Group Feature Service Layers

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08-21-2012 11:59 PM
JosephAccardi
New Contributor III
I want to confirm that I'm using the correct methodology: I have 6 GDB layers in my MXD that have relationship classes. In order for my users to view the related information for each layer I published the MXD with feature access capability and configured the infotemplate widget to hyperlink the related field (which works fine). Now I want to be able to group these 6 layers under one layer group as you typically see when you add a map service to FV. I am using Robert's TOC widget. 1) is there a way to group feature service layers and 2) if they can't be grouped, is there another way of viewing related information (as a map service) without publishing layers with feature access capability? These layers are not intended to be editable, but just set up so their related data can be accessible in FV.

I searched around this forum regarding the grouping of feature service layers and couldn't find an answer that works.

Thanks in advance.
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6 Replies
RobertScheitlin__GISP
MVP Emeritus
Joe,

   You do not need feature access enabled unless you are wanting web editing. If you add a layer to Flex Viewer and specify the type as "feature" than grouping is not possible as a feature type is specific to one layer of a map service and there is no grouping capability in the viewer. If you have layers grouped in the MXD, and add the layer to the viewer as type "dynamic" than the grouping will be maintained.
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JosephAccardi
New Contributor III
Thanks Robert. If I interpret your response correctly, I can't have it both ways...

If you add a layer to Flex Viewer and specify the type as "feature" than grouping is not possible...

I will be able to identify related data in my layers using the InfoTemplate widget, but the layers can't be grouped.




If you have layers grouped in the MXD, and add the layer to the viewer as type "dynamic" than the grouping will be maintained.


I can group "dynamic" layers, but can't use the InfoTemplate widget to identify related data since the widget is only compatible with "feature" type layers (services).
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RobertScheitlin__GISP
MVP Emeritus
Joseph,

   That is correct... But there is a possible work around... You can add the feature type layer and set its alpha to 0 and exclude it from the TOC and add the map service as type dynamic with a alpha of 1 and that would be the one that shows in the map and in the TOC (grouped), but the feature type one will not show in either but it will work for the AttRelateInfoWinWidget.
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SimonRoss_User
Occasional Contributor
I agree it would be nice to be able to group feature layers please promote the idea on ideas.arcgis.com

http://ideas.arcgis.com/ideaView?id=087E00000004H27IAE
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RoseZhou
New Contributor III
Joseph,

   That is correct... But there is a possible work around... You can add the feature type layer and set its alpha to 0 and exclude it from the TOC and add the map service as type dynamic with a alpha of 1 and that would be the one that shows in the map and in the TOC (grouped), but the feature type one will not show in either but it will work for the AttRelateInfoWinWidget.



Robert:

I have the same scenario with Joseph. We have lots of layers in each map service.  We definitely need to group them in TOC. But we also want to show the relates in the info pop up window.

The work around you mentioned above will have cause some confusions. When the corresponding layer is turned off in TOC, and the user clicks on map, the Info window still pops up because the feature layer is still "visible" although its alpha is 0. That will be confusing.

Any ideas how to fix this confusion?

Thanks in advance.

Rose
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BrentFoster
New Contributor II
I am running into similar issues with feature layers.  I need them to show specialized symbology in the flex viewer, but cannot group them in the TOC as feature layers.  This would be very helpful on a number of levels if there was the capability to group feature layers in the layer list.
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