Packaging a published map
Release 9.3 Last modified March 24, 2011	Print all topics in : "Creating data packages"

About packaging a published map

A data package is a directory that contains a copy of your published maps and all the data necessary to view the map in ArcReader. This directory can be distributed to anyone with ArcReader. This is particularly useful for distributing maps to those who do not normally have access to the data.
The data packaging functionality in ArcGIS Publisher does have some limitations. For some, the limitations will not be a problem; for others, Data Packager, while not a complete solution, will assist in creating an easily distributable package of maps and data. The topics "Troubleshooting data packaging error messages" and "Troubleshooting data packaging limitations" can assist in assessing whether the data packaging limitations will affect the maps and data you want to distribute.
Data packages can be created from published maps in ArcMap or ArcCatalog. In ArcMap, click the Data Packaging button to open a file browser that allows you to select one or more published map files (PMF) for packaging. In ArcCatalog, select one or more published maps, right-click, then click Create Data Package.

How to package a published map

Choosing a package location

The package location is the location on your computer where the packaged published map and data will be written. The graphic below shows the folder structure of the data package.



A folder is created within the data directory for each data type and folder as it is encountered in the published map, starting with dp00, dp10, and so on. This is done to ensure that each folder is unique. The PMF directory contains the packaged published maps.

1. Click the Package Data for Published Maps button.
   
2. Select a published map to package.
   
3. Click the General tab.
   
4. Type in the path to an existing folder or browse to a folder.
   
5. Click OK to create a data package with default settings.
   

NOTE: Published maps that contain 3D globe content cannot be packaged.

Tips

With Windows 2000 and later, you can create the directory during the data packaging process. Click the Browse button and click Make New Folder on the Browse for Folder dialog box. The OK button on the Data Packaging dialog box will remain unavailable until a data package location is specified. The Create Data Package command will be unavailable in ArcCatalog if data packaging is not allowed for the published map. The map publisher can use a Publisher setting to control whether a data package can be created from the published map. Published maps with 3D ArcGlobe content are not supported for packaging.

Removing layers from the map that do not have data in the package

1. Click the General tab on the Data Packaging dialog box.
   
2. Check Only include map layers with features present in the data frame extent.
   
3. Click OK to create a data package with published maps that do not contain featureless layers.
   

Tips

Data packaging properties on the Extent tab may result in creating data packages that do not use all the data and layers in the original map. Internet map server (IMS) data is not convertible to another format and will always be maintained as Internet data. This setting will not remove ArcIMS layers.

Using the file geodatabase data format

1. Click the General tab on the Data Packaging dialog box.
   
2. Click File Geodatabase in the Data Format drop-down list.
   
3. Click the Extent tab and choose to include only the features that intersect the data frame or data frames in the map, or include all the features in the data layer.
   
4. Click OK to create a file geodatabase data package.
   

All vector and raster data referenced in the published map will be converted to file geodatabase format.

Tip

If your published maps make use of functionality specific to a file geodatabase, such as relationship classes, dimensions, topology, or a geometric network, you should use the copy setting.

Using the compressed file geodatabase data format

1. Click the General tab on the Data Packaging dialog box.
   
2. Click Compressed File Geodatabase in the Data Format drop-down list.
   
3. Click the Extent tab and choose to include only the features that intersect the data frame or data frames in the map, or include all the features in the data layer.
   
4. Click OK to create a compressed file geodatabase data package.
   

When creating a compressed data package, all the vector and raster data is converted to file geodatabase.

Using the copy data setting

1. Click the General tab on the Data Packaging dialog box.
   
2. Choose Copy data in existing format from the Data Format drop-down list.
   
3. Click OK to copy both the vector and raster data into the package.
   

Tips

ArcSDE data is packaged in the compressed file geodatabase format. It cannot be copied. Internet map server data is maintained as IMS data in the data package. Users of the data package need an Internet connection to view the IMS data. If your map references data from a file-based geodatabase, the entire geodatabase is copied.

Packaging multiple PMFs

You can select multiple PMFs at packaging time; the common data between PMFs will only be packaged once. You can also build new ArcMap documents (MXDs) from an existing package (with relative paths) and simply publish additional maps into the package.
The data package can be created manually by placing all the data necessary for your collection of maps in one parent folder. Next, build all your maps with relative paths and publish into the same parent folder. Then simply provide the parent folder to your ArcReader users.

1. Click the Package Data for Published Maps button.
   
2. Choose the published maps to package by holding down the Ctrl key and selecting multiple maps.
   
3. Click the General tab.
   
4. Type in the path to an existing folder or browse to a folder.
   
5. Click OK to create a data package with default settings.
   

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