The following are the primary ways to create items in ArcGIS Online:
- Use the New item option by clicking Content > My content.
- Add a layer from a file in Map Viewer.
- Use a related app or workflow that creates the item. For example, the ArcGIS QuickCapture designer creates a QuickCapture project item in the organization.
The tables in the sections below list the types of files, URLs, and other items supported in ArcGIS Online.
Items with an asterisk (*) require an organizational account to add them to ArcGIS Online.
You can upload files up to 500 GB in size to My content.
Supported file types
All of the files listed in the following table can be added in the Content page. Where noted, some are automatically added as items in your content when you add them as a layer in Map Viewer or created in ArcGIS Data Pipelines.
| Item type | Description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3D tiles package (.3tz) | A compressed cache file containing a 3D tiles dataset. | |||||
360 VR Experience (.3vr) | A 360-degree virtual reality experience that allows you to explore a set of connected, geolocated panoramic 3D visualizations or photos. | |||||
Apache Parquet (.parquet) | A highly compressed column-oriented tabular, nonspatial storage and sharing format (.parquet file). You can also create a Parquet file in ArcGIS Data Pipelines, and it is added to your content. | |||||
AppBuilder widget package (.zip)* | The AppBuilder widget package item type is a custom widget compressed in a .zip file. Note:This item type can only be created and owned by organization administrators. | |||||
ArcGIS Pro add-in (.esriaddinx) | An ArcGIS Pro add-in file (.esriaddinx). | |||||
ArcGIS Pro configuration (.proconfigX) | A configuration file (.proconfigX) contains customizations of ArcGIS Pro, including a custom splash screen and startup page as well as tools, dock panes, and menus. | |||||
Code sample (.zip) | A code sample file or set of files compressed in a .zip file. | |||||
Comma-separated values (CSV) collection (.zip) | Multiple comma-separated values files (.csv) compressed in a .zip file. Each .csv file is equivalent to one layer. | |||||
Comma-separated values (CSV) file (.csv) | A text file of data values separated by commas (.csv). An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. Additionally, you can create a .csv file in ArcGIS Data Pipelines, and it is added to your content. | |||||
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawing (.zip) | A CAD drawing compressed to a single .zip file. | |||||
Data pipeline | Stores the definition of a workflow used in ArcGIS Data Pipelines, which includes the input data sources, tools, and layer outputs. You can also create a pipeline in the ArcGIS Data Pipelines editor. | |||||
Data store | A connection to a cloud storage location or cloud data warehouse to be used as a data source for data pipelines. You can also create a data store in the ArcGIS Data Pipelines editor. | |||||
Deep learning package (.zip or .dlpk) | A deep learning model package (.dlpk file) is generated using the Train Deep Learning Model geoprocessing tool in ArcGIS Pro or Deep Learning Studio. Deep learning model package files can be used as input to geoprocessing tools or analysis tools in web maps. You can also place a .dlpk file in a .zip file. | |||||
Desktop application (.zip) | The installation files for a desktop application, compressed in a .zip file. | |||||
Desktop application template (.zip) | The desktop application template (.zip file) includes files, data, and application code to deploy apps on the desktop for use with ArcGIS. | |||||
Desktop style (.stylx) | An ArcGIS Pro style file (.stylx). | |||||
Earth configuration (.xml)* | This item is used to create custom settings in ArcGIS Earth. An Earth configuration file is saved as an .xml file. | |||||
Esri classifier definition (.ecd) | The Esri Classifier Definition item type is a JSON file with an .ecd extension that contains attribute information, statistics, and other information for classification and regression models for raster analysis and training tools. | |||||
Esri spectral library (.esl) | This spectral library file is used as input for certain imagery analysis workflows. It stores sensor information, material name, and lists of wavelengths and values. | |||||
File geodatabase (.zip) | A file geodatabase compressed in a .zip file. Because multiple files compose a file geodatabase, you must compress all the files in a .zip file to add a file geodatabase to ArcGIS Online. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
