ArcMap

Connect to GIS servers

You can work with many types of GIS servers. The first step in every case is to establish a connection to the GIS server in the Catalog window. This topic describes the steps for each type of GIS server.

Connect to ArcGIS Server

You can connect to an ArcGIS Server site using ArcGIS Pro, ArcCatalog or the Catalog window in ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe. There are three levels of connection you can make—user, publisher, or administrative—which determine the functions you're allowed to perform on the ArcGIS Server site once you make the connection. When you connect, you provide a user name and password, which ArcGIS Server checks to see whether you have the permissions to make the type of connection you're requesting.

Connect to ArcGIS Server from ArcGIS Desktop

Connect to ArcIMS

Here are the steps to connect to an ArcIMS server in ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe:

  1. In the Catalog window, expand the GIS Servers node and double-click Add ArcIMS Server.
    Connecting to ArcIMS

    The Add ArcIMS Server dialog box appears.

  2. Type the ArcIMS server URL and other properties for your ArcIMS connection.
    Setting the properties of the ArcIMS server
  3. Click OK.

The ArcIMS server connection is added as an item in your GIS Servers tree view. You can expand and work with the services provided by this connection.

Connect to WMS, WMTS or WCS

Here are the steps to connect to WCS and WMS servers in ArcMap, ArcScene, or ArcGlobe:

  1. In the Catalog window, expand the GIS Servers node and double-click Add WCS Server, Add WMS Server or Add WMTS Server.
    Connecting to a WMS server

    The Add WMS Server, Add WMTS Server or Add WCS Server dialog box appears.

  2. Type the server URL and other properties for your connection.
    Setting the properties of the WMS server
  3. Specify any additional parameters to include in the request sent to the server. For example, use this to specify token if the service is secured using token based authentication. Custom parameters specified here will be included in every request sent to the server when a WMS layer is added to map using this connection.

    To add custom parameters

    1. Click Add to insert a new row.
    2. Specify the parameter name in the cell under Parameter column.
    3. Specify the parameter value in the cell under Value column.
    4. Repeat the above steps to add additional parameters.

    To delete custom parameters

    1. Select the row that contains the parameter to be deleted.
    2. Click Delete to delete the row.
    3. Repeat the above steps for every parameter to be deleted.

  4. Click OK.

The WMS, WMTS or WCS server connection is added as an item in your GIS Servers tree view. You can expand and work with the services provided by this connection.