18. Sharing to ArcGIS Online¶

Goal: Move from a desktop project to a live web map. Publish a hosted feature layer, build a web map, and turn it into an app.

→ For platform overview, see ArcGIS Online (roadmap).

You need¶

• An ArcGIS Online account (free public account works for public sharing)
• A signed-in ArcGIS Pro (Project ribbon → Portal → Sign In)

The cleanest workflow¶

flowchart LR
    P[ArcGIS Pro<br/>analysis & styling] --> S[Share Web Layer]
    S --> AGOL[(ArcGIS Online<br/>Hosted feature layer)]
    AGOL --> WM[Web Map<br/>Map Viewer]
    WM --> APP[Instant App / Dashboard /<br/>Experience Builder]
    APP --> Pub[Public URL]

    classDef p fill:#312e81,stroke:#1e1b4b,color:#fff
    class P,WM p
    classDef a fill:#4338ca,stroke:#312e81,color:#fff
    class S,APP,Pub a
    classDef agol fill:#6366f1,stroke:#4338ca,color:#fff
    class AGOL agol

Step 1 — Publish a web layer¶

1. Right-click a layer → Sharing → Share As Web Layer.
2. Set:
   • Name (with no spaces)
   • Summary (short description)
   • Tags (comma-separated)
   • Folder (in your AGOL content)
   • Layer Type = Feature (most common)
   • Sharing: My Org / Everyone (public) / specific groups
3. Click Analyze. Pro warns about issues (missing CRS, complex symbology, etc.).
4. Fix all errors (warnings are usually fine).
5. Click Publish.

Your data is now a hosted feature layer in AGOL.

Pre-publishing checks¶

Step 2 — Build a Web Map¶

1. In your browser: https://www.arcgis.com → sign in.
2. Map → opens Map Viewer.
3. Add → Browse layers → My content → add your layer.
4. Style with Styles pane.
5. Configure Pop-ups (which fields show, custom title).
6. Save with a name and tags.

Step 3 — Make an App¶

In AGOL, open your web map → Create App:

Web tile layer (rasters / static)¶

For huge or static data, publish a Tile Layer instead of a feature layer. Pre-renders pixel tiles. Faster, but not editable or queryable.

Sharing a whole web app¶

When sharing publicly:

1. Open the web map → Share → tick Everyone (public).
2. Open the layers it uses → also share publicly. (If any layer isn't public, anonymous users see "no access".)
3. Open the app → share publicly.

There's a built-in Update sharing dialog that fixes this for you.

ArcGIS Living Atlas as an alternative¶

Before publishing your own demographic / environmental data, search the Living Atlas. Esri may already host an authoritative version. → Living Atlas resources.

Credits¶

Hosting feature data and tile data uses ArcGIS Online credits:

• Feature service: per GB/month, small
• Tile cache: per tile generated
• Geocoding: per address
• Network analysis: per route/service area

Keep an eye on your org's credit usage. For free public accounts, hosting is limited.

A reusable AGOL portfolio template¶

To set up a tidy AGOL portfolio:

1. Create an AGOL group called "Portfolio".
2. Add each project (Story Map / Dashboard / Experience) to the group.
3. Build a Hub site (free) that lists items in the group.
4. Share the Hub URL on your resume.

That's a one-stop URL recruiters can click.

Practice¶

🎓 You've completed the ArcGIS Pro learning path.

→ Now build a Portfolio Project.