Authoring a map document for ArcGIS Server on Linux/Solaris

The map document (.mxd or .msd) can only be authored on the Windows platform. When you publish the map document to ArcGIS Server on Linux/Solaris, you need to move the map document file and the related data to an area that can be accessed by theArcGIS Server Install User. Below is an overview of the map document authoring process for ArcGIS Server on Linux/Solaris.

I. Create your map document in ArcMap.

II. Make sure the pathnames in your map document point to the proper Linux/Solaris version of each dataset. You don't need to edit your path if you are using ArcSDE as your data source. You need to do this if you are using local data source. You can do this in three ways.

1) Use a relative path in your map document.

• Use a relative path when creating your map document in ArcMap.

• Copy your map document and your data sources onto to your Linux or Solaris computer keeping the same relative structure of your map document and your data source.

  For example, if your MXD or MSD file and your data source on your Windows machine are stored as

  C:\mydirectory\data\test.mxd
  C:\mydirectory\data\test1\test1.gdb
  C:\mydirectory\data\test2\test2.gdb

  They need to be stored on the Linux or Unix machine after copying as:

  <path>/test.msd
  <the same path>/test1/test1.gdb
  <the same path>/test2/test2.gdb
• Open your map document in the MXD Path Editor to make sure all the layers show up correctly.

2) Use MXD Path Editor to edit the path in your map document.

• Copy your map document and your data sources onto your Linux and Unix computer.
• Organize the set of pathnames to the data sources of your map service on Linux/Solaris.

• Use the MXD Path Editor to reset the pathnames in your map document to point to the proper Linux/Solaris version of each dataset. Make sure all the layers show up correctly.

  

3) Use ArcCatalog to edit the path in your map document.

• Copy your data sources onto your Linux or Solaris computer.
• In ArcCatalog, navigate to the location of your MSD or MXD file.
• Right-click on the file and select Set Data Source(s).
• In the Set Data Source(s) dialog box:

  In the Output file text box, specify the location and filename for creating the new MSD with updated Unix paths.

  Example: C:\mydirectory\data\test_unix.msd

  If you do not choose a new location or file name, a new file is created in the current location with a file name prefix "Copy_of" added to the current file name.
• In the Data Frame area, display all data frames by selecting <All>.
• In the New Data Source column, click on the path of the first layer. Click Replace All.

• In the Replace dialog box, in the Find what text box, edit the path name and leave only the path that is common to all the layers.

  Example: C:\mydirectory\data\

• In the Replace dialog box, in the Replace With text box, type a Linux/Solaris-compliant path name to replace the above Windows path. Make sure there are no upper case characters in the path name.

  Example: /net/mymachine/mymachine1/mydirectory/data/

• Click Replace All.
• Click OK to save the Linux/Solaris compliant data path in the MXD or MSD file.
• Move the MXD or MSD file to your Linux/Solaris machine.
• On your Linux/Solaris Server machine, open your map document in the MXD Path Editor to make sure all the layers show up correctly.

III. Use the ArcGIS Server Manager or ArcCatalog to publish your map service.