Publish a vector tile layer

Learn how to use ArcGIS Online to publish a vector tile layer.

To create a vector tile layer, you first import data as a hosted feature layer and then publish it as a hosted vector tile layer. This workflow is helpful when you need to render large datasets on the client. Using a vector tile layer can significantly improve display performance of the data in a map.

In this tutorial, you use the Publish tool in ArcGIS Online to convert a hosted feature layer to a hosted vector tile layer using the Santa Monica Mountains Parcels dataset, which contains a large amount of polygon features that represent property parcels.

Prerequisites

Steps

Download the data

Use the Santa Monica Mountains Parcles dataset as the basis for this tutorial. However, you can also use your own feature layer created in either the Import data as a feature layer or Create a new feature layer tutorials.

1. Download the Santa Monica Mountains Parcles dataset. Do not unzip this file, you will upload it as is.

Create a feature layer

Import the downloaded Shapefile to create a hosted feature layer.

1. Sign in to your account in ArcGIS Online.

2. Click Content > Add Item > Upload from computer.

3. Upload the Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels.zip Shapefile. Wait for the upload to complete. When it completes, you will be directed to the item page of the new feature layer.

Style the feature layer

Before publishing a vector tile layer, it is recommended to style the feature layer. When you style the feature layer, the styles will be applied to the vector tile layer when it's published. You can also associate attributes with the vector tile layer that is published.

1. Go back to the item page page > Visualization.

2. In the left panel, click the Change style icon.

3. Under Choose an attribute to show select: UseType.

4. Under Select a drawing style > Types(Unique symbols) > Options.

5. Click Symbols to select a color ramp to display different colors for each type of parcel.

6. Click Outline and set the following:

   • Hex code: #1A1A1A.
   • Uncheck Adjust outline automatically.
   • Transparency: 5%.
   • Line Width: 1 px.

7. Click OK

8. Set the Overall Transparency to 50% > OK > Done.

9. Click Save to save the stylings for your layer.

Publish a vector tile layer

1. Go back to the item page page of the feature layer.

2. On the right-side of the page, click Publish > Vector Tile layer.

3. Click Select attributes and select UseType and Roll_LandV.

4. At minimum, enter a Title and Tags for your vector tile layer. Click OK.

   Once you click OK, you will be directed to the item page page for the new vector tile layer. Wait for the the cache to build.

5. In the item page, click Share > Everyone (public).

View the vector tile layer

1. In the item page, click Open in Map Viewer to view the vector tile layer.

Your vector tile layer should look something like this.

Find the URL endpoint and style definition

The item for a vector tile layer defines the service properties and its styles.

1. In the item page, scroll down the page and click View to view the vector tile layer metadata and its service URL. To access the vector tile data in an application, use the URL+tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.pbf. For example:

   CopyUse dark colors for code blocks

    

   1
   https://vectortileservices3.arcgis.com/<YOUR_ORG>/arcgis/rest/services/<YOUR_VECTOR_TILE>/VectorTileServer/tile/{z}/{y}/{x}.pbf

2. Go back to the item page. To view the style, click View style. The style will look something like this:

   CopyUse dark colors for code blocks

                                                                                                                                                                                  

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   {
     "version":8,
     "sprite":"../sprites/sprite",
     "glyphs":"../fonts/{fontstack}/{range}.pbf",
     "sources":{
        "esri":{
           "type":"vector",
           "url":"../../"
        }
     },
     "layers":[
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Residential",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              0
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#FC921F",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Commercial",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              1
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#5C5C5C",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Government",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              2
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#FFDE3E",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Industrial",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              3
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#00C5FF",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Institutional",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              4
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#149ECE",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Irrigated Farm",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              5
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#A7C636",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Recreational",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              6
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#F789D8",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Miscellaneous",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              7
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#B7814A",
              "fill-outline-color":"#1A1A1A"
           }
        },
        {
           "id":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled/Other",
           "type":"fill",
           "source":"esri",
           "source-layer":"Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels_Styled",
           "filter":[
              "==",
              "_symbol",
              8
           ],
           "layout":{
   
           },
           "paint":{
              "fill-color":"#AAAAAA",
              "fill-outline-color":"rgba(153,153,153,0.25)"
           }
        }
     ]
   }
   

With the vector tile layer published, you can now access the layer using the {z}/{y}/{x}.pbf path. Or, you can access the style with the service URL+root.json. For example:

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https://vectortileservices3.arcgis.com/<YOUR_ORG>/arcgis/rest/services/<YOUR_VECTOR_TILE>/VectorTileServer/resources/styles/root.json

What's Next?

Learn how to use additional tools, APIs, and location services in these tutorials:

ToolsAPIs

Create a new feature layer

Use data management tools to create a new hosted feature layer.

Access feature layer data

Use ArcGIS Online tools to access and display feature layer data.

Import data as a feature layer

Use data management tools to import and create hosted feature layers.

Manage a feature layer

Set the properties and capabilities of a hosted feature layer.

Add a feature layer

Access and display point, line, and polygon features from a feature service

Add a vector tile layer

Access and display a vector tile layer in a map.

Add an image tile layer

Access and display an image tile layer in a map.

Style a feature layer

Use symbols and renderers to style feature layers.

Query a feature layer (spatial)

Execute a spatial query to get features from a feature layer.

Query a feature layer (SQL)

Execute a SQL query to access polygon features from a feature layer.

Edit feature data

Add, update, and delete features in a feature service.

Display a pop-up

Format a pop-up to show attributes in a feature layer.