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Apply a unique value with alternate symbols at different scales.

Display alternate symbols at different scales sample

Use case

When a layer is symbolized with unique value symbology, you can specify the visible scale range for each unique value. This is an effective strategy to limit the amount of detailed data at smaller scales without having to make multiple versions of the layer, each with a unique definition query.

Once scale ranges are applied to unique values, you can further refine the appearance of features within those scale ranges by establishing alternate symbols to different parts of the symbol class scale range.

How to use the sample

Zoom in and out of the map to see alternate symbols at each scale. The symbology changes according to the following scale ranges: 0-5,000, 5,000-10,000, 10,000-20,000. To go back to the initial viewpoint, tap “Reset Viewpoint”.

How it works

  1. Create a FeatureLayer using the service URL and add it to the map’s list of operational layers.
  2. Create two alternate symbols (a blue square and a yellow diamond) to be used as alternate symbols. To create an alternate symbol:
    1. Create a symbol using SimpleMarkerSymbol.
    2. Convert the simple marker symbol to an MultilayerSymbol using SimpleMarkerSymbol.toMultilayerSymbol().
    3. Set the multilayer symbol’s referenceProperties to the valid scale ranges with the blue square and yellow diamond.
  3. Create a third multilayer symbol to be used to create a UniqueValue class.
  4. Create a unique value using the red triangle from step 3 and the list of alternate symbols from step 2.
  5. Create a UniqueValueRenderer and add the unique value from step 4 to it.
  6. Create a purple diamond simple marker and convert it to a multilayer symbol to be used as the default symbol.
  7. Set the unique value renderer’s defaultSymbol property to the purple diamond from step 6.
  8. Set the unique value renderer’s fieldNames property to “req_type”.
  9. Apply this unique value renderer to the renderer on feature layer.

Relevant API

  • MultilayerSymbol
  • SimpleMarkerSymbol
  • SymbolReferenceProperties
  • UniqueValue
  • UniqueValueRenderer

About the data

The San Francisco 311 incidents layer in this sample displays point features related to crime incidents such as graffiti and tree damage that have been reported by city residents.

Tags

alternate symbols, multilayer symbol, scale based rendering, simple marker symbol, symbol reference properties, symbology, unique value, unique value renderer

Sample Code

MainActivity.kt MainActivity.kt DisplayAlternateSymbolsAtDifferentScalesViewModel.kt DisplayAlternateSymbolsAtDifferentScalesScreen.kt
/* Copyright 2025 Esri
*
* Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
* you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
* You may obtain a copy of the License at
*
* http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
*
* Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
* distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
* WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
* See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
* limitations under the License.
*
*/
package com.esri.arcgismaps.sample.displayalternatesymbolsatdifferentscales
import android.os.Bundle
import androidx.activity.ComponentActivity
import androidx.activity.compose.setContent
import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
import androidx.compose.material3.Surface
import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
import com.arcgismaps.ApiKey
import com.arcgismaps.ArcGISEnvironment
import com.esri.arcgismaps.sample.sampleslib.theme.SampleAppTheme
import com.esri.arcgismaps.sample.displayalternatesymbolsatdifferentscales.screens.DisplayAlternateSymbolsAtDifferentScalesScreen
class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
// authentication with an API key or named user is
// required to access basemaps and other location services
ArcGISEnvironment.apiKey = ApiKey.create(BuildConfig.ACCESS_TOKEN)
setContent {
SampleAppTheme {
DisplayAlternateSymbolsAtDifferentScalesApp()
}
}
}
@Composable
private fun DisplayAlternateSymbolsAtDifferentScalesApp() {
Surface(color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.background) {
DisplayAlternateSymbolsAtDifferentScalesScreen(
sampleName = getString(R.string.display_alternate_symbols_at_different_scales_app_name)
)
}
}
}