Save and load rules and models

The rule sets you create in the Compose Surface pane can be saved in a rule file to be used again. These metadata rules allow you to create a bathymetric surface or an ordered set of Bathymetric Information System (BIS) vector data for your workflows based on the requirements applied to the BIS metadata, and the rule file preserves the order and sorting type of the rules that have been added to the Compose Surface pane and can be applied to any BIS that has the same schema as the BIS in which they were created. Similarly, you can save model files created with the Compose Surface tool. Model files differ from rule files in that they contain both the rule sets and a list of the included datasets used to create the composite surface. Both can be loaded into ArcGIS Pro or used in the Bathymetry web app for analysis and visualization. Rule and model files can also be used as inputs for the Query File parameter of the BIS To Mosaic Dataset tool.

Save a rule file

Once you create a rule set, you can save the settings in a rule file and apply it to bathymetric datasets in ArcGIS Pro or in the Bathymetry web app. Rule files are saved as JSON text files that have a .rule extension.

Complete the following steps to save rule files:

1. Review the map and the Draw Order Weight field in the BisCatalog Footprints table to confirm that the rules order the data appropriately.

   The datasets in the BisCatalog are visualized based on the Draw Order Weight field—the dataset of the higher value is displayed above datasets with lower values. The Draw Order Weight values are calculated based on the rules set in Compose Surface pane.

   Note:

   You can remove a specific rule in the Compose Surface pane by clicking the Remove button next to the rule you want to remove or clear all the rules and participating datasets by clicking the Remove Model button in the Compose group of the Bathymetry tab.

2. Click the Menu button at the top of the Compose Surface pane and click Save As Rule File .

   The Save As Rule File dialog box appears.

3. Browse to the location where you want to save the rule file.
4. Type a name for the file in the File name text box.
5. Click Save.

You can now use the saved rule by opening the rule file in the Compose Surface pane when you have a Compose Surface group layer added to a map, or by loading it in the Bathymetry web app. You can also use it as an input to the Query File parameter of the BIS To Mosaic Dataset tool.

Load a rule file

To use a rule file that you previously saved, you must open it in the Compose Surface pane or the Bathymetry web app.

Note:

The BIS layers that you want to apply the saved rule file to must be from a BIS that has the same schema as the one that the rule was built with.

Complete the following steps to open a rule file in ArcGIS Pro:

1. Start ArcGIS Pro.
2. Open or create a project containing a BIS.

   Learn more about creating a BIS

3. Add the Compose Surface group layer to the map, if necessary.
4. Add filtered data to the Compose Surface group layer.
5. Click the Menu button at the top of the Compose Surface pane and click Open Rule File .

   The Open Rule File dialog box appears.

6. Browse to the location where the rule file you want to use is saved and select it.

   Rule files use a .rule extension.

7. Click OK.

The rules are applied to the BIS layers in the Compose Surface group layer. The data in the Compose Surface group layer is ordered according to the rules in the opened rule file.

Save a model file

When working with bathymetric data in the Compose Surface pane, you may want to save the parameters that were used to create a composite surface. A surface model file always includes sorting rules and specific ordered bathymetric datasets. Model files are saved as JSON text files that have a .model extension. The model file allows you to create a bathymetric surface for your workflows based on the sorted bathymetric datasets.

When the model file is saved, the sorting rules and the list of bathymetric datasets used to create the composite surface are both saved.

Complete the following steps to save model files:

1. Review the map and the Draw Order Weight field in the BisCatalog_CS Footprints table to confirm that the rules order the data appropriately.
2. Click the Menu button in the Compose Surface pane and click Save As Model File .

   The Save As Model dialog box appears.

3. Browse to the location where you want to save the model file.
4. Type a name for the file in the File name text box.
5. Type the model description in the Description text box.
6. Click Save.

   You can now use the saved model file by opening it in the Compose Surface pane when you have the Compose Surface group layer added to a map.

7. Optionally, rename the model and write a new model description using the Save As Model dialog box.

You can remove a surface model file that is loaded into the Compose Surface pane or choose not to save the model file that was created.

8. Optionally, click the Remove Model button in the Compose group on the Bathymetry tab to remove the active model file.

   Removing the model file clears the datasets and rules.

You can now use the saved model by opening the model file in the Compose Surface pane when you have a Compose Surface group layer added to a map, or by loading it in the Bathymetry web app. You can also use it as an input to the Query File parameter of the BIS To Mosaic Dataset tool.

Load a model file

To use a model file that you previously saved, you must open it in the Compose Surface pane or the Bathymetry web app.

Note:

The BIS layers that you apply the saved model file to must be from the BIS that the model was built with.

Complete the steps below to open a model file in ArcGIS Pro:

1. Start ArcGIS Pro.
2. Open or create a project containing a BIS.

   Learn more about creating a BIS

3. Add the Compose Surface group layer to the map, if necessary.
4. Click the Menu button in the Compose Surface pane and click Open Model File .

   The Open Model File dialog box appears.

5. Browse to the location where the model file you want to use is saved and select it.

   Model files use a .model extension.

6. Click OK.

Once the model file loads, the model name appears in the Compose Surface pane. The data in the Compose Surface group layer is ordered according to the filtered datasets and rules in the opened model file.