Tutorial: Manage a feature layer

Learn how to set the properties and settings for a hosted feature layer and feature service.

You can manage hosted feature layersA hosted layer is an item in a portal that contains the properties and settings for a hosted data service or a layer in a hosted data service.Learn more by using the item pageAn item page is a web page in ArcGIS Online or the developer dashboard used to access and manage the properties for an item and the content it references such as a web map, hosted layer, or file.Learn more in ArcGIS portal or an ArcGIS Enterprise portal. You can use this tool to set properties such as the name and description, drawing style, field visibility, editing settings, and private vs public access settings. These settings control how the data is presented to applications. For example, you can limit fields that are visible or change the layer style, which also affects the fields and style in client applications. Managing feature layer properties through an item page gives you a way to centrally control how client applications view and access data.

In this tutorial, you use the item pageAn item page is a web page in ArcGIS Online or the developer dashboard used to access and manage the properties for an item and the content it references such as a web map, hosted layer, or file.Learn more to set the properties and capabilities for the Trails feature layerA feature layer (client-side) is a data layer that can access and display features from a feature service that has the same type of geometry and attribute fields.Learn more.

Prerequisites

Steps

Import the Trails feature layer

Before you get started, you need your own Trails feature layerA feature layer (client-side) is a data layer that can access and display features from a feature service that has the same type of geometry and attribute fields.Learn more. Only the owner of a layer can change the settings. If you don't have this layer, follow the steps below.

1. Go to the Import data as a feature layer tutorial and follow the steps to create a new Trails feature layer.

2. You only need to import the Trails GeoJSON file to create the feature layer for this tutorial.

Access the Trails hosted feature layer item page

Use in ArcGIS portal or your ArcGIS Enterprise portal to access the Trails hosted feature layer item pageAn item page is a web page in ArcGIS Online or the developer dashboard used to access and manage the properties for an item and the content it references such as a web map, hosted layer, or file.Learn more.

Set sharing permission (Overview tab)

The item page allows you to modify sharing options.

1. Click the Overview tab.

2. On the right side, click Share > Owner > Save. This limits access to your layer to only you.

Set field properties (Data tab)

Use the Data tab to access feature layer fields, values, and records. You can sort, calculate, edit (if you have permissions), and limit the fields displayed.

1. Click the Data tab. You will see a table with attributes.

2. At the top-right of the table, click the menu bar > Show/Hide Columns and only show the following fields:

   • TRL_NAME
   • ELEV_GAIN
   • ELEV_MIN
   • ELEV_MAX

Limiting the columns will restrict client applications to only access four of the existing fields.

Set style and filter features (Visualization tab)

Use the Visualization tab to control the features that are displayed. You can style, configure pop-ups, and display labels on a map. You can also filter the data displayed on the client using one or more SQL expressions.

1. Click the Visualization tab.

2. In the top-left panel, click the Change style icon > Options > Symbols.

3. Select a color (such as purple) for the polyline, then click OK > OK > Done to apply the new styling.

4. In the top-left panel, click the Filter icon.

5. Filter trails by entering: TRL_NAME contains Backbone.

6. Click Apply Filter. All trails that do not match the query will be filtered out.

Client applications will only be able to access the filtered features.

Set item properties (Settings tab)

Use the Settings tab to set item permissions.

1. Click the Settings tab.

2. Content Status

   • If the layer is an official source, you can mark the feature layer as authoritative.
   • If the feature layer is out of date, then you can mark it as deprecated.

3. Delete Protection: Select to prevent accidental deletion of the feature layer.

4. Public Data Collection: If you have an application that relies on public data editing, then select this option. You must also enable public access to your layer using the Share button in the Overview.

5. Set Extent: If you want to set a new extent for the layer.

6. Uncheck Enable Editing for your feature layer. The following will be hidden:

   • The ability to add, delete, and update attributesAttributes are fields and values for a single feature or non-spatial record. They are typically stored in a database or service such as a feature service.Learn more and geometryA geometry is a geometric shape, such as a point, polyline, or polygon, that contains one or more coordinates and a spatial reference.Learn more.
   • The permission to allow editors to see and edit featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more.
   • The permission to allow anonymous editors the same access as signed in editors.

Set service properties (Settings tab)

Use the Settings tab to set additional service properties.

View data with a web browser

You can use a web browser to access a hosted layerA hosted layer is an item in a portal that contains the properties and settings for a hosted data service or a layer in a hosted data service.Learn more (item) and its data. To do so, you use the URL for the feature layer. This accesses the feature service directly and allows you to use the meta data page to perform queries to view the raw data. Using a URL to access feature layer data is a fast way to test data access for your applications.

1. In the item page, click the Overview tab > Trails_0 under Layers.

2. On the right side of the page, click View to access the URL REST endpoint.

3. Note the Type and GeometryType of the Trails layer. The type of layer is a feature layer with polyline geometry.

4. Find Fields and make note of different attributesAttributes are fields and values for a single feature or non-spatial record. They are typically stored in a database or service such as a feature service.Learn more such as:

   • ObjectID
   • TRL_NAME
   • ELEV_GAIN

5. At the bottom of the page, click Query.

6. Set the following properties:

   • Where: 1=1
   • OutFields: *
   • Format: HTML
   • Click Query(GET)

7. Scroll down the page to view the results.

8. Change the Format value to GeoJSON and click Query(GET) to view the data in GeoJSON format.

   Public and private items

   If a hosted feature layer is public, you can access it directly with your web browser or any application with the URL. If the layer is private, you need to provide an API keyAn API key is a long-lived access token created using API key credentials. They are valid for up to one year and are typically embedded directly into client applications.Learn more or token. For example:

   Public: https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0

   Private: https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0?token=ACCESS_TOKEN

   Learn more about authentication in Security and Authentication.

Access the layer with Map Viewer

To verify the settings of your feature layer, access the layer with Map ViewerMap Viewer is a browser-based mapping tool that can view, create, and save web maps. It can also perform mapping, visualization, and spatial analysis operations.Learn more.

1. Click the Overview tab.

2. On the bottom right of the page, click View to view the service URL.

3. Find the Service item ID, for example: 69e12682738e467eb509d8b54dc73cbd.

4. Sign out of your ArcGIS account.

5. Go to Map Viewer and enter the item ID: maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?layers=<YOUR_ITEM_ID> and ensure that it prompts for credentials.

View data in Map Viewer

In Map Viewer, you can access and set filters to display a subset of feature data.

1. In Map Viewer, click on the trails to display pop-ups with attribute information.

2. On the left panel, locate Trails-Trails 0 under Layers.

3. Click ... > Show table to display the fields and values of the feature layer.

4. On the right panel, click Filter. Click Add expression and set: TRL_NAME contains Backbone > Save. The features that do not match the query will be filtered out.

You are now able to manage the settings of your feature layer using the tabs in its item details page. All clients accessing the layer will access and view the data the same way.

View data in Scene Viewer

You can also view featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more in Scene ViewerScene Viewer(™) is a browser-based mapping tool that can view, create, and save web scenes.Learn more. Scene Viewer allows you to view both 2D and 3D data in a sceneA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more.

1. Go back to the item page for the Trails feature layer.

2. On the right side of the page, click Open in Scene Viewer. When it opens, you can pan and zoom the map.

What's next?

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

ToolsAPIs

Define a new feature layer

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

ArcGIS portalPython APIREST JS

Import data to create a feature layer

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

ArcGIS portal

Create a vector tile service

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

ArcGIS portalPython APIREST JS