Publish a feature layer from a custom data provider

Custom data feeds allow you to use and access data from data sources that are not natively supported with ArcGIS. Data from custom data feeds can be served to web clients, desktop apps, and field apps as feature layers. These feature layers are read-only by default. If the custom data provider supports data editing, administrators can configure the feature layer to be editable from the ArcGIS Server Administrator Directory.

Prepare a custom data provider

Publishing a feature layer is the final step in creating a custom data feed. A developer must create a custom data provider and a default administrator must register it with a federated server site before you can publish a feature layer.

To understand the steps required to prepare the custom data provider, review the following:

1. Develop a custom data provider.

   For more information, see Create a Custom Data Feed Provider.

2. Build a custom data package (.cdpk) file.

   Your custom data provider must be bundled into a .cdpk file in order to register it with ArcGIS Server. For more information, see Build a Custom Data Package File.

3. Register the custom data provider with your federated server using one of the following options:

   • Register through ArcGIS Server Manager using your .cdpk.
   • Register through ArcGIS Server Administrator Directory using your .cdpk.
   • Register from the command line.

Once a custom data provider has been registered with your federated server, you can publish a feature layer from the portal that references your data provider.

Publish a feature layer

Create a feature layer that references your custom data provider by completing the following steps:

1. Sign in to your organization.

   You must be a member of the default publisher or administrator role or have the privileges to create content and publish server-based layers and hosted feature layers.

   Note:

   The workflows to create feature layers from the Content page require the privilege to publish hosted feature layers. While feature layers published from custom data providers are not hosted, this privilege is necessary for the workflow.

2. Open Content > My content and click New item.
3. Click Feature layer.
4. Choose Use a custom data provider and click Next.
5. Select a custom data provider and enter the values for any properties associated with the provider. Click Next.
6. Type a title.
7. Choose a folder in My content where you want to save the layer.
8. Optionally, type tags and a summary description for the layer.

   Tip:

   Once created, there is no indication in the portal that the feature layer references a custom data provider. If you want this information available, it is recommended that you use the tags.

9. Click Save.

A feature layer is created in My content. By default, only you have access to the feature layer. You can share it with others.