idea Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab in ArcGIS Online Ideas

Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

KenBuja — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:42:25 GMT

Currently, the extent of a map in the Map Viewer is reset to whatever it is when the map is saved. I would like to be able to set the extent of a map that will persist regardless of what the current extent of the map is when it is saved.

My use case is I have a number of different layers in my map, but none of them have the extent that I want to for the map. I have to add another layer ("Default Zoom layer") that has the extent I want to use, zoom to that extent, and then remove it. I do not want that specific layer in my map, since in the app that uses the web map, I programmatically add that layer.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

ChelseaRozek — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 16:42:58 GMT

I ran into this issue again today, so I wish I could upvote this idea multiple times. When I'm working on a map, I'm exploring the data, altering symbology, adding/removing layers, etc. It's not obvious that every time you save it, it sets that as the default extent in your apps. Especially when the customer wants a weird extent, I'm afraid of forgetting to reset it every time I work on the map or if someone else works on the map they may not realize they have to do that too.

I see a preserve map scale option in the map properties. I would love to see a set initial extent option right there too or maybe a toggle of saving a new initial extent when saving the web map.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

marksm_macomb — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 13:55:43 GMT

Commenting to add that I think a lot of people, including me, would benefit from more customizable default extent settings, or even a way to change the increments or "steps" between zoom levels when you scroll or click the "+/-" buttons. In Pro, you can hold down the right mouse button to zoom very gradually in order to get an exact fit of your map in your layout. A function similar to that would be helpful in web maps.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

Jesse_WI_DNR — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 20:57:08 GMT

I was just about to post a duplicate idea of this, glad I found this one. This seems like an obvious "easy win" adding a comment and kudos.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

ChelseaRozek — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 18:18:27 GMT

Still don't see this as an option in 2024... I'd also like to tack on that it would be nice to be able to save a default of which layers you want on/off as well as the initial extent. Especially now that we have groups, it would be nice to not have to remember which particular combination of on/off you want the default in your apps to be after you work on the webmap.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

NourSalamJMT — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:39:48 GMT

This would be very helpful especially when setting scales for other applications such as dashboards and experience builders.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

TD1 — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:35:25 GMT

Really need this feature. This seems like a basic feature. Really annoying for me and users that when updating maps and having the extent change

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

JohnFix1 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:33:48 GMT

Why is this a problem??? Unless I am missing something, I need to set the "Extent" property of the map and save the project it before running a vector tile cache on it. It seems all suggested python code always errors.

I need to set this via Python:

Here is the python I am using:

import arcpy

# Reference the current project and map
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT")
m = aprx.listMaps("Households Analysis")[0] # Replace "Map" with the name of your map

# Get the AOI layer and its extent
aoi_layer = m.listLayers("SchoolDistricts")[0] # Replace "AOI" with the name of your layer
aoi_extent = aoi_layer.getExtent()

# Set the map's extent to the AOI layer's extent
m.defaultCamera.setExtent(aoi_extent)

# Save the project if needed
aprx.save()

Below is the error I get, what am I missing?

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

TD1 — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 16:24:42 GMT

This is 3 years old. When will this be implemented?

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

JohnFix1 — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 14:49:51 GMT

I agree with @TD1 when will a solution be implemented?

I used the AI bot in Esri Tech support yesterday, and it provided two solutions, both of which were incorrect.

First, it said I can include an extent in my input, this is clearly false and is not value (I tried it of course). "Extent" is not valid for arcpy.management.CreateVectorTilePackage

arcpy.management.CreateVectorTilePackage(
input_map="Map",
output_file="output.vtpk",
service_type="ONLINE",
extent="xmin ymin xmax ymax" # Specify extent here
)

Second, it said I could update the map's extent property, this does not work either as I tried it.

import arcpy

# Reference the current ArcGIS Pro project
aprx = arcpy.mp.ArcGISProject("CURRENT")

# Access the first map in the project
map_obj = aprx.listMaps("Map")[0]

# Get the layer named "insert layer name"
aoi_layer = map_obj.listLayers("Routing2")[0]

# Retrieve the extent of the layer
layer_extent = arcpy.Describe(aoi_layer).extent

# Convert the extent object to a string
extent_string = f"{layer_extent.XMin} {layer_extent.YMin} {layer_extent.XMax} {layer_extent.YMax}"
print(extent_string)

# Get the map's CIM definition
map_cim = map_obj.getDefinition('V3')

# Set the layer's extent as the map's default extent
map_cim.defaultExtent = {
"xmin": layer_extent.XMin,
"ymin": layer_extent.YMin,
"xmax": layer_extent.XMax,
"ymax": layer_extent.YMax,
"spatialReference": {
"wkid": layer_extent.spatialReference.factoryCode
}
}

# Apply the new definition to the map and save the project
map_obj.setDefinition(map_cim)
aprx.save()

print("The map's default extent has been updated to match 'aoi_layer'.")