GeoJSON file (.geojson or .json) | An open standard geospatial data interchange format that represents simple geographic features and their nonspatial attributes. GeoJSON is a format for encoding a variety of geographic data structures based on the JSON format. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. Additionally, you can create a GeoJSON file in ArcGIS Data Pipelines, and it is added to your content. | |||||
Geoprocessing package (.gpkx) | An ArcGIS Pro geoprocessing package file (.gpkx). | |||||
Geoprocessing sample (.zip) | A collection of toolboxes, scripts, models, data, and supplemental files used to run geoprocessing tools in ArcGIS. | |||||
GML (.zip)* | The Geography Markup Language (GML) file (.zip) is an XML grammar defined by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) for expressing geographical features, serving as both a modeling language and an interchange format. | |||||
Image collection (.zip) | A portable file containing one or more images that can be published as an image service for imagery visualization and analysis or a feature service. Once uploaded, images with locations are stored as an image collection item. Note:It is recommended that you publish an image collection as a hosted imagery layer when adding the image collection to ArcGIS Online. | |||||
Image file (.gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, or .tiff)* | An imagery file (.gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, or .tiff). These files can be used as a source for image services and imagery layers. | |||||
iWork Keynote (.key)* | An iWork Keynote file (.key). | |||||
iWork Numbers (.numbers)* | An iWork Numbers file (.numbers). | |||||
iWork Pages (.pages)* | An iWork Pages file (.pages). | |||||
Jupyter Notebook (.ipynb)* | A Python Jupyter Notebook file (.ipynb) stored in JSON plain text format. | |||||
Keyhole markup language (KML) collection (.zip) | A .zip file containing a collection of keyhole markup language (KML) or keyhole markup language zipped (KMZ) files. Each file is equivalent to one layer. | |||||
Keyhole markup language (KML) file (.kml or .kmz) | A keyhole markup language (KML) file (.kml or .kmz) or KML network link. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Layer (.lyrx) | An ArcGIS Pro layer file (.lyrx). | |||||
Layer package (.lpkx) | An ArcGIS Pro layer package file (.lpkx). | |||||
Layout (.pagx) | An ArcGIS Pro layout file (.pagx). | |||||
Locator package (.gcpk) | An ArcGIS Desktop locator package file (.gcpk). | |||||
Locator (view) | A view of ArcGIS World Geocoding Service that searches for specific types of locations in a defined area of interest. | |||||
Map package (.mpkx) | An ArcGIS Pro map package file (.mpkx). | |||||
Microsoft Excel document (.xls or .xlsx)* | A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet file (.xls or .xlsx). An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Microsoft PowerPoint document (.ppt or .pptx)* | A Microsoft PowerPoint document file (.ppt or .pptx). | |||||
Microsoft Visio document (.vsd)* | A Microsoft Visio document diagram file (.vsd). | |||||
Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx)* | A Microsoft Word document file (.doc or .docx). | |||||
Mobile map package (.mmpk) | An ArcGIS mobile map package (.mmpk file). | |||||
Mobile scene package (.mspk) | A mobile scene package (.mspk file). | |||||
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) GeoPackage (.gpkg) | An SQLite-based data file, compliant with the OGC GeoPackage specification, containing both vector geospatial features and tile matrix sets. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Photos with locations (.zip) | Geotagged photos that contain EXIF location information compressed in a .zip file. Once uploaded, photos with locations are stored as an image collection item. | |||||
Portable Document Format (PDF) (.pdf)* | A Portable Document Format file (.pdf). Standard PDF documents and geospatial PDF documents (.pdf files that include geographic coordinates and projection information) are supported. | |||||
Pro map (.mapx) | An ArcGIS Pro map file (.mapx). | |||||
Pro presentation (.prsx)* | An ArcGIS Pro presentation file (.prsx). | |||||
Pro report (.rptx)* | An ArcGIS Pro report definition file (.rptx). | |||||
Pro report template (.rptt) | An ArcGIS Pro report template file (.rptt). | |||||
Project package (.ppkx) | An ArcGIS Pro project package file (.ppkx). | |||||
Project template (.aptx) | An ArcGIS Pro project template file (.aptx). | |||||
Raster function template (.rft.xml or .rft.json) | An ArcGIS raster function template. | |||||
Rule package (.rpk) | An ArcScene or ArcGIS CityEngine rule package file (.rpk). | |||||
