Add a feature layer

Before starting this tutorial:

1. You need an ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.

2. Your system meets the system requirements.

3. The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt, version 300.1.0 or later is installed.

4. The Qt 6.8.2 software development framework or later is installed.

5. The CMake build system is installed.

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 The ArcGIS Basemap Styles service, also referred to as the Basemap Styles service, is a location service that provides basemap styles and data for the world. It returns styles as Mapbox styles and web maps, and data as vector tiles and/or map tiles. It supports all of the styles in the ArcGIS Basemap style and Open Basemap style family. An ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account is required to use the service. Learn more .

Open a Qt Creator project

1. Open the project you created by completing the Display a map tutorial.
2. Continue with the following instructions to use a URL to access and display a feature layer in a map.

Include header files

In the project Display_a_map > Display_a_map > Source Files folder of Qt Creator, double-click the Display_a_map.cpp file to open it. Include these header files to be able to create ServiceFeatureTable and FeatureLayer instances.

#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:

1. ArcGISTopographic basemap style layer
2. Parks and Open Spaces (polygons)
3. Trails (lines)
4. Trailheads (points)

It is important to add feature layers in the correct order so features are displayed correctly. Polygon feature layers A feature layer (client-side) is a data layer that can access and display features from a feature service that has the same type of geometry and attribute fields. Learn more 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 A map is a collection of layers that are displayed in 2D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer and data layers. Learn more .

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.

Staying in the Display_a_map.cpp file, within the setupViewpoint() method, add the following code. Create a QUrl instance named polygonFeatureUrl using an ArcGIS feature server as the feature data source. Then create a ServiceFeatureTable named polygon_feature_table from that QUrl.

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 setupViewpoint() method, you will create a FeatureLayer instance named polygon_feature_layer, passing in polygon_feature_table as the argument. Then append your new polygon_feature_layer to the Map instance named m_map. Then save the file.

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 A feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes. Learn more are typically displayed in a feature layer A feature layer (client-side) is a data layer that can access and display features from a feature service that has the same type of geometry and attribute fields. Learn more before points. Use the FeatureLayer class to reference the Trails URL and add features to the map, as described next.

Staying in the Display_a_map.cpp file, within the setupViewpoint() method, add the following code to create a QUrl instance named lineFeatureUrl using the ArcGIS feature server as the feature data source, in this case, Trails_Styled. Then create a ServiceFeatureTable named line_feature_table from that QUrl.

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 setupViewpoint() method, create a FeatureLayer instance named line_feature_layer, passing in line_feature_table as the argument. Then append your new line_feature_layer to the Map instance named m_map. Then save the file.

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

Staying in the Display_a_map.cpp file, within the setupViewpoint() method, add the following code to create a QUrl instance named pointFeatureUrl using the ArcGIS feature server as the feature data source, in this case, Trailheads. Then create a ServiceFeatureTable named point_feature_table from that QUrl.

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 setupViewpoint() method, add the following two lines of code to create a FeatureLayer, passing in point_feature_table as the argument. Then append your FeatureLayer to the Map instance named m_map. Then save the file.

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

For the final steps of this tutorial, click the tab below that corresponds to the authentication type (API key authentication or User authentication) that you chose when you completed the Display a map tutorial.

Be sure to also provide the same authentication (API key or user authentication Client ID/Redirect URL) that you used for the Display a map tutorial.

