Real-time and big data analytics can store processed data as features in a hosted feature layer. If you need a different view of the data in the hosted feature layer—for example, you want to apply different editor settings or filters to the data—create a hosted feature layer view of that hosted feature layer. Once you have a view, you can define the features or fields that are available in the hosted feature layer view, and share the view to groups whose members need access to that view of the data.
When you create a feature layer view, a new feature layer (view) item is added to the Layers page in ArcGIS Velocity. This new layer is a view of the data in the hosted feature layer, which means updates made to the data appear in the hosted feature layer and all its hosted feature layer views. Because the view is a separate type of feature layer, you can change the sharing properties and other settings for this item separately from the hosted feature layer from which it is created. For example, you can allow an editor group in your organization to edit the hosted feature layer but share a read-only feature layer view with the rest of the organization.
If a hosted feature layer is deleted from the Layers page in Velocity or the Content page in ArcGIS Online, its hosted feature layer views are also deleted. However, views can be deleted independently of the original hosted feature layer.
Only administrators and item owners can create, edit, and delete a hosted feature layer view from the original hosted feature layer.
Create a hosted feature layer view
Follow these steps to create a hosted feature layer view from a hosted feature layer in ArcGIS Velocity:
- Sign in to ArcGIS Velocity.
You must be an administrator or the owner of the hosted feature layer that will be used to create the view.
- Open the Layers page.
- Locate the hosted feature layer and click the edit button , and click Create View Layer.
Accessing the settings for the hosted feature layer also accesses the Create View Layer option.
- Type a unique title for the new hosted feature layer view.
- Type a summary that describes the use and content of the view.
- Click OK to create the view.
The hosted feature layer view appears as an item on the Layers page when the view is created. Now you can alter the layer settings and update the sharing properties.
Hosted feature layer view settings
Settings for hosted feature layer views fall into three categories as described in the following sections.
Inherited setting from the hosted feature layer that cannot be independently configured in a view
Hosted feature layer views inherit the ability to track who creates and edits data from the hosted feature layer. You cannot change this setting in the hosted feature layer view.
Inherited settings from the hosted feature layer that can be changed in a view
Hosted feature layer views inherit the following settings from the hosted feature layer. You can change these settings.:
- Pop-ups configured on the Visualization tab in ArcGIS Online
- Styles configured on the Visualization tab in ArcGIS Online
- Tags and categories
- The layer's extent
You can also reconfigure the following for the feature layer view without affecting the hosted feature layer:
- The features editors view—All features or only their own
- The features editors can edit—All features or only their own
- The type of editing allowed—Add, delete. or update feature, as well as edit attributes and geometry or only attributes
Settings that are not inherited from the hosted feature layer
Hosted feature layer views do not inherit the following settings from the hosted feature layer. You must set these separately in the view.
- Allow editors to edit data
- Attribute, field, and area of interest filtering
- Delete protection
- How the item is shared
- Item-level metadata
Hosted feature layer views and data access
As the owner of hosted feature layers or an organization administrator, consider the implications of who has access to the layer, the ability to edit the layer, and the data that is made available from the layer. For example, a real-time analytic may be processing data from a network of sensors with secure information and writing it to a hosted feature layer. If you share that hosted feature layer with your entire organization, that information is made available to anyone who has access to the organization. If editing has also been enabled on that layer, anyone who has access to the organization with appropriate editing permissions can make edits to the data. In general, the more people who have access to a layer, the more restrictive the editing and data privileges should be on the layer. This is especially true if the hosted feature layers are used as data sources for other real-time or big data analytics in Velocity where data integrity is key.
Hosted feature layer views are ideal for helping you control access to the same hosted feature data. You can allow editing access to only those who need it, control what type of editing is allowed, and limit the type of data that can be seen from the layer. For example, you can make your hosted feature layer editable and share it with only those groups whose members need to edit the data. Then you can create hosted feature layer views from the hosted feature layer, decline to enable editing on them, restrict which fields are shown, and share the views with the entire organization without compromising the data.
See Data access and editing to learn how combining views and editing options can help you make the same data available to different types of users with different editing needs.