{"id":740372,"date":"2025-03-18T13:04:57","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:04:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/?post_type=arcwatch&p=740372"},"modified":"2025-03-27T10:04:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T17:04:00","slug":"create-a-layer-and-add-features-in-arcgis-online","status":"publish","type":"arcwatch","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/about\/newsroom\/arcwatch\/create-a-layer-and-add-features-in-arcgis-online","title":{"rendered":"Create a Layer and Add Features in ArcGIS Online"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9862,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10392],"tags":[28942,478922,271],"arcwatch_issues":[491832],"class_list":["post-740372","arcwatch","type-arcwatch","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arcgis-online","tag-arcgis-training","tag-map-layers","tag-mapping","arcwatch_issues-march-2025","arcwatch_sections-the-tip"],"acf":{"short_description":"Make an empty feature layer, define fields, and use the Map Viewer editing tools to add features.","pdf":{"host_remotely":false,"file":"","file_url":""},"flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"For many ArcGIS Online projects, you\u2019ll need to create a data layer that you can maintain and use over time. To learn how to do this, first imagine that you need to organize a series of beach cleanup events on Panglao Island in the Philippines. Your goal is to create a map for your website so volunteers can see where the cleanups are happening. Later, you\u2019ll use the layer to record attendance and plan new events.\r\n\r\nIf you only needed to create one map of beach locations, you could create a sketch layer more quickly than a feature layer. But because you plan to use this layer in future maps and because you need to store multiple attributes for the data, you\u2019ll create a blank feature layer in your\u00a0ArcGIS Online\u00a0account. Specifically, you\u2019ll create an empty feature layer in\u00a0ArcGIS Online, define its fields, and add features to it for each beach on your list.\r\n\r\nThis exercise will require an ArcGIS organizational account with a Publisher, Facilitator, or Administrator role (see options for software access<\/a>).\r\n

Step 1. Create a feature layer<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Sign in to your\u00a0ArcGIS organizational account<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. On the ribbon, click the\u00a0Content<\/strong>\u00a0tab.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Click the\u00a0New item<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740412,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Although there are many item types and ways to add data in ArcGIS Online, for this map, a feature layer is the best option. This layer can contain one feature for each beach and be used to store attributes about beach names along with the event date and time. You can also edit the layer as information changes, and reuse it in other maps.\r\n

    4. Click Feature layer<\/strong>.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740422,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"There are several options for creating a feature layer. For this one, you\u2019ll need something simple\u2014one layer of points with only a few fields. It will be easiest for you to define this yourself rather than editing an existing layer or template.\r\n

    5. Choose Define your own layer<\/strong>\u00a0and click\u00a0Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

    6. Under Specify name and type<\/strong>, replace\u00a0\u201cLayer_1\u201d\u00a0with \u201cBeach Cleanups\u201d. From the menu, make sure\u00a0Point layer<\/strong> is selected.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740432,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Feature layers can have multiple sublayers, but only one point layer is needed for the beach cleanup map.\r\n

    7. Click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

    8. For Title<\/strong>, add your name or initials after \u201cBeach Cleanups\u201d (for example, \u201cBeach Cleanups [Your Name]\u201d). (Note that you cannot create two layers in an ArcGIS organization with the same name. Adding your name or initials to a layer name ensures that other people in your organization can also complete this tutorial. Once a layer has been created, you can rename it in the map to remove your name or initials. This will not affect the name of the underlying data layer.)<\/p>\r\n

    9. For Summary<\/strong>, enter\u00a0\u201cLocations of beach cleanup events on Panglao Island\u201d.<\/p>\r\n

    10. Click Save<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\nThe item page for the new feature layer appears. The one sublayer\u2014the point layer also named\u00a0Beach Cleanups<\/strong>\u2014is listed under the\u00a0Layers<\/strong>\u00a0section."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740442,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

    Step 2. Add fields<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nNow that you\u2019ve created an empty layer, you\u2019ll define fields to store attributes for the name of each beach and its cleanup date.\r\n
      \r\n \t
    1. On the ribbon, click the\u00a0Data<\/strong>\u00a0tab. Click the\u00a0Fields<\/strong>\u00a0button. The layer field\u00a0OBJECTID<\/strong> allows you to uniquely identify each feature in the layer.<\/li>\r\n \t
    2. Click the\u00a0Add<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740452,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

      3. In the Add Field<\/strong>\u00a0window, for both\u00a0Field Name<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Display Name<\/strong>, type\u00a0\u201cName\u201d.<\/p>\r\n

      4. Ensure that Type<\/strong>\u00a0is set to\u00a0String<\/strong>. (String fields store text. The other types store numbers or dates.)<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740462,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

      5. Click Add New Field<\/strong>. The\u00a0Name<\/strong>\u00a0field appears in the field list.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740472,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

      6. Click the Add<\/strong>\u00a0button again.<\/p>\r\n

      7. In the Add Field<\/strong>\u00a0window, set the following properties: For\u00a0Field Name<\/strong>, type\u00a0\u201cCleanup_Date\u201d. For\u00a0Display Name<\/strong>, type\u00a0\u201cCleanup Date\u201d. For\u00a0Type<\/strong>, choose\u00a0Date<\/strong>.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740482,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

      8. Click Add New Field<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\nYou\u2019ve added two fields to the feature layer. You can add more fields later, such as integer fields to record the number of volunteers who participated and the number of filled trash bags that were collected.\r\n

      Step 3. Add features<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nNow you\u2019re ready to edit the feature layer and add features to it.\r\n
        \r\n \t
      1. On the ribbon, click the\u00a0Overview<\/strong>\u00a0tab. Click\u00a0Open in Map Viewer<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740492,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"A map of the world appears. The\u00a0Layers<\/strong>\u00a0pane is open and contains the\u00a0Beach Cleanups<\/strong>\u00a0layer.\r\n

        2. On the map navigation controls, click the Search<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740502,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

        3. In the Search<\/strong>\u00a0tool, type\u00a0\u201cBolod, Panglao\u201d\u00a0and press\u00a0Enter. The map zooms to Panglao Island in the Philippines. You\u2019ll change the basemap to make it easier to identify the beaches.<\/p>\r\n

        4. On the Content<\/strong>\u00a0(dark) toolbar, click the\u00a0Basemap<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/p>\r\n

        5. In the Basemap<\/strong>\u00a0pane, click\u00a0Imagery Hybrid<\/strong>.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740512,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"The beach becomes visible.\r\n\r\nNext, you\u2019ll use the editing tools to add features.\r\n

        6. On the Settings<\/strong>\u00a0(light) toolbar, click the\u00a0Edit<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740522,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

        7. In the Editor<\/strong>\u00a0pane, click\u00a0New Feature<\/strong>.<\/p>"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740532,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

        8. On the map, click the sandy beach to the southeast of the Bolod<\/strong>\u00a0label.<\/p>\r\nA point appears on the map."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740552,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

        9. In the Create features<\/strong>\u00a0pane, for\u00a0Name<\/strong>, type\u00a0\u201cBolod Beach\u201d.<\/p>\r\nYou\u2019ll be able to choose the dates for each cleanup later. For now, you can leave the\u00a0Cleanup Date<\/strong>\u00a0field blank."},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":740562,"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

        10. Click Create<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

        11. Search for the following locations and add Name<\/strong> features for the following beaches:<\/p>\r\n\r\n