    // 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);
    }

# TODO: Replace the <path_to_toolkit_repo> with a valid location where the Qt Toolkit
# root directory resides on your system, example: C:/applications/arcgis-maps-sdk-toolkit-qt
# The code also sets the TOOLKIT_FOUND variable which is used by other parts of the tutorial.

set(ARCGIS_TOOLKIT_REPOSITORY "<path_to_toolkit_repo>")

{

#ifdef TOOLKIT_FOUND

    // Define the Redirect URL string obtained when creating the OAuth credentials.
    // TODO: You need to replace the "REDIRECT_URL" with your own valid string,
    // ex: "urn:ietf:wg:oauth:2.0:oob"

    const auto qStringRedirectUrl = QString{"REDIRECT_URL"};

    // Define the URL of the portal to authenticate with.
    const QUrl qUrlPortal = QUrl{"https://www.arcgis.com/"};

    // Define a unique identifier associated with an application registered with the
    // portal that assists with client/server OAuth authentication.
    // TODO: You need to replace the "CLIENT_ID" with your own valid string.

    const QString qStringClientId = QString{"CLIENT_ID"};

    // Create a new OAuth user configuration using: the Url to mapping web service, the Client ID
    // string, and the Redirect Url string.
    auto* oAuthUserConfiguration = new OAuthUserConfiguration(qUrlPortal, qStringClientId,
                                                              qStringRedirectUrl, this);

    // Call the Toolkit's OAuthUserConfigurationManager static `addConfiguration`
    // method to use the OAuth dialog. This will tell the Authenticator to use OAuth for the provided configuration.
    Toolkit::OAuthUserConfigurationManager::addConfiguration(oAuthUserConfiguration);
#endif // TOOLKIT_FOUND

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.

Option 2: Download the solution

Click the Download solution link on this page under the Solution title and unzip the file to a location on your machine.

In Qt Creator, choose File > Open File or Project… from them menus. In the Open file dialog, navigate to the CMakeLists.txt file for the solution you unzipped and click the Open button.

The Configure Project window will appear for you to specify the Qt Kit to use to compile the project. Check on the Qt Kit called Desktop Qt 6.8.2 MSVC2022 64bit before clicking the Configure Project button at the bottom of the page.

Since the downloaded solution does not contain authentication credentials (API Key or User authentication), you must set up authentication to create the developer credentials and add them to the project.

For the final steps of this tutorial, click the tab below that corresponds to the authentication type (API key authentication or User authentication) that you chose when you completed the Display a map tutorial.

Be sure to also provide the same authentication (API key or user authentication Client ID/Redirect URL) that you used for the Display a map tutorial.

Set developer credentials in the solution

    // 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);
    }

# TODO: Replace the <path_to_toolkit_repo> with a valid location where the Qt Toolkit
# root directory resides on your system, example: C:/applications/arcgis-maps-sdk-toolkit-qt
# The code also sets the TOOLKIT_FOUND variable which is used by other parts of the tutorial.

set(ARCGIS_TOOLKIT_REPOSITORY "<path_to_toolkit_repo>")

{

#ifdef TOOLKIT_FOUND

    // Define the Redirect URL string obtained when creating the OAuth credentials.
    // TODO: You need to replace the "REDIRECT_URL" with your own valid string,
    // ex: "urn:ietf:wg:oauth:2.0:oob"

    const auto qStringRedirectUrl = QString{"REDIRECT_URL"};

    // Define the URL of the portal to authenticate with.
    const QUrl qUrlPortal = QUrl{"https://www.arcgis.com/"};

    // Define a unique identifier associated with an application registered with the
    // portal that assists with client/server OAuth authentication.
    // TODO: You need to replace the "CLIENT_ID" with your own valid string.

    const QString qStringClientId = QString{"CLIENT_ID"};

    // Create a new OAuth user configuration using: the Url to mapping web service, the Client ID
    // string, and the Redirect Url string.
    auto* oAuthUserConfiguration = new OAuthUserConfiguration(qUrlPortal, qStringClientId,
                                                              qStringRedirectUrl, this);

    // Call the Toolkit's OAuthUserConfigurationManager static `addConfiguration`
    // method to use the OAuth dialog. This will tell the Authenticator to use OAuth for the provided configuration.
    Toolkit::OAuthUserConfigurationManager::addConfiguration(oAuthUserConfiguration);
#endif // TOOLKIT_FOUND

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.