Display an offline map (on demand)

Learn how to download and display an offline map for a user-defined geographical area of a web map.

display an offline map on demand

Offline maps allow users to continue working when network connectivity is poor or lost. If a web map is enabled for offline use, a user can request that ArcGIS generates an offline map for a specified geographic area of interest.

In this tutorial, you will download an offline map for an area of interest from the web map of the stormwater network within Naperville, IL, USA . You can then use this offline map without a network connection.

Prerequisites

Before starting this tutorial:

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

  2. Your system meets the system requirements.

  3. The ArcGIS Maps SDK for Qt, version 200.5.0 or later is installed.

  4. The Qt 6.5.6 software development framework is installed.

Steps

Get the web map item ID

You can use ArcGIS tools to create and view web maps. Use the Map Viewer to identify the web map item ID. This item ID will be used later in the tutorial.

  1. Go to the Naperville water network in the Map Viewer in ArcGIS Online. This web map displays stormwater network within Naperville, IL, USA .
  2. Make a note of the item ID at the end of the browser's URL. The item ID should be:

    acc027394bc84c2fb04d1ed317aac674

    .

Create a new ArcGIS Maps Qt Creator Project

  1. Start Qt Creator.

  2. In the top menu bar, click File > New Project.

  3. In the New Project dialog, in the left frame, under Projects, select ArcGIS. Then select the ArcGIS Maps 200.5.0 Qt Quick C++ app project template (or a later version) and click Choose. This will launch the template wizard.

  4. In the Project Location template, name your project Display_an_offline_map. You can specify your own "create in" location for where the project will be created or leave the default. Click Next.

  5. In the Define Build System template, select qmake for your build system. Click Next.

  6. In the Define Project Details template, give this app a description or leave as is. Leave the 3D project box unchecked. At the ArcGIS Online Basemap dropdown menu, leave the default. There is no need to supply an API Key (also called an access token) at this time, you can leave it blank. We will discuss this more in the next section. Click Next.

  7. In the Kit Selection template, check on the kit you previously set up when you installed Qt (Desktop Qt 6.5.6 MSVC2019 64bit or higher required). Click Next.

  8. In the Project Management template, the option to Add as a subproject to root project is only available if you have already created a root project. If you have a version control system set up, you can select it in the dropdown but it is not needed to complete this tutorial. Click Finish to complete the template wizard.

Get an access token

You need an access token to use the location services used in this tutorial.

  1. Go to the Create an API key tutorial to obtain an access token.

  2. Ensure that the following privilege is enabled: Location services > Basemaps > Basemap styles service.

  3. Copy the access token as it will be used in the next step.

To learn more about other ways to get an access token, go to Types of authentication.

Set your API key

In the Projects window, in the Sources folder, open the main.cpp file. Modify the code to set the API key. Paste the access token between the double quotes. Save and close the file.

main.cpp
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    // 2. API key authentication: Get a long-lived access token that gives your application access to
    // ArcGIS location services. Go to the tutorial at https://links.esri.com/create-an-api-key.
    // Copy the API Key access token.

    const QString accessToken = QString("");
Expand

Display the web map

You can display a web map using the web map's item ID. Create a map from the web map portal item, and display it in your app.

  1. In Projects, double-click Headers > Display_an_offline_map.h to open the file. Add the following classes to the header file.

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    namespace Esri::ArcGISRuntime {
    class Map;
    class MapQuickView;
    
    class PortalItem;
    class OfflineMapTask;
    
  2. Add the generateMapByExtent() function declaration and member variables m_portalItem and m_offlineMapTask. Save and close the file.

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    private:
        Esri::ArcGISRuntime::MapQuickView* mapView() const;
        void setMapView(Esri::ArcGISRuntime::MapQuickView* mapView);
    
        void generateMapByExtent();
    
    
        Esri::ArcGISRuntime::Map* m_map = nullptr;
        Esri::ArcGISRuntime::MapQuickView* m_mapView = nullptr;
    
        Esri::ArcGISRuntime::PortalItem* m_portalItem = nullptr;
        Esri::ArcGISRuntime::OfflineMapTask* m_offlineMapTask = nullptr;
    
    Expand
  3. In Projects, double-click Sources > Display_an_offline_map.cpp to open the file. Remove the #include statement for MapTypes.h; the map is provided by the offline map.

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    #include "Display_an_offline_map.h"
    
    #include "Map.h"
    
    #include "MapTypes.h"
    
    #include "MapQuickView.h"
  4. Add the following #include statements. These classes are needed for this application.

