Using ArcGIS Online in your Web application

You can add ArcGIS Online services as layers in your Web Mapping Applications. To access ArcGIS Online, you can make a connection to the server using Manager. Advanced developers can also use the Web controls or one of the APIs included with the Web ADF. Whichever way you choose, you will need to specify the URL of the ArcGIS Online server, your user name and password, and the name of the service you want to connect to.

This help system explains how to connect to ArcGIS Online while building a Web application in Manager. For help with making an ArcGIS Online connection programmatically, or through the Web ADF's controls, see the ArcGIS Server Developer Help for your platform.

The Web Mapping Application below was created in Manager and uses an ArcGIS Online service.

A Web Mapping Application that uses an ArcGIS Online service

Upgrading to ArcGIS Server 9.2, Service Pack 2

When working with ArcGIS Online in the Web ADF, ensure that you have upgraded to ArcGIS Server 9.2, Service Pack 2. Although you can use these services in Web applications created with previous releases of 9.2, significant improvements in performance were introduced at Service Pack 2 for working with multiple cached services in the same map.

Overlaying map caches in Web applications

Each ArcGIS Online service uses a cache of pre-rendered images to quickly display the map. Each image is called a tile. When designing your own map caches that will overlay the ArcGIS Online layers in a Web application, there are some special rules to follow about how you create your cache tiles. These rules differ depending on whether you are using ArcGIS Server for the Microsoft .NET Framework or ArcGIS Server for the Java Platform.

If you will be using your own map caches to overlay ArcGIS Online layers, or vice versa, be sure to read the following guidelines, depending on your platform:

Accessing ArcGIS Online services in a Web mapping application

ArcGIS Server Manager contains a simple interface for creating a Web mapping application. The steps below explain how to use Manager to create an application that displays a map with an ArcGIS Online layer. Before performing these steps, you need to have registered for ArcGIS Online.

To add an ArcGIS Online service to your Web application, you will need to make a connection to ArcGIS Online:

  1. Open ArcGIS Server Manager and click the Applications tab.

  2. Click Create Web Application.

    Click Create Web Application in the Home tab of Manager

  3. Type a name for the application and click Next. The panel that appears allows you to select layers for your map. This is where you will add a connection to ArcGIS Online.

  4. In the Select Layers tab, click Add GIS Server.

    Adding a GIS server in Manager

  5. Select ArcGIS Server Internet as the connection type, then enter the URL, which is http://services.arcgisonline.com/v92.

  6. Click Access secure services and enter the name and password you received in your ArcGIS Online registration e-mail.

    Entering parameters for an Internet connection

  7. Click Add Server. You should see the connection appear in the Available Services list.

  8. Expand the list, select a service, and click Add. The service name will move to the Selected Services list.

    Selecting a service to display in the application

  9. Optionally, add any of your own services that you will use in your map. To change the layer order of the services, use the up and down arrow buttons on the right of the screen. To set a transparency value for a layer or change its name in the table of contents, use the Preview Layers tab.

  10. (.NET) Once you've finished adding layers, click the Preview Layers tab. Choose to use the extent and coordinate system of the ArcGIS Online layer.

    Choose to use the coordinate system and extent of the ArcGIS Online layer

    (Java) Ensure that an ArcGIS Online layer is the bottommost layer in the map. In the Web ADF for the Java Platform, the bottommost layer defaults to the base map resource.

  11. Continue creating your Web application by completing the remaining panels of the Manager wizard.

    Note: ArcGIS Online layers are not displayable in the Overview Map. You should either choose a different layer in the Overview Map Settings dialog, or uncheck the option to include the Overview Map.

You can find complete instructions for creating a Web mapping application in the topics below from the ArcGIS Server Help: