Connect to a GIS server

Connecting to a GIS server gives you access to resources and capabilities that are delivered as online services. You can connect to ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Online ready-to-use services, and Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc. (OGC) servers.

When you connect to an ArcGIS Server site, options allow you to use services, publish services, or administer the server. If the server is an ArcGIS Enterprise federated server, ArcGIS Pro only supports connections that allow you to use services. If the server is a stand-alone ArcGIS Server site, you may be able to publish services as well as use them: the connection with the most privileges allowed for your credentials is created. Once you have a publisher connection, you can upgrade your connection to the administrator level if your credentials allow it.

Note:

You may need to refresh your server connection if the contents of the server are changed outside your current ArcGIS Pro session. You may need to repair the connection if it becomes invalid.

Server credentials

Unless a server allows anonymous access, you must provide a login (username and password) when you create a connection. If the server is federated with an ArcGIS Enterprise portal, use the login of your portal account. If the server is a stand-alone server, use a login provided by the server administrator.

A login can be saved to Windows Credential Manager (the default) or to your server connection file (or both). Windows Credential Manager is recommended for two reasons. First, it is a more secure location for credentials than a file stored on the file system. Second, any ArcGIS Pro process that requires the login can access Windows Credential Manager; you are typically not prompted again for credentials while using the server connection on that computer.

Python scripts, however, can't access Windows Credential Manager. If you run scripts that require server credentials, the most secure practice is to encrypt the login in the script. The alternative is to save the login to a connection file.

Note:

Some resources stored on the server, such as map files (.mapx), may prompt you for credentials when you add them to a project. If your login is saved to Windows Credential Manager, this happens only once; thereafter, the resource recognizes the credentials. If your login is saved to a connection file, you are prompted for credentials each time you add the resource.

Access a server in a folder

You can browse to a GIS server and access its contents from a folder connection. This may be useful if you create files using data in the server and store them in the same folder location as the server connection file.

1. Connect to a folder containing the server you want to use.
2. In the Catalog pane, the Contents pane of a catalog view, or a catalog view window, browse to the folder that contains the server.
3. Browse into the server to use its contents.

Add an existing GIS server to a project

If you have an existing server connection—created in a different ArcGIS Pro project or in ArcMap—you can add it to the Servers container in your project.

Server connection files created in ArcGIS Pro are stored by default in the home folder of the project in which they are created. Files created in ArcMap are stored by default in your C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Esri\Desktop<release#>\ArcCatalog folder.

Server connection files have the following extensions:

• ArcGIS Server (.ags)
• OGC API Server (.ogc)
• WCS Server (.wcs)
• WFS Server (.wfs)
• WMS Server (.wms)
• WMTS Server (.wmts)

1. Open the Select Existing Server Connection File browse dialog box in one of the following ways:

   On the ribbon	Click the Insert tab. In the Project group, click Connections , point to Server, and click Add Server .
   In the Contents pane of a catalog view	Click Project . On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Create group, click Add and click Add Server .
   In the Catalog pane	Right-click an empty area of the pane, point to Add and click Add Server .

2. Browse to and select one or more server connection files on your local computer or a network computer.
3. Click OK.

   The server appears in the Servers container in the Catalog pane and the Contents pane of a catalog view.

4. Browse into the server to use its contents.

   You can also add a server to a project using context menu options or drag-and-drop methods:

   In the Catalog pane, catalog view, or Contents pane of a catalog view	Browse to a server connection from a folder, right-click it, and click Add To Project . Browse to a server connection from a folder and drag it to the Servers container . If there is no Servers container, drop it anywhere the Add to Project ScreenTip appears on the mouse pointer.
   In File Explorer	Browse to a server connection, select it, and drag it to the Catalog pane or the Contents pane of a catalog view.

Create an ArcGIS Server connection

When you connect to an ArcGIS Server, you can browse the items you have permission to access. If you provide a username and password, you may have permission to see additional items available to specific users.

Connect to an ArcGIS Server site

If you connect to an ArcGIS Enterprise federated server, you must sign in to the Enterprise portal. The server connection uses your portal credentials to access content on the server.

If you connect to a stand-alone ArcGIS Server site, the server connection determines your level of access from your username and password. If you have sufficient privileges, you can publish services.

1. Open the Add ArcGIS Server Connection browse dialog box in any of the following ways:

   On the ribbon	Click the Insert tab. In the Project group, click Connections , point to Server, and click New ArcGIS Server .
   In the Contents pane of a catalog view	Click Project . On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Create group, click New , point to New Server, and click New ArcGIS Server .
   In the Catalog pane	On the Project tab, right-click an empty area of the pane, point to New , point to New Server, and click New ArcGIS Server .

2. In the Server URL box, type the URL of the ArcGIS Server site.

   You must specify the server URL according to the site requirements.

3. Type your username and password, if needed. Under Save Login, choose how to store your credentials.
   • Windows Credential Manager—Your login is stored in the computer's operating system. This is the default.
   • Connection file—Your login is stored in the server connection file.
4. Click OK.
5. If you save your login to a connection file, a warning message appears. Click Yes to continue.

   Note:

   If you try to connect to a federated server without being signed in to the Enterprise portal, the ArcGIS Sign In dialog box appears. Enter your portal credentials and click Sign In.

An ArcGIS Server connection file (.ags) is created and saved in the project's home folder. The new server connection appears in the Servers container in the Catalog pane and the Contents pane of a catalog view.

To determine your level of access to the server's contents, check the server connection properties. The highest level of access that is granted when a connection is created is the publisher level. If your credentials support it, you can upgrade to the administrator access level after the connection is created.

Note:

Publisher and administrator connections are supported with stand-alone ArcGIS Server sites at version 10.6 or later. With earlier versions, you can only create connections that allow you to use services. For example, if you add an older server connection that was created in ArcMap to a project, a new server connection file (.ags) with user-level privileges is created in the project's home folder. If you use an older connection by browsing to it from a folder, the connection in your project is automatically downgraded to a user-level connection; however, this change is not saved to the connection file.

Connect to ArcGIS Online ready-to-use services

You can connect to specific servers associated with ArcGIS Online to access ready-to-use services. Ready-to-use services allow you to analyze your data and use high-quality data curated by Esri.

You can connect to ready-to-use services whether or not ArcGIS Online is your active portal. If ArcGIS Online is your active portal and you are not signed in, you are prompted to sign in when you connect.

1. Open the Add ArcGIS Server Connection browse dialog box in any of the following ways:

   On the ribbon	Click the Insert tab. In the Project group, click Connections , point to Server, and click New ArcGIS Server .
   In the Contents pane of a catalog view	Click Project . On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Create group, click New , point to New Server, and click New ArcGIS Server .
   In the Catalog pane	On the Project tab, right-click an empty area of the pane, point to New , point to New Server, and click New ArcGIS Server .

2. In the Server URL text box, type the URL of one of the following ArcGIS Online servers:

   • https://elevation.arcgis.com/arcgis—Calculate viewsheds, elevation profiles, and elevation summaries.
   • https://hydro.arcgis.com/arcgis—Create watersheds and trace point locations downstream.
   • https://traffic.arcgis.com/arcgis—Visualize traffic incidents as well as live and typical traffic conditions.
   • https://logistics.arcgis.com/arcgis—Perform routing, fleet routing, and other analyses on roads and walkways.
   • https://geocode.arcgis.com/arcgis—Transform descriptions of locations, such as coordinate pairs, addresses, or place-names, to locations on the earth's surface. It's not usually necessary to add this service because the ArcGIS World Geocoding Service is added to your project automatically when you are signed in to ArcGIS Online.

3. Click OK.

   Caution:

   Some ready-to-use services use service credits from your ArcGIS Online account.

An ArcGIS Server connection file (.ags) is created and saved in the project's home folder. The new server connection appears in the Servers container in the Catalog pane and the Contents pane of a catalog view.

Create an OGC service connection

You can connect to the following types of OGC services and add individual service layers or the entire service to a map.

• OGC API
• WCS
• WFS
• WMS
• WMTS

1. Open a server connection browse dialog box in any of the following ways:

   On the ribbon	Click the Insert tab. In the Project group, click Connections , point to Server, and click the appropriate server type.
   In the Contents pane of a catalog view	Click Project . On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Create group, click New , point to New Server, and click the appropriate server type.
   In the Catalog pane	If a Servers container is present, right-click it and click the appropriate server type. Otherwise, right-click an empty area of the pane, point to New , point to New Server, and click the appropriate server type.

