Learn how to use a URL to access and display a feature layer in a map.

A map contains layers of geographic data. A map contains a basemap layer and, optionally, one or more data layers. This tutorial shows you how to access and display a feature layer in a map. You access feature layers with an item ID or URL. You will use URLs to access the Trailheads, Trails, and Parks and Open Spaces feature layers and display them in a map.
A feature layer is a dataset in a feature service hosted in ArcGIS. Each feature layer contains features with a single geometry type (point, line, or polygon), and a set of attributes. You can use feature layers to store, access, and manage large amounts of geographic data for your applications.
Prerequisites
Before starting this tutorial:
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You need an ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.
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Your system meets the system requirements.
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The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt, version 200.8.0 or later is installed.
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The Qt 6.8.2 software development framework or later is installed.
Develop or Download
You have two options for completing this tutorial:
Option 1: Develop the code
To start the tutorial, complete the Display a map tutorial. This creates a map to display the Santa Monica Mountains in California using the topographic basemap from the ArcGIS Basemap Styles service.
Open a Qt Creator project
- Open the project you created by completing the Display a map tutorial.
- Continue with the following instructions to use a URL to access and display a feature layer in a map.
Include header files
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In the project Headers folder of Qt Creator, double-click the Display_a_map.cpp file to open it. Include these header files to be able to create
ServiceFeatureTableandFeatureLayerinstances.Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks #include "Display_a_map.h" #include "Map.h" #include "MapTypes.h" #include "MapQuickView.h" #include "Point.h" #include "Viewpoint.h" #include "SpatialReference.h" #include <QFuture> #include "LayerListModel.h" #include "ServiceFeatureTable.h" #include "FeatureLayer.h"
Add a polygon feature layer
This tutorial will draw the map in following order:
- ArcGISTopographic basemap style layer
- Parks and Open Spaces (polygons)
- Trails (lines)
- Trailheads (points)
It is important to add feature layers in the correct order so features are displayed correctly. Polygon feature layers are typically created before lines or points, so that those features are not obscured by the polygons.
Use the FeatureLayer class to reference the Parks and Open Spaces URL and add features to the map.
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Go to the Parks and Open Spaces URL and browse the properties of the layer. You may want to explore the Name, Type, Drawing Info, and Fields properties.
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Within the
setupmethod, add the following code. Create aViewpoint() Qinstance namedUrl polygonusing an ArcGIS feature server as the feature data source. Then create aFeature Url ServiceFeatureTablenamedpolygonfrom that_feature _table Q.Url Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks void Display_a_map::setupViewpoint() { const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84()); const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0); m_mapView->setViewpointAsync(viewpoint); const QUrl polygonFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* polygon_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(polygonFeatureUrl, this); } -
Continuing within the
setupmethod, you will create aViewpoint() FeatureLayerinstance namedpolygon, passing in_feature _layer polygonas the argument. Then append your new_feature _table polygonto the_feature _layer Mapinstance namedm._map Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks void Display_a_map::setupViewpoint() { const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84()); const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0); m_mapView->setViewpointAsync(viewpoint); const QUrl polygonFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* polygon_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(polygonFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* polygon_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(polygon_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(polygon_feature_layer); }
Add a line feature layer
Line features are typically displayed in a feature layer before points. Use the FeatureLayer class to reference the Trails URL and add features to the map, as described next.
