topic Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro in ArcGIS Enterprise Questions

Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

mpboyle — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 14:11:00 GMT

I recently published a composite locator service using Pro to our Portal (with a federated Server). I re-built the individual locators and would now like to re-publish / overwrite the composite locator service, but don't see a way of doing that within Pro.

Am I missing a tool or toolbar somewhere? How does one update / overwrite locator services using Pro?

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

DanielCota1 — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 20:49:15 GMT

Hi Matthew Boyle‌,

Presently, there is not a means to formally overwrite a geocode service. What you can do is either update the data for the service or publish a new service altogether and re-implement that into any online portals or web apps.

For example, if you have a composite locator, you can follow these steps to update the service:

1. Stop the geocode service
2. Update the reference data for the individual locators
3. Rebuild the individual locators

Rebuild Address Locator—Help | ArcGIS Desktop

4. Start the geocode service

Hope this helps!

-Daniel

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 22:54:00 GMT

For ArcGIS Pro 2.3 the parameter 'overwrite_existing_service' was added to the CreateGeocodeSDDraft ArcPy publishing function. Once ArcGIS Pro 2.3 is available you would be able to overwrite the locator service via Python using Pro. Later this week this help topic will include the new parameter. At this time there is no option in the UI to overwrite existing locator services. https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/arcpy/functions/creategeocodesddraft.htm

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 01:23:56 GMT

ArcGIS Pro 2.3 went live today and if you are able to install it try using the Python option I suggested above.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 23:56:34 GMT

I'm having trouble with this in Pro 2.4.2. overwrite_existing_service=True is not working inside Pro or Python 3.6.8. IDLE. Will this be addressed at Pro 2.5? I need to rebuild and overwrite a locator on our server once or twice a week.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

MichaelVolz — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:00:35 GMT

Does the overwite service parameter stop the existing service whose associated address locator would need to be stopped in order to remove locks on a file geodatabase if that was the data source? Is this the recommend procedure for updating a geocode service going forward?

I ask because it seems like the overwrite task would occur after rebuilding the address locator which could only occur if the service was stopped at that point to clear the file geodatabase locks that would throw up an error.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:52:24 GMT

I can overwrite Geocode services in Python 2.7, but not in Python 3.6 or in Pro.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

MichaelVolz — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:54:52 GMT

So when you overwrite a geocode service in python 2.7, do you need to first stop the geocode service to rebuild the associated address locator?

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:56:44 GMT

No, it just overwrites. If I try to run the same script in Python 3.6.8, it stops the locator on the server and then fails to upload the service definition.

And I've found another issue. I create the locator in Pro/Python 3 using arcpy.geocoding.CreateLocator. This tool has no capabilities parameters (geocode, suggest, etc). I can't use the older tool arcpy.CreateAddressLocator_geocoding because suggestions are totally screwed up when the service is consumed in a web app. If I publish the locator straight from Pro (created with arcpy.geocoding.CreateLocator), everything works. If I create the locator in Python 3.6, and then publish it in 2.7, then suggestions are turned off. Turning them on and restarting the service has no effect. So no matter what, I have to physically publish the locator to the server or it won't work correctly. I need this process to be fully automated end to end, because the address points data I'm using is updated by the city on a bi-weekly basis.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 01:29:39 GMT

The geocoding team put out a script to help automate updating a geocode service using Python that is installed with ArcGIS Pro. https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=54e8aab14f6e4c61b65b9dd9ab451503 The script is meant to automate the process described in the "Update a locator service" section of the 'Keep your locator up to date' help topic here: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/help/data/geocoding/keep-your-locator-up-to-date.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_35E8B1CBDACB44C2AD4B5D486E9FBFEE

Try using the script to see if you still encounter the problems you are having with updating the service.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 16:52:51 GMT

Thank you. I will try this out. That page says "We recommend using Pro 2.5 to overwrite your geocoding services. In Pro 2.5 you can overwrite services on both standalone server and on a federated Portal. This script is meant for users that are using an earlier version of Pro." I'm assuming this is directed at Beta testers. Is there a general release date for 2.5?

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:31:14 GMT

ArcGIS Pro 2.5 will be the next release, which will have the ability to overwrite geocoding services on Enterprise portal and standalone ArcGIS Server through the UI like you can in ArcMap/ArcCatalog. In ArcGIS Pro 2.4 you can publish to standalone ArcGIS Server. If you have access to the Early Adopter Program, you can test out the new functionality in 2.5 beta.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:39:19 GMT

OK, but will I still need to use the script you linked to in order to overwrite locator services in Python? Or will overwrite_existing_service=True work in 2.5?

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:13:27 GMT

Levi:

If you are wanting to automate the publishing and overwrite process you will need to use Python, so using the script I mentioned is still needed for overwrite. As far as your issue with publishing the original locator created with the Create Locator tool...

1. The locators created with the tool have suggestions built in, there is no parameter to check to enable suggestions like with the Create Address Locator tool.

2. If you publish the locator created with Create Locator tool using Python 3.6 does the service and suggestions work? It is not recommended to publish locators created with the Create Locator tool in ArcGIS Pro using Python 2.7. Python 2.7 is for ArcMap, which does not support the locators created with the Create Locator tool in Pro. Once the locator is published as a service, it can then be used in ArcMap.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:18:07 GMT

I can't publish locators at all from Python 3.6. It spits out vague errors.

ERROR 001487: Failed to update the published service with the server-side data location. Please see the server's log for more details.

ERROR 001369: Failed to create the service.

Failed to execute (Publish Service Definition).

Failed.

Failed to execute (Publish Service Definition).

Failed.

Failed to execute (UploadServiceDefinition).

I have to publish manually from Pro, or from Python 2.7 (which keeps the suggestions off, so also isn't an option).

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 00:58:04 GMT

Levi:

Is the locator you are publishing a composite locator or a single locator created with the Create Locator tool?
What version of ArcGIS Server are you publishing the locator to? Is it federated?
Do you get the same error messages when you publish a locator created with the Create Address Locator tool using Python 3.6?
Do you have a data store setup on the server you are publishing to? I'm asking this based on the info in the error code topic
001487: Failed to update the published service with the server-side data location. Please see the server's log for more … It would be good to see what info is in the server logs. Server logs—ArcGIS Server Administration (Windows) | ArcGIS Enterprise

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 17:09:58 GMT

Shana,

1. Single locator created with Create Locator

2. Server 10.7.1. Not federated with Portal.

3. Yes

4. I'm not sure. Our server was set up and hosted by a 3rd Party and we are in the R&D stage. I will ask them about the data store. The server logs only display the errors I pasted above.

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 17:52:09 GMT

Levi:

Do you know if a copy of the locator that is being published is stored on the server that the 3rd party setup for you?

Do you have access to ArcGIS Server manager to check for any data stores?

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

LeviCecil — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 17:59:16 GMT

I do. There aren't any data stores. I was just able to successfully overwrite my locator on the server using the script you linked to. So I'll just import that as a module in my script going forward. Thanks!

Re: Overwrite Locator Service using Pro

ShanaBritt — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 18:11:37 GMT

See the comment here for publishing and overwrite solution via Python 3.6, the copy_data_to_server parameter is missing. https://community.esri.com/thread/245276-server-geolocator-publishing-fails-in-python-36-but-works-in-27#comment-898435