": "Point_Dume_parcels",
    "server": "GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi",
    "ownerUserName": "esri_devlabs",
    "serviceDescription": "",
    "mapName": "Point_Dume_parcels",
    "description": "",
    "abstract": "",
    "metadataLink": "https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/039369ca595648c6a82f42dbfe06a30a/info/metadata/metadata.xml?format=default",
    "keywords": [],
    "copyrightText": "",
    "layers": [
        {
            "id": 0,
            "name": "Point_Dume_parcels",
            "parentLayerId": -1,
            "defaultVisibility": true,
            "subLayerIds": null,
            "minScale": 72224,
            "maxScale": 1128,
            "type": "Feature Layer",
            "geometryType": "esriGeometryPolygon"
        }
    ],
    "tables": [],

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Point_Dume_Parcels_Tiled/MapServer/edit HTTP/1.1
f=json
&token={access_token}
&sourceItemId=0ade343c5e54499998c27a2ab743bb70
&minScale=25706
&maxScale=1128
&serviceDefinition={
    "minScale":"25706",
    "maxScale":"1128"
}

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{
    "success":true
}

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Point_Dume_Parcels_Tiled/MapServer/edit HTTP/1.1
f=json
&token={{access_token}}
&sourceItemId=0ade343c5e54499998c27a2ab743bb70
&minScale=72224
&maxScale=2500
&serviceDefinition={{
    "minScale":"72224",
    "maxScale":"2500",
    "exportTilesAllowed":false
}}
&exportTilesAllowed=false
&cacheOnDemand=true

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{
    "success":true
}

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/admin/services/Point_Dume_Parcels_Tiled/MapServer/updateTiles HTTP/1.1
f=json
&token={access_token}
levels=[13,14,15]
extent="-13229544.225200001,4028844.615199998,-13221610.4599,4033126.3599999994"

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{
    "id": "7428a221-da84-47d9-b3cb-2b4167b5a0bd",
    "name": "Point_Dume_parcels",
    "status": "Success",
    "itemId": "039369ca595648c6a82f42dbfe06a30a",
    "type": "Map Service",
    "jobId": "9383e05f-fd2e-4f20-b683-8747623b1780",
    "message": "success"
}

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/admin/services/Point_Dume_Parcels_Tiled/MapServer/jobs/{jobId} HTTP/1.1
f=json
&token={access_token}

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{
    "jobId": "9383e05f-fd2e-4f20-b683-8747623b1780",
    "type": "CACHECOOKER",
    "jobStatus": "DONE",
    "submitter": "esri_devlabs",
    "percentComplete": 100,
    "message": "",
    "startTime": 1689776914880,
    "submitTime": 1689776905723,
    "lastTime": 1689776934397,
    "extent": {
        "xmin": -13229544.225200001,
        "ymin": 4028844.615199998,
        "xmax": -13221610.4599,
        "ymax": 4033126.3599999994,
        "spatialReference": {
            "wkid": 102100,
            "latestWkid": 3857
        }
    },
    "numTasks": 1,
    "numDoneTasks": 1,
    "numErrorTasks": 0,
    "numCanceledTasks": 0,
    "numSubmittedTasks": 0,
    "numProcessingTasks": 0,
    "estimatedNumTiles": 32,
    "numTiles": 32,
    "estimatedTilesSize": 491520,
    "tilesSize": 105187,
    "averageTaskTime": 9.959,
    "totalTaskTime": 9.959,
    "levelStats": [
        {
            "level": 15,
            "processingTime": 19.919,
            "numTasks": 1,
            "numDoneTasks": 1,
            "estimatedNumTiles": 32,
            "numTiles": 32,
            "estimatedTilesSize": 491520,
            "tilesSize": 105187,
            "downloadTime": 6.519,
            "generationTime": 3.128,
            "uploadTime": 0.313
        }
    ]
}

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POST https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/admin/services/Point_Dume_Parcels_Tiled/MapServer/edit HTTP/1.1

f=json
&sourceItemId="{SourceFeatureLayerItemID}"
&exportTilesAllowed=true
&token="{access_token}"

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{
    "success":true
}

Tutorials

Import data to create a feature layer

Use data management tools to import files and create a feature layer in a feature service.

ArcGIS Online  Developer dashboard 

Define a new feature layer

Use data management tools to define and create a new empty feature layer in a feature service.

ArcGIS Online  Developer dashboard  Python ArcGIS REST JS 

Manage a feature layer

Use a hosted feature layer item to set the properties and settings of a feature layer in a feature service.

ArcGIS Online 

Create a vector tile service

Use data management tools to create a new vector tile service from a feature service.

ArcGIS Online 

Create a map tile service

Use ArcGIS Online or scripting APIs to publish a map tile service.

ArcGIS Online  Python ArcGIS REST JS 

Workflows

Create a feature service for an app

Learn how to import parcel data, create and style a feature layer, and then access the features in an app.

Create a feature layer view for an editor app

Learn how to import parcel data, create and style a feature layer view, and then access the features in an editing app.

Create a vector tile service for an app

Learn how to import parcel data, style a feature layer, and then create a vector tile service for an app.

Create a map tile service for an app

Learn how to import contour data, style a feature layer, and create a map tile service for an app.

Services

API support

Use Client APIs to create, manage, and access data services. The table below outlines the level of support for each API.

Tools