Display a map

Learn how to create and display a map with a basemap layer.

display a map

A map contains layers of geographic data. A map contains a basemap layer and, optionally, one or more data layers. You can display a specific area of a map by using a map view and setting the location and zoom level.

In this tutorial, you create and display a map of the Santa Monica Mountains in California using the topographic basemap layer.

The map and code will be used as the starting point for other 2D tutorials.

Prerequisites

Before starting this tutorial, you should:

Have an ArcGIS account and an API key to access ArcGIS services. If you don't have an account, sign up for free.
Ensure your development environment meets the system requirements.

Optionally, you may want to install the ArcGIS Runtime SDK for .NET to get access to project templates in Visual Studio (Windows only) and offline copies of the NuGet packages.

Steps

Create a new Visual Studio Project

ArcGIS Runtime API for .NET supports apps for Windows Presentation Framework (WPF), Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Xamarin Android, Xamarin iOS, and Xamarin Forms (cross-platform Android, iOS, and UWP). The instructions for this tutorial are specific to creating a .NET Core WPF project using Visual Studio for Windows.

Start Visual Studio and create a new project.
- In the Visual Studio start screen, click Create a new project.
- Choose the WPF App (.NET) template for C#, then click Next.
- Provide required values in the Configure your new project panel:
  - Project name: DisplayAMap
  - Location: choose a folder
- Click Create to create the project.

If developing with Visual Studio for Windows, ArcGIS Runtime for .NET provides a set of project templates for each of the supported .NET platforms. These templates provide all of the code needed for a basic Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) app. You need to install the ArcGIS Runtime for .NET Visual Studio Extension to add the templates to Visual Studio (Windows only). See Install and set up for details.

Add ArcGIS Runtime to your project

Add a reference to ArcGIS Runtime by installing a NuGet package.
- In Solution Explorer, right-click Dependencies and choose Manage NuGet Packages.
- In the NuGet Package Manager window, ensure the Package source selected is nuget.org.
- Select the Browse tab and search for ArcGIS Runtime.
- In the search results, select the appropriate package for your platform. For this tutorial project, choose the Esri.ArcGISRuntime.WPF NuGet package.
- Confirm the Latest stable version of the package is selected in the Version dropdown.
- Click Install.
- NuGet automatically resolves any package(s) dependencies or conflicts. By default the Preview Changes dialog will be displayed. Review the changes and click OK to continue installing the packages.
- Review the license information on the License Acceptance dialog and click I Accept to add the package(s) to your project.
- In the Visual Studio Output window, ensure the packages were successfully installed.
- Close the NuGet Package Manager window.

Get an API key

An API key is required to enable access to services, web maps, and web scenes hosted in ArcGIS Online.

If you haven't already, go to your developer dashboard to get your API key. For these tutorials, use your default API key. It is scoped to include all of the services demonstrated in the tutorials.

You will use this API Key below.

Configure ArcGIS Runtime with an API Key

Provide your API Key to ArcGIS Runtime when the application starts by overriding OnStartup in App.xaml.cs.

App.xaml.cs
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//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;

namespace DisplayAMap
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaction logic for App.xaml
    /// </summary>

    public partial class App : Application
    {

        protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
        {
            base.OnStartup(e);
            // Note: it is not best practice to store API keys in source code.
            // The API key is referenced here for the convenience of this tutorial.
            Esri.ArcGISRuntime.ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.ApiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";
        }

    }
}

Create a view model to store app logic

Since this app builds the foundation to be used in all following tutorials, it's good to build it with a solid design.

The Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) design pattern provides an architecture that separates user interface elements (and related code) from the underlying app logic. In this pattern, the model represents the data consumed in an app, the view is the user interface, and the view model contains the logic that binds the models and views together. The extra framework required for such a pattern might seem like a lot of work for a small project, but as the complexity of your project grows, a solid design can make your code much more maintainable and flexible.

In an ArcGIS Runtime app designed with MVVM, the map view usually provides the main view component. Many of the ArcGIS Runtime classes fill the role of models (representing data as maps, layers, graphics, features, and others). Much of the code you write will be for the view model component, since this is where you will add logic to work with ArcGIS objects and provide data for display in the view.

Add a new class that will define a view model for the project.
- Click Project > Add Class ....
- Name the new class MapViewModel.cs.
- Click Add to create the new class and add it to the project.
- The new class will open in Visual Studio.

Add required using statements to the view model.

MapViewModel.cs
Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace DisplayAMap
{

    class MapViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
    {

        public MapViewModel()
        {
            SetupMap();
        }

        public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
        protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
        {
            PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }

        private Map _map;
        public Map Map
        {
            get { return _map; }
            set
            {
                _map = value;
                OnPropertyChanged();
            }
        }

        private void SetupMap()
        {

            // Create a new map with a 'topographic vector' basemap.
            Map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISTopographic);

        }

    }

}

Implement the INotifyPropertyChanged interface in the MapViewModel class.

This interface defines a PropertyChanged event that is used to notify clients (views) that a property of the view model has changed.

MapViewModel.cs
Change lineChange line
//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace DisplayAMap
{

    class MapViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
    {

        public MapViewModel()
        {
            SetupMap();
        }

        public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
        protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
        {
            PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }

        private Map _map;
        public Map Map
        {
            get { return _map; }
            set
            {
                _map = value;
                OnPropertyChanged();
            }
        }

        private void SetupMap()
        {

            // Create a new map with a 'topographic vector' basemap.
            Map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISTopographic);

        }

    }

}

Inside the MapViewModel class, add code to implement the PropertyChanged event.

When a property of the view model changes, a call to OnPropertyChanged will raise this event.

