Configure a custom basemap

Available with Defense Mapping license.

ArcGIS Enterprise is preconfigured with a collection of basemaps that can be used with the self-serve Map Production System (MPS) web app. These include basemaps from ArcGIS Online or map services outside of Esri. The following basemaps are available from Esri:

• Vector basemaps
• Basemap tile packages for offline use
• WGS84 geographic basemaps

For organizations with limited or no internet access, you can configure custom basemaps locally for disconnected deployments.

Add a custom basemap

To use custom basemaps, an item must be created in the same Enterprise portal that contains the MPS app. The created item can reference the service URL of a custom basemap, which allows the service associated with the custom basemap to be secured using the service credentials stored with the item. To add an Esri-provided custom basemap for use with the MPS app, complete the following steps:

1. In the portal hosting the MPS app, create an item from a service URL.

   

   Providers of non-Esri basemap services may make URLs available on their website.

2. Create a group for the basemap.

   Users that are added to this group can use, add, or share basemaps as items to the portal.

   Caution:

   You must be assigned an administrator role or assigned a custom role with privileges to alter portal settings.

   Learn more about groups

3. Share the basemap with the group.
4. Click the Content tab in your organization portal and browse to the MPS app item.
5. Click the item to open the Overview page, and click View to open the app.
6. Click the profile button to access the app's settings.

   You must be the app owner to access the Settings page.

7. In the General Settings section, check the Use portal-configured basemaps check box.
8. Verify that the basemaps you shared to the group appear as options under Basemap for a map product in the Product Settings section.

   

The configured basemaps are available in the Basemap section for each map product. Only the basemaps that are shared with the basemap group appear. These are also the basemaps that will be available in the app.

Configure a local basemap

If your organization deploys Enterprise in a disconnected environment, you can still use custom basemaps by creating a tile package in ArcGIS Pro that you can use locally from your organization's Enterprise portal. The portal item is swapped with the basemap in Map Viewer and saved to a custom basemaps group.

Learn more about custom basemaps

Create a tile package

To create a tile package that you can use locally, complete the following steps:

1. Open a map project in ArcGIS Pro.
2. Customize the map as necessary.

   This is the basemap that you can use to create a tile package.

3. Create a map or vector tile package by doing one of the following:
   • Use the Create Map Tile Package tool for a raster tile package.
   • Use the Create Vector Tile Package tool for a vector tile package.

   Note:

   The range specified for the level detail or cached scale impacts how long it takes to run the tool.

   Learn more about cache and tiling format

   Alternatively, you can publish a map service and configure the caching properties, and generate a vector or raster tile cache.

   Learn more about publishing hosted tile layers

   Learn more about authoring a map for vector tile creation

The tile package can now be configured in your organization's Enterprise portal.

Configure a group and add the tile package

To create a group that contains the tile package as a hosted layer, complete the steps below. You can configure access in the group settings.

1. Create a group in your organization's portal.

   Configure the group so that members can use, add, or share basemaps as items to this portal.

   Caution:

   You must be assigned an administrator role or assigned a custom role with privileges to alter portal settings.

   Learn more about groups

2. Click the Organization tab, and click Settings.
3. Click Map.
4. In the Basemap gallery section, choose the group that you created.

   Caution:

   Do not click Share basemaps for a disconnected environment. The basemap will be used locally.

5. Create an item in your organization's portal and add the tile package file.

A hosted tile layer is created and its overview page appears.

Add and share the tile layer as a basemap

To open the hosted tile layer in Map Viewer and set it as the basemap so that you can save and share it, complete the following steps:

1. From the hosted tile layer's overview page, click Open in Map Viewer.

   Map Viewer opens.

2. Click Options on the tile layer and choose Move to basemap.

   The layer moves to the Basemap pane.

3. Open the Basemap pane.
4. Remove the default Esri basemap if there is one.
5. Optionally, rename the tile layer.
6. Save the map in Map Viewer.

   

7. Share the map with the basemaps group you created.
8. Repeat this process to add more tile layers as basemaps.

   You can verify that tile layers were saved as basemaps by opening the Basemap pane.

The basemaps are in your organization's portal and can be accessed locally.

Use the basemap in the MPS app

To make the basemaps you configured available, complete the following steps in the MPS web app:

1. Access the MPS web app's settings.
2. In the General Settings section, check the Use portal-configured basemaps check box.
3. Verify that the basemaps you shared to the group appear as options under Basemap for a map product in the Product Settings section.

   

The configured basemaps are available in the Basemap section for each map product. Only the basemaps that are shared with the basemap group appear. These are also the basemaps that will be available in the app.