Share a web scene layer

From ArcGIS AllSource, you can create and share web scene layers that are stored as items in your active portal. You can share 3D point, multipatch, 3D object features (Version 2), building, LAS datasets, and voxel data as a web scene layer from a scene.

You can share the following six scene layer types from ArcGIS AllSource:

• Point scene layer
• Point cloud scene layer
• 3D object scene layer
• Building scene layer
• Integrated mesh scene layer
• Voxel scene layer

Most web scene layers can be published from either a scene layer package (.slpk) or an associated feature layer. Web scene layers with an associated feature layer provide richer statistics used for symbology, allow you to search and query for features not in the current view, and support editing workflows. For more information about how web scene layers are used, see What is a scene layer?

To share a web scene layer, you must have the following:

• An account with privileges to publish hosted scene layers
• An account with privileges to publish hosted feature layers (if you are sharing a web scene layer with an associated feature layer that copies all data to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise)
• An account with privileges to publish server-based layers (if you are sharing a web scene layer that references registered data to ArcGIS Enterprise)

Web scene layers are published in the projection of your scene. If you plan to use the web scene layer in existing web scenes, ensure the scene is in the correct projection. Additional guidelines for authoring 3D feature layers for publishing are outlined in Operational layers.

A web scene layer can only be displayed once visualization caching is complete. You can monitor the cache status from the Job Status pane.

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

Share a web scene layer using the default configuration

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

1. Open a scene.
2. Select the multipatch, 3D object feature layer, building, point, LAS dataset layer, voxel layer, or scene layer package in the 3D Layers category of the Contents pane. Right-click the selected layer, point to the Sharing menu, and click Share As Web Layer .

   The Share As Web Layer pane appears.

   Note:

   Voxel layers are not supported in global scenes .

3. Provide a name for the web layer.
4. 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.

5. If your active portal is ArcGIS Online, optionally, check the Feature check box to include an associated feature layer with your web scene layer.

   The web scene layer is cached online.

   Note:

   When publishing a web scene layer from a scene layer package to ArcGIS Online, the .slpk file will not be added as an item in your organization if it is larger than 100 GB.

6. If your active portal is an ArcGIS Enterprise portal and you want the web scene layer to reference registered data sources, click Scene under Reference registered data. A map image layer and feature layer are automatically included when referencing registered data.

   If you click Scene under Copy all data instead, the layer is cached locally, and a scene layer package is created and shared to your portal. The web scene layer is published from the scene layer package. Optionally, check the Feature check box to include an associated feature layer. The web scene layer is cached on the server.

Note:

The data options are not available when sharing LAS datasets or voxel layers. The scene layer package is created locally and uploaded.

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. If you are sharing a web scene layer that references registered data, use the Server and Folder drop-down menu to specify which folder the map image layer and associated feature layer will be published to on the hosting server. If the folder does not already exist, type in the name of the desired folder.
9. 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.
10. Optionally, click the Content tab to view the folder, new web layer or layers, and sublayers with assigned IDs if available.

    If you enabled the Allow assignment of unique numeric IDs for sharing web layers option on 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 web scene layers that only have a single sublayer always set to 0.

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

11. 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

Note:

When sharing a web scene layer with an associated feature layer, analyzers will be issued for both layers.

12. After you resolve errors, and optionally, resolve warnings, click Publish to share the web layer.
13. 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

Although web scene layers can be shared to ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, and Portal for ArcGIS 10.3.1 and later, not all functionality is supported when sharing to each version. Listed below are limitations when sharing to older versions.

ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0 and earlier

The option to create compressed textures is not available, and sharing 3D object feature layers is not supported.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 and earlier

Sharing voxel layers as web scene layers is not supported.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.7.1 and earlier

Preserve editor tracking info is not available.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.6.1 and earlier

Sharing building layers as web scene layers is not supported.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.6 and earlier

When referencing registered data, layers must be sourced from an enterprise geodatabase.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5.1 and earlier

Editing operations are not available when sharing multipatch data. Data options are not available, all data will be copied.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5 and Portal for ArcGIS 10.4.1 and earlier

The option to cache locally is not available.

Portal for ArcGIS 10.3.1

Sharing 3D point layers as web scene layers is not supported, and web scene layers cannot be shared from local scenes.