Share a web scene layer

From ArcGIS Pro, you can author and share web scene layers that are stored as items in your active portal. You can share 3D point, multipatch, building, LAS datasets, and voxel data as a web scene layer from a 3D scene.

The following are six scene layer types that can be shared from ArcGIS Pro:

• Point scene layer
• Point cloud scene layer
• 3D object scene layer
• Building scene layer
• Integrated mesh scene layer
• Voxel scene layer

Web scene layers can be published from either a scene layer package (.slpk) or an associated feature layer. You can interact with the data through pop-ups and can modify the symbology of the layer. Web scene layers with an associated feature layer provide richer statistics used for symbology, allow you to search and query for features not in the current view, and support editing workflows. For more information about how web scene layers are used, see What is a scene layer?

Sharing a web scene layer requires the privilege to publish hosted scene layers. Sharing a web scene layer with an associated feature layer that copies all data to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise additionally requires the privilege to publish hosted feature layers. Sharing a web scene layer that references registered data to ArcGIS Enterprise requires the privilege to publish server-based layers.

Web scene layers are published in the projection of your scene. If you plan to consume the web scene layer in existing web scenes, ensure the scene is in the correct projection. Additional guidelines for authoring 3D feature layers for publishing are outlined in Operational layers.

A web scene layer can only be displayed once visualization caching is complete. You can monitor the cache status from the Job Status pane.

Share a web scene layer using the default configuration

This workflow explains how to share a web scene layer with default settings. To change the default configuration, see Configure a web scene layer.

1. Open a 3D scene.
2. Select the multipatch, building, point, LAS dataset layer, or voxel layer (or voxel scene layer package) in the 3D Layers category of the Contents pane. Right-click the selected layer, point to the Sharing menu, and click Share As Web Layer .

   The Share As Web Layer pane appears.

   Note:

   Voxel layers are not supported in global scenes.

3. Provide a name for the web layer.
4. Complete the Summary and Tags fields.

   You can enter a maximum of 128 tags.

5. If your active portal is ArcGIS Online, optionally, check the Feature check box to include an associated feature layer with your web scene layer.

   The web scene layer is cached online.

   If your active portal is an ArcGIS Enterprise portal and you want the web scene layer to reference registered data sources, click Scene under Reference registered data. A map image layer and feature layer are automatically included when referencing registered data.

   If you click Scene under Copy all data instead, the layer is cached locally, and a scene layer package is created and shared to your portal. The web scene layer is published from the scene layer package.

   Note:

   When publishing a web scene layer from a scene layer package to ArcGIS Online, the .slpk file will not be added as an item in your organization if it is larger than 100 GB.

   Optionally, check the Feature check box to include an associated feature layer. The web scene layer is cached on the server.

   Note:

   The data options are not available when sharing LAS datasets or voxel layers. The scene layer package is created locally and uploaded.

6. Under Location, use the Folder menu to choose a folder in your portal content in which to store the web layer. Optionally, create a folder.

   By default, the web layer is stored at the root level of your portal content.

   Tip:

   Click the Browse button to browse to a folder in your portal content. You can also type a folder name in the text box.

7. If you are sharing a web scene layer that references registered data, use the Server and Folder drop-down menu to specify which folder the map image layer and associated feature layer will be published to on the hosting server. If the folder does not already exist, type in the name of the desired folder.
8. Under Share with, specify how the web layer will be shared:
   • Everyone—Share your content with the public. Anyone can access and see it.
   • My Organization—Share your content with all authenticated users in the organization.
   • Groups—Share your content with groups to which you belong and their members.

   Leave all options unchecked to set the sharing level to the owner of the item.

9. Optionally, click the Content tab to see the folder structure and sublayers of the web layer.
10. Under Finish Sharing, click Analyze to review for problems.

    Errors and warnings are listed on the Messages tab. Right-click a message to open its help topic or take corrective action in the software. Errors must be resolved before you can share your GIS resource. Resolving warnings is recommended but not required.

    Learn more about analyzing GIS resources

Note:

When sharing a web scene layer with an associated feature layer, analyzers will be issued for both layers.

11. After you resolve errors, and optionally resolve warnings, click Publish to share the web layer.
12. When the web layer is successfully published, click the Manage the web layer link at the bottom of the pane to access the web layer in your portal.

    If the web layer will be cached online or on the server, the web layer may not be viewable while cache generation is in progress. Click Jobs to view the cache status in the Job Status pane.

Considerations when sharing to older portals

Although web scene layers can be shared to ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, and Portal for ArcGIS 10.3.1 and later, not all functionality is supported when sharing to each version. Listed below are limitations when sharing to older versions.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.7.1 and earlier

• Preserve editor tracking info is not available.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.6.1 and earlier

• Sharing building layers as web scene layers is not supported.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.6 and earlier

• When referencing registered data, layers must be sourced from an enterprise geodatabase.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5.1 and earlier

• Editing operations are not available when sharing multipatch data.
• Data options are not available, all data will be copied.

ArcGIS Enterprise 10.5 and Portal for ArcGIS 10.4.1 and earlier

• The option to cache locally is not available.

Portal for ArcGIS 10.3.1

• Sharing 3D point layers as web scene layers is not supported.
• Web scene layers cannot be shared from local scenes.