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Creating ArcGIS Runtime content

You can consolidate the features, tabular data, basemaps, network datasets, and locators from your map into a folder and prepare it for use in apps built with ArcGIS Runtime SDKs. This folder can then be provisioned to devices to use with apps that run offline (apps that can run disconnected from ArcGIS Server or ArcGIS Online). For more information on building offline apps with ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, see the developers site.

Data from feature services and map services cannot be used. For more information on using services in ArcGIS Runtime SDKs, see Services pattern.

Before you can create ArcGIS Runtime content, you must enable the Share As menu item as follows:

  1. Open ArcMap.
  2. In the ArcMap main menu, click Customize > ArcMap Options.
  3. In the ArcMap Options dialog box, click Sharing.
  4. Check the Enable ArcGIS Runtime Tools check box and click OK.

To create ArcGIS Runtime content:

  1. Open ArcMap.
  2. Open or create a map document with the desired data.
  3. In the ArcMap main menu, click File > Share As > ArcGIS Runtime Content.

    In the left pane of the dialog box that appears, you can click items to access settings (options) for consolidating your data. The options are described in the following section.

  4. You can click Analyze to run an error check.
  5. When you're finished specifying settings, click Share.
  6. ArcMap outputs your content to the folder you specified in the Output folder setting.

Option descriptions

Output folder

ArcGIS Runtime content is saved locally into the folder you specify in the Save ArcGIS Runtime content to text box. This folder can be deployed to your devices to use with your ArcGIS Runtime apps. Depending on the options you've chosen, this folder will contain some or all of the following:

  • A .geodatabase file that contains features and tabular data
  • A basemap or tiles cache
  • A locator enabled for use with ArcGIS Runtime
  • A transportation network

Feature and Tabular Data

You can use feature and tabular data from the current map as operational layers in your ArcGIS Runtime app. These layers can be used to view and query the data contained in them.

For feature and tabular data to be included in the ArcGIS Runtime content, there are a few restrictions to keep in mind:

  • Only feature layers, tables, and relationship classes are supported.
  • If a feature layer references or participates in a relationship class that references unsupported data, the layer will not be included in the ArcGIS Runtime content.
  • All of the layers in the current map must come from the same workspace.

The following options are available for features and tabular data:

  • Include feature and tabular data for read-only reference—Include all of the feature layers, tables, and relationship classes from the current map in the ArcGIS Runtime content. These layers will be read-only in your ArcGIS Runtime SDK-based app. If the Optimize size for view-only option is selected, the layer will be optimized for size and will be suitable for viewing only in your ArcGIS Runtime SDK-based app. For these layers:
    • All fields not used for rendering and labeling are removed.
    • The precision of their spatial reference is set to 0.1 meters.
    • They are not suitable for use with a network dataset.
  • Do not include feature and tabular data—Do not include any of the features or tabular data from the current map in the ArcGIS Runtime content.

Basemap

If your map contains a basemap layer, you can select Use a basemap layer from the current map. This creates a tile cache from the selected basemap layer and includes it in the ArcGIS Runtime content. A tile cache is a set of premade tiles suitable to use as basemaps in your ArcGIS Runtime apps. Tile caches typically draw faster than other basemaps, but selecting this option can increases the size of the content and the time it takes to create the content. This option is not appropriate if the data you need to show as your basemap must be queryable. You can adjust tiling scheme and other settings to accommodate the balance between the level of detail and performance. To set the basemap tiling scheme:

  1. In the left pane of the ArcGIS Runtime Content dialog box, click Basemap and click Use a basemap layer from the current map.
  2. Click Basemap Tiling Scheme.
  3. Specify settings, such as level of detail and tile format.

For more information on tiling scheme and other tiling settings, see About tile packages.

Network Data

If your map contains a network dataset or a network analysis layer that references a network dataset, you can include the network dataset in your ArcGIS Runtime content as a transportation network for routing and driving directions. When including a network, all feature layers the network references become part of the ArcGIS Runtime content. This may include layers that are not part of the map. For example, if you only have a network layer in the map, your ArcGIS Runtime content includes the streets, junctions, and turns feature classes associated with the network.

For a network dataset to become a transportation network, there are a few restrictions to keep in mind:

  • The network dataset must be part of a geodatabase. This excludes networks that are in SDC or shapefile format.
  • The network dataset must be from ArcGIS 10.0 or later. If your network is from an earlier version, you can upgrade your geodatabase and your network.
  • The network dataset cannot have an unknown coordinate system.
  • The network dataset cannot use any VB or Python script evaluators.
  • The network dataset cannot use any custom COM evaluators.
  • A network dataset that uses live traffic will be ported to a transportation network, but the live traffic components are excluded since they are not supported.

The following options are available:

  • Include network data from the current map—Include all the network datasets referenced by the map.
  • Do not include network data—Exclude network datasets from the ArcGIS Runtime content.

Locator

If your map contains a locator or composite locator, you can include the locator in your ArcGIS Runtime content. You can select one locator to add to the ArcGIS Runtime content. Create a composite locator if you want to include multiple locators. For more information, see Creating a composite address locator.

There are a few restrictions on which locators can be added to the ArcGIS Runtime content:

  • The locator must be created with ArcGIS 10.0 or later.
  • The locator cannot have an unknown coordinate system.
  • The locator or any participating locator in a composite locator cannot be a geocoding service, including services from Portal for ArcGIS or ArcGIS Online.
  • The locator cannot contain a custom plug-in in the locator style configuration.

The following options are available:

  • Use a locator from the current map—Include the selected locator added to the map.
  • Do not include a locator—Exclude any locators from the ArcGIS Runtime content.

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