Add a feature layer from a portal item

Learn how to use an ArcGIS portal item to access and display a feature layer in a map.

add a feature layer from a portal item

You can host a variety of geographic data and other resources using ArcGIS Online. These portal items can also define how the data is presented. A web map or web scene, for example, not only defines the layers for a map or scene, but also how layers are symbolized, the minimum and/or maximum scales at which they display, and several other properties. Likewise, a hosted feature layer contains the data for the layer and also defines the symbols and other display properties for how it is presented. When you add a map, scene, or layer from a portal item to your ArcGIS Runtime app, everything that has been saved with the item is applied in your app. Adding portal items to your ArcGIS Runtime app rather than creating them programmatically saves you from writing a lot of code, and can provide consistency across apps that use the same data.

In this tutorial, you will add a hosted feature layer to display trailheads in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. The hosted layer defines the trailhead locations (points) as well as the symbols used to display them.

Prerequisites

The following are required for this tutorial:

An ArcGIS account to access API keys. If you don't have an account, sign up for free.
Your system meets the system requirements.
The ArcGIS Runtime API for Qt is installed.

Steps

Open the project in Qt Creator

To start this tutorial, complete the Display a map tutorial or download and unzip the solution.
Open the display_a_map project in Qt Creator.

If you downloaded the Display a map solution, set your API key.

An API Key enables access to services, web maps, and web scenes hosted in ArcGIS Online.

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.
In the Projects window, in the Sources folder, open the main.cpp file.

Modify the code to set the API key. Paste the API key, acquired from your dashboard, between the quotes. Then save and close the file.

main.cppUse dark colors for code blocks
Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2020 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.
//

#include "Display_a_map.h"

#include "ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.h"
#include "MapQuickView.h"

#include <QDir>
#include <QGuiApplication>
#include <QQmlApplicationEngine>

//------------------------------------------------------------------------------

using namespace Esri::ArcGISRuntime;

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    QGuiApplication::setAttribute(Qt::AA_EnableHighDpiScaling);
    QGuiApplication app(argc, argv);

    // Use of Esri location services, including basemaps and geocoding, requires
    // either an ArcGIS identity or an API key. For more information see
    // https://links.esri.com/arcgis-runtime-security-auth.

    // 1. ArcGIS identity: An ArcGIS named user account that is a member of an
    // organization in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise.

    // 2. API key: A permanent key that gives your application access to Esri
    // location services. Create a new API key or access existing API keys from
    // your ArcGIS for Developers dashboard (https://links.esri.com/arcgis-api-keys).

    const QString apiKey = QString("");

    if (apiKey.isEmpty())
    {
        qWarning() << "Use of Esri location services, including basemaps, requires "
                      "you to authenticate with an ArcGIS identity or set the API Key property.";
    }
    else
    {
        ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment::setApiKey(apiKey);
    }

    // Production deployment of applications built with ArcGIS Runtime requires you to
    // license ArcGIS Runtime functionality. For more information see
    // https://links.esri.com/arcgis-runtime-license-and-deploy.

    // ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment::setLicense("Place license string in here");

    // Register the map view for QML
    qmlRegisterType<MapQuickView>("Esri.display_a_map", 1, 0, "MapView");

    // Register the Display_a_map (QQuickItem) for QML
    qmlRegisterType<Display_a_map>("Esri.display_a_map", 1, 0, "Display_a_map");

    // Initialize application view
    QQmlApplicationEngine engine;

    // Add the import Path
    engine.addImportPath(QDir(QCoreApplication::applicationDirPath()).filePath("qml"));

    // Set the source
    engine.load(QUrl("qrc:/qml/main.qml"));

    return app.exec();
}

//------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Include header files

Your app needs the Portal and PortalItem classes to load an item hosted on ArcGIS Online and display it as a FeatureLayer in the map.

In the project, open the Sources folder and open the Display_a_map.cpp file. Add the following four include statements.

Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks
Add line.Add line.Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2020 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.
//

#include "Display_a_map.h"

#include "ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.h"
#include "Basemap.h"
#include "Map.h"
#include "MapQuickView.h"
#include <QUrl>

#include <QString>
#include "Portal.h"
#include "PortalItem.h"
#include "FeatureLayer.h"


using namespace Esri::ArcGISRuntime;

Display_a_map::Display_a_map(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */):
    QObject(parent),
    m_map(new Map(BasemapStyle::ArcGISTopographic, this))
{
}

Display_a_map::~Display_a_map()
{
}

MapQuickView* Display_a_map::mapView() const
{
    return m_mapView;
}

void Display_a_map::setupMap()
{

  const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84());
  const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0);
  m_mapView->setViewpoint(viewpoint);

  Portal* portal = new Portal(this);

  const QString itemId("2e4b3df6ba4b44969a3bc9827de746b3");
  PortalItem* portalItem = new PortalItem(portal, itemId, this);

  FeatureLayer* trailheadsLayer = new FeatureLayer(portalItem, 0, this);
  m_map->operationalLayers()->append(trailheadsLayer);

}

// Set the view (created in QML)
void Display_a_map::setMapView(MapQuickView* mapView)
{
    if (!mapView || mapView == m_mapView)
    {
        return;
    }

    m_mapView = mapView;

    m_mapView->setMap(m_map);

    setupMap();

    emit mapViewChanged();
}

Add the trailheads feature layer to the map

You will connect to ArcGIS Online and access a hosted item (trailheads layer) using its item ID. You can then create a FeatureLayer to display the PortalItem in the map.

Create a Portal instance using the default constructor.

Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks
Add line.
//   Copyright 2020 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.
//

#include "Display_a_map.h"

#include "ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.h"
#include "Basemap.h"
#include "Map.h"
#include "MapQuickView.h"
#include <QUrl>

#include <QString>
#include "Portal.h"
#include "PortalItem.h"
#include "FeatureLayer.h"


using namespace Esri::ArcGISRuntime;

Display_a_map::Display_a_map(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */):
    QObject(parent),
    m_map(new Map(BasemapStyle::ArcGISTopographic, this))
{
}

Display_a_map::~Display_a_map()
{
}

MapQuickView* Display_a_map::mapView() const
{
    return m_mapView;
}

void Display_a_map::setupMap()
{

  const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84());
  const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0);
  m_mapView->setViewpoint(viewpoint);

  Portal* portal = new Portal(this);

  const QString itemId("2e4b3df6ba4b44969a3bc9827de746b3");
  PortalItem* portalItem = new PortalItem(portal, itemId, this);

  FeatureLayer* trailheadsLayer = new FeatureLayer(portalItem, 0, this);
  m_map->operationalLayers()->append(trailheadsLayer);

}

// Set the view (created in QML)
void Display_a_map::setMapView(MapQuickView* mapView)
{
    if (!mapView || mapView == m_mapView)
    {
        return;
    }

    m_mapView = mapView;

    m_mapView->setMap(m_map);

    setupMap();

    emit mapViewChanged();
}

Create a PortalItem that references the trailheads item ID on the Portal.

Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks
Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2020 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.
//

#include "Display_a_map.h"

#include "ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.h"
#include "Basemap.h"
#include "Map.h"
#include "MapQuickView.h"
#include <QUrl>

#include <QString>
#include "Portal.h"
#include "PortalItem.h"
#include "FeatureLayer.h"


using namespace Esri::ArcGISRuntime;

Display_a_map::Display_a_map(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */):
    QObject(parent),
    m_map(new Map(BasemapStyle::ArcGISTopographic, this))
{
}

Display_a_map::~Display_a_map()
{
}

MapQuickView* Display_a_map::mapView() const
{
    return m_mapView;
}

void Display_a_map::setupMap()
{

  const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84());
  const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0);
  m_mapView->setViewpoint(viewpoint);

  Portal* portal = new Portal(this);

  const QString itemId("2e4b3df6ba4b44969a3bc9827de746b3");
  PortalItem* portalItem = new PortalItem(portal, itemId, this);

  FeatureLayer* trailheadsLayer = new FeatureLayer(portalItem, 0, this);
  m_map->operationalLayers()->append(trailheadsLayer);

}

// Set the view (created in QML)
void Display_a_map::setMapView(MapQuickView* mapView)
{
    if (!mapView || mapView == m_mapView)
    {
        return;
    }

    m_mapView = mapView;

    m_mapView->setMap(m_map);

    setupMap();

    emit mapViewChanged();
}

Create a FeatureLayer, using the PortalItem and referencing a serviceLayerId of 0 (zero). Then append this layer to the map's data layers (operational layers). Save the file.

Display-a-map.cppUse dark colors for code blocks
Add line.Add line.
//   Copyright 2020 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.
//

#include "Display_a_map.h"

#include "ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.h"
#include "Basemap.h"
#include "Map.h"
#include "MapQuickView.h"
#include <QUrl>

#include <QString>
#include "Portal.h"
#include "PortalItem.h"
#include "FeatureLayer.h"


using namespace Esri::ArcGISRuntime;

Display_a_map::Display_a_map(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */):
    QObject(parent),
    m_map(new Map(BasemapStyle::ArcGISTopographic, this))
{
}

Display_a_map::~Display_a_map()
{
}

MapQuickView* Display_a_map::mapView() const
{
    return m_mapView;
}

void Display_a_map::setupMap()
{

  const Point center(-118.80543, 34.02700, SpatialReference::wgs84());
  const Viewpoint viewpoint(center, 100000.0);
  m_mapView->setViewpoint(viewpoint);

  Portal* portal = new Portal(this);

  const QString itemId("2e4b3df6ba4b44969a3bc9827de746b3");
  PortalItem* portalItem = new PortalItem(portal, itemId, this);

  FeatureLayer* trailheadsLayer = new FeatureLayer(portalItem, 0, this);
  m_map->operationalLayers()->append(trailheadsLayer);

}

// Set the view (created in QML)
void Display_a_map::setMapView(MapQuickView* mapView)
{
    if (!mapView || mapView == m_mapView)
    {
        return;
    }

    m_mapView = mapView;

    m_mapView->setMap(m_map);

    setupMap();

    emit mapViewChanged();
}

Press <Ctrl+R> to run the app.

Your app should display a map with the trailheads centered on the Santa Monica Mountains. 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. Some tutorials also include instructions for QML.

PreviousAdd a feature layer Styles and data visualizationIntroduction

Solution

Download solution

Estimated time

10 minutes

DocumentationArcGIS Runtime API for Qt