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Staying within the
setupmethod, add the following code to create aViewpoint() Qinstance namedUrl lineusing the ArcGIS feature server as the feature data source, in this case,Feature Url Trails. Then create a_Styled ServiceFeatureTablenamedlinefrom that_feature _table Q.Url Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks void Display_a_map::setupViewpoint() { const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84()); const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0); m_mapView->setViewpointAsync(viewpoint); const QUrl polygonFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* polygon_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(polygonFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* polygon_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(polygon_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(polygon_feature_layer); const QUrl lineFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Trails/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* line_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(lineFeatureUrl, this); } -
Continuing within the
setupmethod, create aViewpoint() FeatureLayerinstance namedline, passing in_feature _layer lineas the argument. Then append your new_feature _table lineto the_feature _layer Mapinstance namedm._map Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks void Display_a_map::setupViewpoint() { const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84()); const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0); m_mapView->setViewpointAsync(viewpoint); const QUrl polygonFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* polygon_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(polygonFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* polygon_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(polygon_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(polygon_feature_layer); const QUrl lineFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Trails/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* line_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(lineFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* line_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(line_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(line_feature_layer); }
Add a point feature layer
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Staying within the
setupmethod, add the following code to create aViewpoint() Qinstance namedUrl pointusing the ArcGIS feature server as the feature data source, in this case,Feature Url Trailheads. Then create aServiceFeatureTablenamedpointfrom that_feature _table Q.Url Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks void Display_a_map::setupViewpoint() { const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84()); const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0); m_mapView->setViewpointAsync(viewpoint); const QUrl polygonFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* polygon_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(polygonFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* polygon_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(polygon_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(polygon_feature_layer); const QUrl lineFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Trails/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* line_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(lineFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* line_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(line_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(line_feature_layer); const QUrl pointFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* point_feature_table= new ServiceFeatureTable(pointFeatureUrl, this); } -
Continuing within the
setupmethod, add the following two lines of code to create aViewpoint() FeatureLayer, passing inpointas the argument. Then append your_feature _table FeatureLayerto theMapinstance namedm._map Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks void Display_a_map::setupViewpoint() { const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84()); const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0); m_mapView->setViewpointAsync(viewpoint); const QUrl polygonFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Parks_and_Open_Space/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* polygon_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(polygonFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* polygon_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(polygon_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(polygon_feature_layer); const QUrl lineFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/ArcGIS/rest/services/Trails/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* line_feature_table = new ServiceFeatureTable(lineFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* line_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(line_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(line_feature_layer); const QUrl pointFeatureUrl("https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Trailheads/FeatureServer/0"); ServiceFeatureTable* point_feature_table= new ServiceFeatureTable(pointFeatureUrl, this); FeatureLayer* point_feature_layer = new FeatureLayer(point_feature_table, this); m_map->operationalLayers()->append(point_feature_layer); }
Set developer credentials
Now to complete this tutorial, click on the switcher for either API key authentication or User authentication options to use the correct authentication pattern to run the application.
You will need to supply the correct information for the authentication pattern you choose, this information was obtained when completing the Display a map tutorial.
Set the API Key
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In the project Sources folder of Qt Creator, open the main.cpp file.
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Modify the code to set the
accessusing your API key access token (highlighted in yellow).Token main.cppUse dark colors for code blocks // The following methods grant an access token: // 1. User authentication: Grants a temporary access token associated with a user's ArcGIS account. // To generate a token, a user logs in to the app with an ArcGIS account that is part of an // organization in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. // 2. API key authentication: Get a long-lived access token that gives your application access to // ArcGIS location services. Go to the tutorial at https://links.esri.com/create-an-api-key. // Copy the API Key access token. const QString accessToken = QString(""); if (accessToken.isEmpty()) { qWarning() << "Use of ArcGIS location services, such as the basemap styles service, requires" << "you to authenticate with an ArcGIS account or set the API Key property."; } else { ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment::setApiKey(accessToken); } -
Save the main.cpp file.
Best Practice: The access token is stored directly in the code as a convenience for this tutorial. Do not store credentials directly in source code in a production environment.
Press Ctrl + R to run the app.
The map view should display all three feature layers in the map. Double-click, drag, and scroll the mouse wheel over the map view to explore the map.
Alternatively, you can download the tutorial solution, as follows.
Option 2: Download the solution
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Click the
Download solutionlink underSolutionand unzip the file to a location on your machine. -
Open the .pro project file in Qt Creator.
Since the downloaded solution does not contain authentication credentials, you must set up authentication to create the developer credentials and add them to the project.
Now to complete this tutorial, click on the switcher for either API key authentication or User authentication options to use the correct authentication pattern to run the application.
You will need to supply the correct information for the authentication pattern you choose, this information was obtained when completing the Display a map tutorial.
Set developer credentials in the solution
Set the API Key
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In the project Sources folder of Qt Creator, open the main.cpp file.
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Modify the code to set the
accessusing your API key access token (highlighted in yellow).Token main.cppUse dark colors for code blocks // The following methods grant an access token: // 1. User authentication: Grants a temporary access token associated with a user's ArcGIS account. // To generate a token, a user logs in to the app with an ArcGIS account that is part of an // organization in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. // 2. API key authentication: Get a long-lived access token that gives your application access to // ArcGIS location services. Go to the tutorial at https://links.esri.com/create-an-api-key. // Copy the API Key access token. const QString accessToken = QString(""); if (accessToken.isEmpty()) { qWarning() << "Use of ArcGIS location services, such as the basemap styles service, requires" << "you to authenticate with an ArcGIS account or set the API Key property."; } else { ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment::setApiKey(accessToken); } -
Save main.cpp file.
Best Practice: The access token is stored directly in the code as a convenience for this tutorial. Do not store credentials directly in source code in a production environment.
Run the solution
Press Ctrl + R to run the app.
The map view should display all three feature layers in the map. 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 location services, and ArcGIS tools in these tutorials: