Layer item management

Publishers and administrators in the organization manage the settings and details of layers published to the organization.

All items have common details and settings that you configure, but some layer types have additional management settings and options. See the following related pages for specific management settings per layer item type:

Layer type	Layer-specific management instructions
Hosted feature layers	Manage hosted feature layers Manage hosted feature layer editing
Hosted feature layer views	Set hosted feature layer view definition
ArcGIS Server feature layers	Manage feature layers
Tile layers	Manage tile layers
Scene layers	Manage scene layers
Map image layers	Manage map image layers
Imagery layers	Manage imagery layers

In addition to understanding what management options are available for each layer type, you must understand dependencies between layers and between layers and their source files. The following sections discuss these dependencies.

Delete operations and layer dependencies

Certain layer items are related, with one layer item being the primary or source layer for its dependent layer. For example, when you publish a hosted tile layer from a hosted feature layer, the hosted feature layer is the primary layer and the tile layer is the dependent layer. Similarly, feature layers that reference registered data and were published to a federated server are dependent on their related map imagery layers. When deleting items, you must delete the dependent layers before you can delete the primary item.

When you delete dependent layers, even if the dependent layers are hosted layers, the data is not deleted. The data is only deleted when you delete a primary hosted layer.

Tip:

Dependent layers are listed in the Details section on the Overview tab of the primary hosted feature layer or primary hosted feature layer view's item page. You can open the item page of each dependent layer from this section. Similarly, the Details section on the Overview tab of each dependent layer's item page shows the item's primary layer, and you can open the primary layer's item page from there.

When you attempt to delete a primary layer that has dependent layers using the Delete button on the item page, a message appears that lists the dependent layers. This message provides links to view and delete each dependent layer. Once you delete all dependent layers, you can delete the primary layer.

If you delete the file from which a hosted layer was published, you'll receive a message warning you there are dependent layers. You will not be prevented from deleting the file, but if you do delete it, certain functionality may no longer be available. For example, if you delete the tile package from which a hosted tile package was published, maps that contain the hosted tile layer cannot be taken offline.

The following apply to dependent layers:

• If you published a hosted tile layer or hosted map image layer from a hosted feature layer, you must delete the tile or map image layer before you can delete the hosted feature layer.
• If you created a hosted feature layer view from a hosted feature layer, you must delete the feature layer view before you can delete the hosted feature layer.
• If you published a hosted tile or map image layer from a hosted feature layer view, you must delete the hosted tile layer before you can delete the hosted feature layer view.
• If you published a map image layer and feature layer to a federated server, you must delete the feature layer item before you can delete the map image layer.
• If you delete a hosted feature layer that has an associated hosted WFS layer, the hosted WFS layer is also deleted.

Tip:

Delete dependent layers first. Although you can delete multiple layers simultaneously from the Content page, you cannot control the order in which items are deleted when using this method. If the operation attempts to delete a primary layer before its dependent layers, the operation will fail.

Ownership of dependent layers and source files

If you are an administrator of the organization and have privileges to reassign ownership, you are responsible for changing ownership of items in the organization.

A hosted layer and the file from which it was published—such as a shapefile, tile package, or scene layer package file—must have the same owner. To change ownership of the file, change ownership of the hosted layer that was published from it. The file item will be automatically reassigned.

A map image layer and its associated feature layer must have the same owner. They must also be shared to the same audience.

Similarly, dependent layers and the hosted feature layer from which they were created must have the same owner. To change ownership of these layers, change ownership of the primary hosted feature layer. All dependent layers and the item used to create the primary hosted feature layer—such as a service definition file or .csv file—will automatically change ownership too.

For instructions on how to change ownership, see Manage content.