2. In the server connection dialog box, type the URL of the server.
3. To communicate with the service using a specific version of the service specification, click the Version drop-down arrow and choose the appropriate version number. Otherwise, the default version of the service is used.
4. Optionally, if you are creating an OGC API, WFS, WMS, or WMTS connection, click the Custom request parameters heading and specify any custom request parameters to use.
5. Type your username and password, if needed. Under Save Login, choose how to store your credentials.
   • Windows Credential Manager—Your login is stored in the computer's operating system. This is the default.
   • Connection file—Your login is stored in the server connection file.
6. Click OK.
7. If you save your login to a connection file, a warning message appears. Click Yes to continue.

   Note:

   If the OGC service is associated with a service on an Enterprise portal, you may be prompted to sign in to the portal.

A server connection file is created and stored in the project's home folder. The server connection appears under Servers in the Catalog pane and in the Contents pane of a catalog view. The connection file has one of the following extensions, depending on the server type: .ogc, .wcs, .wfs, .wms, or .wmts.

View and modify server connection properties

You can view and modify the connection properties of a server in your project. You can change the capabilities that are available with the connection if your credentials allow it. For example, if your credentials provide access to administrator capabilities on the site, you can upgrade a publisher connection to the administrator level. Similarly, you can downgrade a publisher connection to the user level.

1. In the Catalog pane, the Contents pane of a catalog view, or a catalog view window, right-click a server connection and click Properties.

   The server's Properties dialog box appears. For ArcGIS Server connections only, the Connection Type drop-down list shows your connection level.

2. If the Connection Type option is available, you can change your level of access if you have the appropriate credentials.
   • User Connection—You can use services on the server. Map and feature services are listed, along with other items accessible with your credentials. This is the only option if you're connected to a federated server.
   • Publisher Connection—You can publish services, except geoprocessing services, to a stand-alone ArcGIS Server. Items accessible with your credentials are listed; however, feature services are not included in the list.
   • Administrator Connection—You can publish all services to a stand-alone ArcGIS Server. Items available with your credentials are listed; however, feature services are not included in the list.
3. In the Server URL box, change the URL of the server as appropriate.
4. For OGC servers only, in the Version drop-down list, change the version of the service specification as appropriate.
5. For OGC API, WFS, WMS, or WMTS servers only, click the Custom request parameters heading and change the custom parameter values as appropriate.
6. Under Authentication, change your username and password as appropriate. Optionally, under Save Login, change where your credentials are stored.
   • Windows Credential Manager—Your login is stored in the computer's operating system. This is the default.
   • Connection file—Your login is stored in the server connection file.

   If you are connected to a federated server, use your portal account login.

7. Click OK.
8. If you save your login to a connection file, a warning message appears. Click Yes to continue.

Open ArcGIS Server Manager

You can open Server Manager from an ArcGIS Server connection if your credentials allow access.

1. In the Catalog pane or a catalog view, browse to an ArcGIS Server connection in the Servers container or a folder connection.
2. Right-click the server connection and click Open ArcGIS Server Manager .

   Server Manager opens in a browser tab or window. If your credentials don't allow access, you get a message that access is forbidden.

Add a server to your project favorites

If you connect to the same server in many projects, you can make it a favorite. When you make a server connection a favorite, a copy of the connection file is saved to the Favorites folder in your roaming profile. The connection properties don't need to be provided again when you add the favorite to a project.

You can create server connections that are automatically made favorites. The connection files are stored in the Favorites folder in your roaming profile and are potentially available on every computer you use.

Tip:

You can make a server connection a favorite by dragging it from its catalog folder location, the catalog Servers container , or File Explorer to the Favorites tab of the Catalog pane or the Favorites container in the Contents pane of a catalog view.

Remove a connection

You can remove an item connection in the Catalog pane or catalog view if you no longer need to work with the item or if its contents become unavailable. When you remove an item connection, the item and its contents are no longer directly accessible from your project. However, they are not deleted from their computer, network, or cloud location.

You cannot remove item connections to items required by the project, such as the default toolbox and default geodatabase.

1. In the Catalog pane, browse to the item connection.

   Alternatively, with the catalog view active, browse to the item connection in the Contents pane or the catalog view.

2. Click the item connection to select it.
3. Right-click the item and click Remove From Project .

   When the catalog view is active, you can also use the ribbon to remove an item connection. On the ribbon, click the Catalog tab. In the Organize group, click Remove .