Share a tile package

Tile packages (.tpk or .tpkx) are a set of tiles (images) from a map or raster dataset that can be published as a web tile or a web elevation layer. Alternatively, the tile package can be used as a basemap in ArcGIS applications.

The tiles are wrapped into a single file, a .tpk or .tpkx file, so you can share the file as you would any other. You can send it by email, copy it to a network locale, upload it to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise, and so on.

The tiles, known as a tile cache, are static; updates to the input data are not reflected in the tile cache.

Note:

Only maps that contain local data can be cached using the tile package tools in ArcGIS AllSource. Online services, such as tiled map services, are not supported. Attempting to package maps that contain online services will result in an error.

Create a tile package for a web tile layer

Web tile layers can be used as a basemap or operational layer in a scene or map. Tile layers can also be published as part of a map or scene, or they can be published on their own. For more information, see Share a web tile layer.

1. If you do not want to use the ArcGIS Online/Bing Maps/Google Maps tiling scheme, use the Generate Map Server Cache Tiling Scheme tool to output a custom tiling scheme in the projection of your map.
2. Create a tile package using the Create Map Tile Package tool with the Package for ArcGIS Online/ Bing Maps/ Google Maps option in one of the following states:
   • Checked to generate a tile package that can be used with ArcGIS Online basemaps.
   • Unchecked to generate a tile package that uses the tiling scheme specified in Service. Service can either be an existing cached service or the tiling scheme you created in step 1.
3. Share the tile package to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise using the Share Package tool. Optionally, check the Publish web layer check box to publish the tile package as a web tile layer to your portal.

Create a tile package for a web elevation layer

Web elevation layers can be used as the elevation source of a scene in either the web scene viewer or ArcGIS AllSource. To create a tile package that publishes a web elevation layer, the following must be true:

• The input raster dataset must represent elevation data.
• The tiling scheme must use LERC compression.

Note:

Web elevation layers can alternatively be shared from the Contents pane. For more information, see Share a web elevation layer.

1. Optionally, use the Generate Tile Cache Tiling Scheme tool with Tile Format set to LERC Compression to generate a new LERC tiling scheme based on your elevation dataset.

   Web scenes require that web elevation layers use the same tiling scheme as the basemap. If you're using the elevation layer with ArcGIS Online basemaps, skip this step.

2. Create a tile package using the Manage Tile Cache tool to generate a LERC cache. For Input Tiling Scheme, use one of the following:
   • Elevation tiling scheme matches the ArcGIS Online/Bing Maps/Google Maps tiling scheme used by ArcGIS Online basemaps.
   • Elevation tiling scheme with two additional levels matches the ArcGIS Online/Bing Maps/Google Maps tiling scheme used by ArcGIS Online basemaps but has two additional levels for higher-resolution data.
   • Import scheme uses the tiling scheme you created in step 1 or the tiling scheme of an existing image service. If using this option, browse to the tiling scheme file or service for Import Tiling Scheme.

     Caution:

     Using a tiling scheme that does not use LERC compression will result in a web tile layer, not a web elevation layer.

3. Use the Export Tile Cache tool with the Export Cache As option set to Tile package.
4. Share the tile package to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise using the Share Package tool. Optionally, check the Publish web layer check box to publish the tile package as a web elevation layer to your portal.