MapViewModel.cs
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//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace DisplayAMap
{

    class MapViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
    {

        public MapViewModel()
        {
            SetupMap();
        }

        public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
        protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
        {
            PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }

        private Map _map;
        public Map Map
        {
            get { return _map; }
            set
            {
                _map = value;
                OnPropertyChanged();
            }
        }

        private void SetupMap()
        {

            // Create a new map with a 'topographic vector' basemap.
            Map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISTopographic);

        }

    }

}

Define a new property on the view model called Map that exposes an Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping.Map object. When the property is set, call OnPropertyChanged.

MapViewModel.cs
Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace DisplayAMap
{

    class MapViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
    {

        public MapViewModel()
        {
            SetupMap();
        }

        public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
        protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
        {
            PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }

        private Map _map;
        public Map Map
        {
            get { return _map; }
            set
            {
                _map = value;
                OnPropertyChanged();
            }
        }

        private void SetupMap()
        {

            // Create a new map with a 'topographic vector' basemap.
            Map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISTopographic);

        }

    }

}

Add a function to the MapViewModel class called SetupMap. This function will create a new map and use it to set the Map property.

The map will use a topographic vector tiled basemap.

MapViewModel.cs
Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace DisplayAMap
{

    class MapViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
    {

        public MapViewModel()
        {
            SetupMap();
        }

        public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
        protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
        {
            PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }

        private Map _map;
        public Map Map
        {
            get { return _map; }
            set
            {
                _map = value;
                OnPropertyChanged();
            }
        }

        private void SetupMap()
        {

            // Create a new map with a 'topographic vector' basemap.
            Map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISTopographic);

        }

    }

}

Add a constructor to the class that calls SetupMap when a new MapViewModel is instantiated.

When you write code like MapViewModel newMapVM = new MapViewModel();, the class constructor runs. This is a good place to add code that needs to run when the class is initialized.

MapViewModel.cs
Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace DisplayAMap
{

    class MapViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
    {

        public MapViewModel()
        {
            SetupMap();
        }

        public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
        protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
        {
            PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
        }

        private Map _map;
        public Map Map
        {
            get { return _map; }
            set
            {
                _map = value;
                OnPropertyChanged();
            }
        }

        private void SetupMap()
        {

            // Create a new map with a 'topographic vector' basemap.
            Map = new Map(BasemapStyle.ArcGISTopographic);

        }

    }

}

Your MapViewModel is complete!

An advantage of using the MVVM design pattern is the ability to reuse code in a view model. Because ArcGIS Runtime for .NET has a nearly standard API surface across platforms, the view model code you write for an ArcGIS Runtime for .NET app will usually work on all supported .NET platforms.

Next, you will set up a view in your project to consume the view model.

Add a map view

A MapView control is used to display a map. You will add a map view to your project UI and wire it up to consume the map that is defined on MapViewModel.

Add required XML namespace and resource declarations.

Open MainWindow.xaml and switch to the XAML view
Inside the existing namespace declarations, add an esri XML namespace for the ArcGIS Runtime controls
Add XAML that defines a MapViewModel instance as a static resource

MainWindow.xaml
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<Window x:Class="DisplayAMap.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:DisplayAMap"
        xmlns:esri="http://schemas.esri.com/arcgis/runtime/2013"
        mc:Ignorable="d"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">

    <Window.Resources>
        <local:MapViewModel x:Key="MapViewModel" />
    </Window.Resources>

    <Grid>

        <esri:MapView x:Name="MainMapView"
                      Map="{Binding Map, Source={StaticResource MapViewModel}}" />

    </Grid>

</Window>

Add a MapView control to MainWindow.xaml and bind it to the MapViewModel.

Add XAML that defines a MapView control named MainMapView
Use data binding to set the Map property of the control using the MapViewModel resource.

MainWindow.xaml
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<Window x:Class="DisplayAMap.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:DisplayAMap"
        xmlns:esri="http://schemas.esri.com/arcgis/runtime/2013"
        mc:Ignorable="d"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">

    <Window.Resources>
        <local:MapViewModel x:Key="MapViewModel" />
    </Window.Resources>

    <Grid>

        <esri:MapView x:Name="MainMapView"
                      Map="{Binding Map, Source={StaticResource MapViewModel}}" />

    </Grid>

</Window>

Set a viewpoint on the map view

Set a viewpoint for the map view when the window loads. The viewpoint defines a point and map scale that centers the display on the Santa Monica mountains along the coast of southern California.

Open MainWindow.xaml.cs. This is the code behind file that contains code associated with MainWindow.xaml and the user interface element it defines.

Add new required usings:

MainWindow.xaml.cs
Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;

namespace DisplayAMap
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {

        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            MapPoint mapCenterPoint = new MapPoint(-118.805, 34.027, SpatialReferences.Wgs84);
            MainMapView.SetViewpoint(new Viewpoint(mapCenterPoint, 100000));

        }

    }
}

In the constructor for MainWindow, add code to define a new Viewpoint and apply it to the map view.

MainWindow.xaml.cs
Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2021 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
//
//   https://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.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;

using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Geometry;
using Esri.ArcGISRuntime.Mapping;

namespace DisplayAMap
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {

        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();

            MapPoint mapCenterPoint = new MapPoint(-118.805, 34.027, SpatialReferences.Wgs84);
            MainMapView.SetViewpoint(new Viewpoint(mapCenterPoint, 100000));

        }

    }
}

Run the app

Click Debug > Start Debugging (or press <F5> on the keyboard) to run the app.

You should see a map with the topographic basemap layer centered on the Santa Monica Mountains in California. Double-click, drag, and scroll the mouse wheel over the map view to explore the map.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional API features, ArcGIS platform services, and ArcGIS tools in these tutorials:

Maps (2D)Navigate a map view NextAdd a point, line, and polygon

DocumentationArcGIS Runtime API for .NET

Display a map

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