Create a new dataset

Overview

You will learn: how to use ArcGIS tools to create a new feature layer for your apps.

If you want to create a new geographic dataset for your application, you can use the Create Layer tool available on the ArcGIS for Developers website. With this tool, you can interactively define the name, geometry type, spatial reference, and attribute fields for a new point, line, or polygon feature layer. When created, the feature layer is stored on ArcGIS Online and it will be empty. You can use applications such as the Map Viewer to add or edit features interactively or you can build your own applications to provide a custom editing experience. Learn more about working with feature layers in the Configure layers and Explore layer datatutorial.

In this tutorial, you will create a new point, line, and polygon feature layer to represent features along the coastline of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Map Viewer will be used to add new features to the layers.

Steps

Sign in

1. Sign in to the ArcGIS for Developers website. If you don't already an account, sign-up for free.

Create a new point feature layer

Use the Create Layer tool to create a feature layer that will contain new beach access points.

1. Go to ArcGIS for Developers and at the top right of the main menu, click > New Layer > Create an empty layer.

2. Use the tool to define the following properties for the feature layer:

   • In Details set:
     • Title: My Points
     • Tags: Beach Access
   • Click Geometry and set the geometry type and spatial reference:
     • Geometry: Points
     • Spatial Reference: 4326
   • Click Fields and create three new fields:
     • Field 1
       • Name: id
       • Alias: id
       • Type: Integer
       • Click Add Field
     • Field 2
       • Name: name
       • Alias: name
       • Type: String
       • Click Add Field
     • Field 3
       • Name: rating
       • Alias: rating
       • Type: String
       • Click Coded Values and add three domains:
         • Domain 1
           • Name: Poor
           • Code: 1
           • Click Add Coded Value
         • Domain 2
           • Name: Good
           • Code: 2
           • Click Add Coded Value
         • Domain 3
           • Name: Excellent
           • Code: 3
           • Click Add Coded Value
       • Click Add Field.
   • Click Settings and set:
     • This Layer can be accessed by: Everyone (Public)
     • Enable editing.
   • Click Create Layer to create the new empty layer. Take a moment to review properties of the new feature layer.

Add new point features

Use the Map Viewer to add beach access locations as points to the layer.

1. In the My Points property page, click Open in Map Viewer.

2. In the Map Viewer, use the search tool to find and zoom to "Mahou Riviera, Malibu".

3. In the top bar, click Edit > New Feature and then click on the map to create new features that represent access points along the beach. Place three points near the end of roads that access the beach. After you click on the map and create each feature, add the following data to the fields:
   
   

   New Feature	id	name	rating
   #1	1	Zuma Beach	Good
   #2	2	Westward Beach	Excellent
   #3	3	Point Dume County Beach	Poor

Create a new line feature layer

Use the Create Layer tool to create a feature layer that will contain new beach trails.

1. Go to ArcGIS for Developers and at the top right of the main menu, click > New Layer > Create an empty layer.

2. Use the tool to define the following properties for the feature layer:

   • In Details set:
     • Title: My Lines
     • Tags: Beach Trails
   • Click Geometry and set the geometry type and spatial reference:
     • Geometry: Lines
     • Spatial Reference: 4326
   • Click Fields and create three new fields:
     • Field 1
       • Name: id
       • Alias: id
       • Type: Integer
       • Click Add Field
     • Field 2
       • Name: name
       • Alias: name
       • Type: String
       • Click Add Field
     • Field 3
       • Name: rating
       • Alias: rating
       • Type: String
       • Click Coded Values and add three domains:
         • Domain 1
           • Name: Poor
           • Code: 1
           • Click Add Coded Value
         • Domain 2
           • Name: Good
           • Code: 2
           • Click Add Coded Value
         • Domain 3
           • Name: Excellent
           • Code: 3
           • Click Add Coded Value
       • Click Add Field.
   • Click Settings and set:
     • This Layer can be accessed by: Everyone (Public)
     • Enable editing.
   • Click Create Layer to create the new empty layer. Take a moment to review properties of the new feature layer.

Add new line features

Use the Map Viewer to add new beach trail lines to the layer.

1. In the My Lines property page, click Open in Map Viewer.

2. In the Map Viewer, use the search tool to find and zoom to "Mahou Riviera, Malibu".

3. In the top bar, click Edit > New Feature and then click on the map to create new features that represent new trails along the beach. Add three new features near the beach access points created earlier. After you click on the map and create each feature, add the following data to the fields:
   
   

   New Feature	id	name	rating
   #1	1	Zuma Beach Trail	Good
   #2	2	Westward Beach Trail	Excellent
   #3	3	Point Dume State County Trail	Poor

Create a new polygon feature layer

Use the Create Layer tool to create a feature layer that will contain new beach picnic areas.

1. Go to ArcGIS for Developers and at the top right of the main menu, click > New Layer > Create an empty layer.

2. Use the tool to define the following properties for the feature layer:

   • In Details set:
     • Title: My Polygons
     • Tags: Beach Picnic Areas
   • Click Geometry and set the geometry type and spatial reference:
     • Geometry: Polygon
     • Spatial Reference: 4326
   • Click Fields and create three new fields:
     • Field 1
       • Name: id
       • Alias: id
       • Type: Integer
       • Click Add Field
     • Field 2
       • Name: name
       • Alias: name
       • Type: String
       • Click Add Field
     • Field 3
       • Name: rating
       • Alias: rating
       • Type: String
       • Click Coded Values and add three domains:
         • Domain 1
           • Name: Poor
           • Code: 1
           • Click Add Coded Value
         • Domain 2
           • Name: Good
           • Code: 2
           • Click Add Coded Value
         • Domain 3
           • Name: Excellent
           • Code: 3
           • Click Add Coded Value
       • Click Add Field.
   • Click Settings and set:
     • This Layer can be accessed by: Everyone (Public)
     • Enable editing.
   • Click Create Layer to create the new empty layer. Take a moment to review properties of the new feature layer.

Add new polygon features

Use the Map Viewer to add new picnic area polygons to the layer.

1. In the My Polygons property page, click Open in Map Viewer.

2. In the Map Viewer, use the search tool to find and zoom to "Mahou Riviera, Malibu".

3. In the top bar, click Edit > New Feature and then click on the map to create new features that represent new picnic area on the beach. Add three new features near the beach access points created earlier. After you click on the map and create each feature, add the following data to the fields:
   
   

   New Feature	id	name	rating
   #1	1	Zuma Beach Picnic Area	Good
   #2	2	Westward Beach Picnic Area	Excellent
   #3	3	Point Dume County Beach Picnic Area	Poor

4. Add the My Points and My Lines layers to your map and save it.

Congratulations, you're done!

Now you can continue to edit features in your layers or start to use them in your applications. Your feature layers should look something like this.

Challenge

Explore the layer properties on ArcGIS Online

Find the URL

Set permissions

Set the styles

Explore the data in a table view