Add a feature layer from a portal item

Learn how to use an ArcGIS portal item to access and display a feature layer in a map.

add a feature layer from a portal item

You can host a variety of geographic data and other resources using ArcGIS Online. These portal items can also define how the data is presented. A web map or web scene, for example, not only defines the layers for a map or scene, but also how layers are symbolized, the minimum and/or maximum scales at which they display, and several other properties. Likewise, a hosted feature layer contains the data for the layer and also defines the symbols and other display properties for how it is presented. When you add a map, scene, or layer from a portal item to your app, everything that has been saved with the item is applied in your app. Adding portal items to your app rather than creating them programmatically saves you from writing a lot of code, and can provide consistency across apps that use the same data.

In this tutorial, you will add a hosted feature layer to display trailheads in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California. The hosted layer defines the trailhead locations (points) as well as the symbols used to display them.

Prerequisites

Before starting this tutorial:

  1. You need an ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.

  2. Confirm that your system meets the minimum system requirements.

  3. An IDE for Java.

Steps

Open a Java project with Gradle

  1. To start this tutorial, complete the Display a map tutorial, or download and unzip the Display a map solution into a new folder.

  2. Open the build.gradle file as a project in IntelliJ IDEA.

  3. If you downloaded the solution, get an access token and set the API key.

Prepare files before coding the app

Modify the files from the Display a map tutorial so they can be used in this tutorial: you will add imports, change the application title, and modify the view point's scale. You will then add required JavaFX controls to the build configuration.

  1. In IntellJ IDEA, locate the Project tool window, open src/main/java/com.example.app, and double-click App. Add the following imports, replacing those from the Display a map tutorial.

    App.java
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    package com.example.app;
    
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.layers.FeatureLayer;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.loadable.LoadStatus;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.mapping.ArcGISMap;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.mapping.BasemapStyle;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.mapping.Viewpoint;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.mapping.view.MapView;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.portal.Portal;
    import com.esri.arcgisruntime.portal.PortalItem;
    
    import javafx.application.Application;
    import javafx.scene.control.Alert;
    import javafx.scene.layout.StackPane;
    import javafx.scene.Scene;
    import javafx.stage.Stage;
    
    public class App extends Application {
    
  2. In the start() life-cycle method, change the title that will appear on the application window to Add a feature layer from a portal item.

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      @Override
      public void start(Stage stage) {
    
        // set the title and size of the stage and show it
        stage.setTitle("Add a feature layer from a portal item");
    
        stage.setWidth(800);
        stage.setHeight(700);
        stage.show();
    

Display the ArcGIS portal item

You can reference an item (such as a web map or feature layer) hosted in a portal (such as ArcGIS Online) using its unique item ID. You will reference the Trailheads Styled feature layer stored in ArcGIS Online using its item ID: 2e4b3df6ba4b44969a3bc9827de746b3. You will then add that feature layer to your map's collection of data layers (operational layers).

  1. In the start() method, directly before mapView = new MapView();, create a PortalItem that references the portal item that the feature layer will use. To do this, provide the item ID and a Portal.

    App.java
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        // create a map view to display the map and add it to the stack pane
        String portalItemId = "2e4b3df6ba4b44969a3bc9827de746b3";
        Portal portal = new Portal("https://www.arcgis.com");
        PortalItem portalItem = new PortalItem(portal, portalItemId);
    
        mapView = new MapView();
        stackPane.getChildren().add(mapView);
    
    Expand
  2. Create a FeatureLayer passing the PortalItem and a layer ID of 0. Using a PortalItem to create a FeatureLayer causes the portal item to be loaded asynchronously.

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        // create a map view to display the map and add it to the stack pane
        String portalItemId = "2e4b3df6ba4b44969a3bc9827de746b3";
        Portal portal = new Portal("https://www.arcgis.com");
        PortalItem portalItem = new PortalItem(portal, portalItemId);
    
        long layerId = 0;
        FeatureLayer layer = new FeatureLayer(portalItem, layerId);
    
        mapView = new MapView();
        stackPane.getChildren().add(mapView);
    
    Expand
  3. Add a done loading listener to the portal item. In the lambda, check if the portal item is not loaded and, in that case, display an alert.

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        ArcGISMap map = new ArcGISMap(BasemapStyle.ARCGIS_TOPOGRAPHIC);
        map.getOperationalLayers().add(layer);
    
        // set the map on the map view
        mapView.setMap(map);
    
        mapView.setViewpoint(new Viewpoint(34.02700, -118.80543, 144447.638572));
    
        portalItem.addDoneLoadingListener(() -> {
          if (portalItem.getLoadStatus() != LoadStatus.LOADED) {
            new Alert(Alert.AlertType.ERROR, "Portal item not loaded. " + portalItem.getLoadError().getCause().getMessage()).show();
          }
        });
    
      }
    
    Expand

Run the app. Ensure to run the app as a Gradle task and not as an application in your IDE. In the Gradle tool window, under Tasks > application, double-click run.

You should see a map of trail heads in the Santa Monica mountains. Click, drag, and scroll the mouse wheel on the map view to explore the map.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional API features, ArcGIS location services, and ArcGIS tools in these tutorials:

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