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    #include "Display_an_offline_map.h"
    #include "Map.h"
    #include "MapQuickView.h"
    
    #include "Envelope.h"
    #include "EnvelopeBuilder.h"
    #include "Error.h"
    #include "GenerateOfflineMapParameters.h"
    #include "GenerateOfflineMapJob.h"
    #include "GenerateOfflineMapResult.h"
    #include "Graphic.h"
    #include "GraphicListModel.h"
    #include "GraphicsOverlay.h"
    #include "GraphicsOverlayListModel.h"
    #include "OfflineMapTask.h"
    #include "Portal.h"
    #include "PortalItem.h"
    #include "SimpleFillSymbol.h"
    #include "SimpleLineSymbol.h"
    #include "SpatialReference.h"
    #include "SymbolTypes.h"
    #include "TaskTypes.h"
    #include <QFuture>
    #include <QDir>
    #include <QUuid>
    
  5. Delete the comma after QObject(parent) and remove the Map from the constructor.

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    Display_an_offline_map::Display_an_offline_map(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */):
        QObject(parent),
    
        m_map(new Map(BasemapStyle::ArcGISStreets, this))
  6. Instantiate a Portal and from that, a PortalItem using the web map item ID for the Naperville water network. Use that to create a new Map. Then create a new OfflineMapTask referencing that portal item.

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    Display_an_offline_map::Display_an_offline_map(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */):
        QObject(parent)
    {
    
        Portal* portal = new Portal(false, this);
        m_portalItem = new PortalItem(portal, "acc027394bc84c2fb04d1ed317aac674", this);
        m_map = new Map(m_portalItem, this);
        m_offlineMapTask = new OfflineMapTask(m_portalItem, this);
    
  7. Press Ctrl + R to run the app.

    You should see a map of the stormwater network within Naperville, IL, USA. Use the mouse to drag, scroll, and double-click the map view to explore the map.

Specify the area of the web map to take offline

  1. Add the call to generateMapByExtent. (The next step implements this function.)

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    // Set the view (created in QML)
    void Display_an_offline_map::setMapView(MapQuickView* mapView)
    {
        if (!mapView || mapView == m_mapView)
        {
            return;
        }
    
        m_mapView = mapView;
        m_mapView->setMap(m_map);
    
        generateMapByExtent();
    
  2. Begin to implement the generateMapByExtent() function. Use EnvelopeBuilder to set four parameters and then call toEnvelope() to create the envelope.

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    // Set the view (created in QML)
    void Display_an_offline_map::setMapView(MapQuickView* mapView)
    {
        if (!mapView || mapView == m_mapView)
        {
            return;
        }
    
        m_mapView = mapView;
        m_mapView->setMap(m_map);
    
        generateMapByExtent();
    
        emit mapViewChanged();
    }
    
    void Display_an_offline_map::generateMapByExtent()
    {
        // Create envelope to define area of interest
        EnvelopeBuilder* envelopeBuilder = new EnvelopeBuilder(SpatialReference::wgs84(), this);
    
        envelopeBuilder->setXMin(-88.1526);
        envelopeBuilder->setXMax(-88.1490);
        envelopeBuilder->setYMin(41.7694);
        envelopeBuilder->setYMax(41.7714);
    
        Envelope offlineArea = envelopeBuilder->toEnvelope();
    
    
  3. Add a graphic to generateMapByExtent() to show the area you will take offline.

    Create a Graphic using the envelope, SimpleFillSymbol and SimpleLineSymbol. From this create a GraphicsOverlay and add it to the mapView.

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    void Display_an_offline_map::generateMapByExtent()
    {
        // Create envelope to define area of interest
        EnvelopeBuilder* envelopeBuilder = new EnvelopeBuilder(SpatialReference::wgs84(), this);
    
        envelopeBuilder->setXMin(-88.1526);
        envelopeBuilder->setXMax(-88.1490);
        envelopeBuilder->setYMin(41.7694);
        envelopeBuilder->setYMax(41.7714);
    
        Envelope offlineArea = envelopeBuilder->toEnvelope();
    
        Graphic* box = new Graphic(offlineArea, new SimpleFillSymbol(SimpleFillSymbolStyle::Solid, Qt::transparent, new SimpleLineSymbol(SimpleLineSymbolStyle::Solid, Qt::red, 3, this), this), this);
        GraphicsOverlay* boxOverlay = new GraphicsOverlay(this);
        boxOverlay->graphics()->append(box);
    
        // add graphics overlay to the map view
        m_mapView->graphicsOverlays()->append(boxOverlay);
    
    
  4. Press Ctrl + R to run the app.

    You should see a red outline on the stormwater network within Naperville, IL, USA. This indicates the area of the web map that you are going to take offline.