Scene layer package (.slpk) | A compressed cache file containing an i3s dataset. | |||||
Service definition (SD) (.sd) | A file (.sd) that contains the information required to publish a geospatial web service. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Shapefile (.zip) | A shapefile is a set of related files for storing the location, shape, attributes, and projection of vector geographic features. Because a shapefile consists of multiple files, you must compress the files in a .zip file to add them to ArcGIS Online. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Tile package (.tpk or .tpkx) | An archive of cache map tiles. A .tpkx file is also called a compact tile package. | |||||
Vector tile package (.vtpk) | A collection of vector tiles and style resources contained in a .vtpk file. | |||||
Items added from a URL
The following item types are added by providing the URL to the service or other web resource. These can be added from the Content page. For some, items are created in your content when you add it as a layer from a URL in Map Viewer.
| Item type | Description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3D tiles service | Cached web layers (3D layers) that are optimized for displaying a large amount of 3D data. They can be viewed in ArcGIS clients such as Scene Viewer, ArcGIS Earth, and ArcGIS Pro. | |||||
Application | An app other than a web mapping app, mobile app, or desktop app. | |||||
Document link (URL to online document)* | A link to a document resource on the web. | |||||
Feature service | An ArcGIS Server feature service. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Geocode service | ||||||
Geodata service | ||||||
GeoJSON | A URL link to import a GeoJSON file from the web. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Geometry service | ||||||
Geoprocessing service | ||||||
Image service | An ArcGIS Server image service. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Locator | A custom locator created by adding an ArcGIS Server geocode service. | |||||
Map service | An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Mobile application | The URL to the download location for a mobile app. | |||||
Network analysis service | An ArcGIS Server network analysis service. Note:Beginning with ArcGIS Enterprise 11.0, network analysis services are routing services. | |||||
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Features | An Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Feature Service. | |||||
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Coverage Service (WCS) | An OGC Web Coverage Service. | |||||
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Feature Service (WFS) | An OGC Web Feature Service. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Map Service (WMS) | An OGC Web Map Service. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Map Tile Service (WMTS) | An OGC Web Map Tile Service. An item is also created when you add this as a layer in Map Viewer. | |||||
Scene service | Cached web layers (3D layers) that are optimized for displaying a large amount of 3D data. They can be viewed in ArcGIS clients such as Scene Viewer, ArcGIS Earth, and ArcGIS Pro. | |||||
Stream service | ||||||
Web mapping application | The URL to access a web mapping app. | |||||
Items created in My content
Options are available to create the following item types from the New item workflow in My content.
| Item type | Description |
|---|---|
3D object layer | You can define the schema to create an empty 3D object layer (one that does not contain data). |
Data pipeline | Stores the definition of a workflow used in ArcGIS Data Pipelines, which includes the input data sources, tools, and layer outputs. This can also be created in the ArcGIS Data Pipelines editor. |
Data store | A connection to a cloud storage location or cloud data warehouse to be used as a data source for data pipelines. This can also be created in the ArcGIS Data Pipelines editor. |
Hosted feature layer | You can use a template or existing layer or define the schema to create an empty hosted feature layer (one that does not contain data). |
Locator (view) | Define a view of ArcGIS World Geocoding Service that searches for specific types of locations in a defined area of interest. |
Raster function template | Defines a template for raster analysis. |
Items added by other apps or workflows
Some item types are automatically added to My content when you create and save them through a related app or workflow; for example, a web map item is created through Map Viewer or ArcGIS Pro, and a web scene item is created through Scene Viewer or ArcGIS Pro.
The following table shows the types of items that are added to ArcGIS Online automatically when you create and save them:
| Item type | Notes |
|---|---|
Administrative report* | Create by clicking Organization > Reports. |
AllSource project file (.asrx) | Create in ArcGIS AllSource. |
Analysis model* | Create in ModelBuilder. |
Big data analytic* | Created in ArcGIS Velocity. |
Dashboard | Create in the following ways:
|
Discussion* | Create in ArcGIS Hub. |
Elevation layer | Create by following the steps below:
|
Feature collection | Export from a hosted feature layer. |
Feature collection template | Create in ArcGIS Pro. |
Feature layer | Created in the following ways:
Tip:You can also create a feature layer from the New item option in My content in ArcGIS Online. |
Feed* | Create in ArcGIS Velocity. |
Form | Create in ArcGIS Survey123. |
GeoBIM project* | Create by clicking Content > My content > Create app in ArcGIS Online. |
Group layer | Create and save as an item in Map Viewer. |
Hub event* | Create in ArcGIS Hub. |
Hub initiative* | Create in ArcGIS Hub. |
Hub initiative template* | Created in ArcGIS Hub. |
Hub page* | Create in ArcGIS Hub. |
Hub project* | Create in ArcGIS Hub. |
Hub site application | Create in the following ways:
|
Imagery layer | Author and publish from ArcGIS Pro. Tip:An imagery layer can also be created from the New item option in My content. |
Map image layer | Author and publish from ArcGIS Pro. |
Media layer | Create and save as an item in Map Viewer. |
Native application | Create in ArcGIS AppStudio. |
Native application installer | Create in ArcGIS AppStudio. |
Notebook* | Create from the ArcGIS Notebooks home page. Tip:A notebook can also be created from the New item option in My content. |
Oriented imagery catalog | Create in ArcGIS Pro. |
Parquet feature layer (beta) | Create in ArcGIS Data Pipelines. |
Project package (.ppkx) | Create in ArcGIS Pro. |
QuickCapture project* | Create in the ArcGIS QuickCapture designer. |
Real time analytic* | Create in ArcGIS Velocity. |
Relational database connection (URL) | Create in ArcGIS Pro. |
Report template | Create in ArcGIS Business Analyst. |
Route layer | Create by saving the result of running an analysis tool such as Plan Routes or save from directions in Map Viewer. |
Service connection | Create in the ArcGIS Data Pipelines editor to store credentials when connecting using a URL. |
Statistical data collection | Create in ArcGIS Business Analyst. |
Solution* | Created by Esri. |
StoryMap briefing | Create in ArcGIS StoryMaps. |
StoryMap collection | Create in ArcGIS StoryMaps. |
StoryMap story | Create in the following ways:
|
StoryMap template* | Create in ArcGIS StoryMaps. |
StoryMap theme* | Create in ArcGIS StoryMaps. |
Table | Create in any software that supports the creation of tabular data such as spreadsheets. |
Tile layer | Create in the following ways:
Tip:You can also create a tile layer from the New item option in My content in ArcGIS Online. |
Urban model* | Click Content > My content > Create app in ArcGIS Online. |
Urban project (.json)* | Create in ArcGIS Urban. |
Vector tile layer | Create in the following ways:
|
Web experience | Create in the following ways:
|
Web experience template* | Create in ArcGIS Experience Builder. |
Web map | Create in the following ways:
|
Web mapping application | Create in the following ways:
|
Web scene | Create in the following ways:
|
Workflow and related workflow layer, workflow view, and workflow job location view* | Create in ArcGIS Workflow Manager. |
Workforce project | Create in ArcGIS Workforce. Legacy:ArcGIS Workforce will not be available after the fourth quarter of 2026. |
*You must have an organizational account to use this item.