Anyone have a workable solution??

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

Evelyn_Chanti — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 16:03:30 GMT

Commenting to bump this idea. This would be a very useful feature.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

BarrettLewis1 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:15:05 GMT

Also came here to bump. This is really a no brainer of a feature. If you can set the visibility extent of a layer to a customized extent value, there is zero reason why you shouldn't be able to do this for the map itself.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab - Status changed to: Needs Clarification

BernSzukalski — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:39:13 GMT

You could add a bookmark to your map with the default extent you want to save it at. Then whenever you zoom in to do detailed work on specific layers, just zoom to that bookmark and save.

Personally I think this is an easy solution, and one I have used myself on multiple projects...

Also note that you can override the displayed map extent in several of the Instant Apps.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

BarrettLewis1 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:46:23 GMT

@BernSzukalski Bookmarks can only be set at the extent that the Map Viewer allows. For instance, if I scroll in and get the extent of 1:50,000 and I scroll out and get 1:100,000, there is no way in Map Viewer to get a value inbetween, thus the bookmark cannot be set, because you have to actually be at the extent you want to bookmark. And that is what Map Viewer wont let you do. The only way I have found around this is to set the bookmark in an ArcGIS Pro map and then upload that map, but that is a ridiculous workaround when you are working in an existing map that can't just be thrown out.

Again, this should be a super basic function and Esri has ignored it for 3 years in order to create features that appeal to an extremely narrow audience, like their ridiculous AI features.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

BarrettLewis1 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:47:36 GMT

And in regards to Instant Apps, that's fine. I am working on a Dashboard though and I don't have that functionality. But regardless, there is zero reason why it isn't just in the basic map viewer.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

Jesse_WI_DNR — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:49:17 GMT

@BernSzukalski I agree that solution works and it one most of us are probably using already. The issue is that it depends on self-discipline to implement.

In many cases the web map may be used in something other than an Instant App that has the extent control override capability. In those cases it would be nice to guarantee that the map initialized to the exact same extent every time.

Another example could be a story map where there are multiple web maps used that must be the exact same extents for the sake of continuity. Being able to strictly control the map extent (without user intervention of establishing and going to a bookmark) would be helpful in multiple use cases.

It would be a good safeguard against the novice users that may be using the same web map for an app and data review. Nothing worse than opening what should be a statewide map and it's zoomed in to somebody's house. 😉

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

BarrettLewis1 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:51:56 GMT

Please, tell me, how does the bookmark solution work if I cannot get to the extent that I want to set a bookmark at. Is there a workaround I do not know of, other than to upload a map with that bookmark in ArcPro?

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

BernSzukalski — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 20:48:37 GMT

@BarrettLewis1 Unless I am missing something about your workflow (apologies if I am), I can zoom anywhere on the map using Map Viewer, even using a dragged rectangle to zoom, to get to the extent that I want and then bookmark it. I am not considering Pro (perhaps you are?) I am only working in Map Viewer.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

BarrettLewis1 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 21:00:30 GMT

@BernSzukalski I am in the basic map viewer. I only mentioned Pro because the only way I have found the ability to use a custom extent is to set it in Pro and then upload the entire map to AGOL.

The only way I know how to zoom in the basic map viewer is to either click the +/- buttons, or use my mouse's scroll wheel, each of which zoom in at defined increments. Again, in my hypothetical situation, if I am at an scale of 1:50,000 and I scroll out using either the minus button or my scroll wheel, it does not provide a continuous zoom out. It automatically jumps to a larger scale. So for instance in my hypothetical situation, scrolling out puts me at 1:100,000. There is no way to get to anywhere in between using the buttons or my scroll wheel.

I do not see an option to use a dragged rectangle? If I left click, I can only pan across the pan. Right click alters the rotation. I can drag a rectangle in the edit option, but that only selects features. I do not see how I can zoom in based on that rectangle.

Re: Set the map extent in Map Viewer Map properties tab

BarrettLewis1 — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 21:11:51 GMT

Ah, just figured out the rectangle, shift and drag. That does help. However, I still advocate for a more user-friendly way to adjust the scale. I would have never known about that if I hadn't found this thread. I would say that this isn't just user-unfriendly, its user-unknown. A workaround given to me by people on forums is not a replacement for what should be a very basic, user-friendly, and easy to find feature. It really does not seem hard, in the grand scheme of all the unnecessary features Esri puts out, to put a slider in the map properties where you can control the scale. Even if its only using AGOL's visibility range keywords (e.g., setting the scale as "Counties", "Cities" or "Street").

Again, just to reiterate, workarounds should not be the final solution to what could easily be an implementable feature.