Download and display the offline map

  1. Add the following createDefaultGenerateOfflineMapParametersAsync method that creates a GenerateOfflineMapParameters object. These offline map parameters will serves as the input to create a GenerateOfflineMapJob. Store the resulting offline mobile map package (MMPK) at a desired local folder. Don't add a closing brace yet.

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        Graphic* box = new Graphic(offlineArea, new SimpleFillSymbol(SimpleFillSymbolStyle::Solid, Qt::transparent, new SimpleLineSymbol(SimpleLineSymbolStyle::Solid, Qt::red, 3, this), this), this);
        GraphicsOverlay* boxOverlay = new GraphicsOverlay(this);
        boxOverlay->graphics()->append(box);
    
        // add graphics overlay to the map view
        m_mapView->graphicsOverlays()->append(boxOverlay);
    
        // generate the offline map parameters
        m_offlineMapTask->createDefaultGenerateOfflineMapParametersAsync(offlineArea).then(this,[this](const GenerateOfflineMapParameters& params)
        {
            // output to generate offline map job after offline map parameters are created. Store the resulting mmpk in the desired path
            const QString outputPath = QDir::homePath() + "/ArcGIS/Runtime/Data/offlinemap.mmpk";
            GenerateOfflineMapJob* generateJob = m_offlineMapTask->generateOfflineMap(params, outputPath);
            if (!generateJob)
                return;
    
  2. Add a connect that monitors the status of the GenerateOfflineMapJob and returns changes to status.

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        // generate the offline map parameters
        m_offlineMapTask->createDefaultGenerateOfflineMapParametersAsync(offlineArea).then(this,[this](const GenerateOfflineMapParameters& params)
        {
            // output to generate offline map job after offline map parameters are created. Store the resulting mmpk in the desired path
            const QString outputPath = QDir::homePath() + "/ArcGIS/Runtime/Data/offlinemap.mmpk";
            GenerateOfflineMapJob* generateJob = m_offlineMapTask->generateOfflineMap(params, outputPath);
            if (!generateJob)
                return;
    
            // use connect to monitor job status for changes and return job status
            connect(generateJob, &GenerateOfflineMapJob::statusChanged, this, [this, generateJob]()
                    {
                        if (generateJob->jobStatus() == JobStatus::Succeeded)
                        {
                            qDebug() << "generating offline map";
                            m_mapView->setMap(generateJob->result()->offlineMap(this));
    
                            qDebug() << (generateJob->error().isEmpty() ? "No errors" : (generateJob->error().message() + generateJob->error().additionalMessage()));
                        }
    
                        else if (generateJob->jobStatus() == JobStatus::Failed)
                        {
                            qWarning() << generateJob->error().message() << generateJob->error().additionalMessage();
                        }
                    });
    
  3. Add another connect (optional) that displays progress of the GenerateOfflineMapJob as the job executes. Add the final code generateJob->start() and the final closing code (required) to complete the first connect function.

    Display_an_offline_map.cpp
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            // use connect to monitor job status for changes and return job status
            connect(generateJob, &GenerateOfflineMapJob::statusChanged, this, [this, generateJob]()
                    {
                        if (generateJob->jobStatus() == JobStatus::Succeeded)
                        {
                            qDebug() << "generating offline map";
                            m_mapView->setMap(generateJob->result()->offlineMap(this));
    
                            qDebug() << (generateJob->error().isEmpty() ? "No errors" : (generateJob->error().message() + generateJob->error().additionalMessage()));
                        }
    
                        else if (generateJob->jobStatus() == JobStatus::Failed)
                        {
                            qWarning() << generateJob->error().message() << generateJob->error().additionalMessage();
                        }
                    });
    
            // use connect to monitor job progress changes and return progress return job progress
            connect(generateJob, &GenerateOfflineMapJob::progressChanged, this, [generateJob]()
                    {
                        qDebug() << "Job status:" << generateJob->progress() << "%";
                    });
    
            generateJob->start();
        });
    }
  4. Press Ctrl + R to run the app.

Initially, you should see the map of the stormwater network for Naperville, IL, USA, with a red outline as before. At the Application Output tab in Creator, the Job status percentage should increment up to 100%, and then you should see the offline map for the specified area of the stormwater network for Naperville, IL, USA. Remove your network connection and you will still be able to use the mouse to drag, scroll, and double-click the map view to explore this offline map.

What's next?

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

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