Share a vector tile layer

With ArcGIS Pro, you can share vector tile layers to your active portal. Like tile layers, vector tile layers are typically best used with relatively static maps. Unlike tile layers, vector tile layers adapt to the resolution of their display device and can be restyled for multiple uses in web maps. You can also replace a vector tile layer if it needs to be updated.

Raster datasets cannot be included in vector tile layers. The privilege to publish hosted tile layers is required to share a vector tile layer.

For guidelines on creating a map for vector tile layers, see Author a map for vector tile creation. Learn more about vector tile layers.

You can also use ArcPy to share a vector tile layer to a portal. To learn more, see Automate sharing web layers.

Share a vector tile layer using the default configuration

This workflow explains how to share a vector tile layer with default settings. To change the default configuration, see Configure a vector tile layer.

1. To share a vector tile layer with the default tiling scheme, do one of the following:
   • Share all usable layers in the map as a web layer. On the Share tab, in the Share As group, click the Web Layer drop-down arrow, and click Publish Web Layer .
   • Share selected layers in the map or 2D Layers category of the scene as a web layer. Select the layers in the Contents pane, right-click any selected layer, point to Sharing, and click Share As Web Layer .

   The Share As Web Layer pane appears.

   Note:

   For a vector tile layer, the tiling scheme defaults to match the coordinate system of the map.

2. Provide a name for the web layer.
3. Optionally, complete the Summary and Tags fields.

   A summary and tags are required when sharing to an ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 or earlier portal.

   You can enter a maximum of 128 tags.

4. If your active portal is ArcGIS Online, for Layer Type, click Vector Tile.

   The vector tile layer is shared with an associated feature layer by default.

5. Optionally, uncheck the Feature check box if a web feature layer is not needed.

   The vector tile layer will be cached locally.

6. If your active portal is an ArcGIS Enterprise portal and you want the vector tile to reference registered data sources, click Vector Tile under Reference registered data.

   A map image layer and web feature layer are automatically included when referencing registered data. If you click Vector Tile under Copy all data instead, the vector tile layer is shared with an associated feature layer. Optionally, uncheck the Feature check box if a web feature layer is not needed. The vector tile layer will be cached locally.

   Note:

   See Share a web feature layer and Share a map image layer for more information about configuring their properties.

7. Under Location, use the Folder menu to choose a folder in your portal content in which to store the web layer. Optionally, create a folder.

   By default, the web layer is stored at the root level of your portal content.

   Tip:

   Click the Browse button to browse to a folder in your portal content. You can also type a folder name in the text box.

8. Under Sharing Level, specify how the web layer will be shared:
   • Owner—Only the owner (and organization members with privileges to view content owned by other members) can access the item. This is the default option.
   • Organization—Share your content with all authenticated users in your organization. This option is available when you are signed in with an organizational account.
   • Everyone (public)—Share your content with the public. Anyone can access and see it.
   1. Optionally, under Groups, select groups to which you belong to share your content with their members.
9. Optionally, click the Content tab to view the folder, new web layers, and sublayers with assigned IDs if available.

   If you enabled the Allow assignment of unique numeric IDs for sharing web layers option in the Map Properties dialog box, assigned IDs appear for each sublayer under the associated map image layer or feature layer if included. IDs do not appear for vector tile layers since they cannot be referenced by a service sublayer URL.

   To change an ID, click the number next to the layer. On the Layer Properties dialog box, on the General tab, provide a custom integer ID in the Layer ID text box. For more information, see Assign layer IDs.

10. Under Finish Sharing, click Analyze to review for potential problems.

    Errors and warnings are listed on the Messages tab. Right-click a message to open its help topic or take corrective action in the software. Errors must be resolved before you can share your GIS resource. Resolving warnings is recommended but not required.

    Learn more about analyzing GIS resources

11. After you resolve errors, and optionally, resolve warnings, click Publish to share the web layer.
12. When the web layer is successfully published, click the Manage the web layer link at the bottom of the pane to access the web layer in your portal.

    If the web layer will be cached online or on the server, the web layer may not be viewable while cache generation is in progress. Click Jobs to view the cache status in the Job Status pane.

Considerations when sharing to older portals

Vector tile layers can be shared to earlier versions of ArcGIS Enterprise and Portal for ArcGIS, starting with Portal for ArcGIS 10.4. However, not all functionality is supported by earlier versions. Limitations are listed below.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1 and earlier

The option to include an associated feature layer is not available; caching on the server is not supported.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.6 and earlier

The option to allow clients to export cache tiles is not available.