topic Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL in ArcGIS Online Questions

Custom Symbols for AGOL

SteveCline — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 20:03:47 GMT

I would like to make my own custom point symbols for a map hosted in AGOL. I cannot seem to find any threads that relate specifically to this. I would be wiling to create the map in desktop and then publish a feature service if that is necessary. I cannot seem to find any instructions for this. It does not seem like this should be a difficult task.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Steve

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

TimWitt — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 11:14:12 GMT

Steve,

You will need an organizational account for this.

Open the MXD in which you have prepared your layer with your symbology. Make sure only that layer is in your MXD.

1) Click on File -> Sign In... (Here you sign into your organizational account)
2) Click on File -> Share As -> Service -> Publish a service
3) As connection choose My Hosted Services (My Account) and as service name use what you want the layer to be called.
4) Under the capabilities tab uncheck "Tiled Mapping" and check "Feature Access"
5) Fill out the Item Description tab
6) Under sharing you can check who is able to see it once published
7) Click Publish in the upper right corner and it will soon show up in your "My Content" on ArcGIS Online

I hope this makes sense!

Tim

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

SteveCline — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:26:32 GMT

Tim -

I understand how to publish a feature service. That is not my issue.

I would like to make custom point symbols for this map and this seems to be exceedingly difficult to do. If it is easier to create the custom symbol in desktop and then publish I will do that. I would prefer to work on this from AGOL (I do have an institutional account) but there seems to be no way of doing that either.

Thanks for your time.

Steve

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

TimWitt — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:34:29 GMT

Steve,

When you open your map in ArcGIS Online, you can change the symbology there.

You need to upload the Symbol you would like to use to an image sharing site.
Click on the content tab -> click the little triangle next to your layer and choose "Change Symbology"
Then choose options -> Change Symbology. In the pop up you can choose "Add an Image". Just paste in the link which points to your image to get the symbology you would like.

If you need instructions on how to import custom symbology into ArcGIS Desktop let me know, but I am not sure if the symbology stays once you upload it to ArcGIS Online, that's why I would try the Add an Image method.

Tim

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

SteveCline — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:37:49 GMT

That is what I was looking for. I will give that a try today.

Thanks!

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

TimWitt — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:44:34 GMT

Let me know if this works for you and if it does don't forget to mark the answer 🙂

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

SteveCline — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:57:05 GMT

Worked Great! Thanks

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

AijazSyed — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 22:11:33 GMT

Hi Tim,

I am getting an error when I try customize a symbol in AGOL - Image URL does not seem to be valid. Any thoughts?

Aijaz

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

MattGeorge1 — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 20:23:16 GMT

Generate a png for your custom symbol using something like pixlr.com if it is't already a png or you want a transparent background. Save it your local drive. Then log into ArcGIS Online through the web browser. Go to My content and "Add Item". After the item has been added, you have to share it with your org or just click make public. A custom and public to your org url is generated. I would even go as far as adding the item to a custom folder under your AGO user account to keep file storage of custom symbols in order. Then when styling your webmap you'll habve the url which will work to make your custom symbols appear in the web map, web app, and mobile apps.

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

SteveCline — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:56:03 GMT

Thanks Matt!

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

PaulDoherty — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:21:25 GMT

Hey all - it seems this workflow has changed with then new symbology tools in the web map with the last ArcGIS Online release. Anyone know how to add a custom symbol via image now?

Cassie Hansen Bernie Szukalski?

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

GeorgeDurkee — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 14:34:05 GMT

To Tim's answer, I'll add you don't have to put the new icon in a photo site. You can create an icon folder in your AGOL account and copy the link there. Makes them a little easier to access and organize.

Also, in the Contents dropdown, it's now Change Style ==> Select a Drawing Style ==> Options ==> Symbols ==> and, in tiny print, Use an Image (below the symbol choices).

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

PaulDoherty — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 17:59:23 GMT

Old workflow still works - however, CLEAR YOUR COOKIES

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

JamieLambert — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 02:23:01 GMT

May be an old topic but still relevant as custom symbols hasn't seemed to improved at all for several years. I don't believe sharing to your Org (alone) will work for custom image files uploaded to AGOL. I believe they have to be shared to the Public to generate a useable URL. If anyone has information otherwise, I'd love to hear it!

Re: Custom Symbols for AGOL

JayLarsen — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:25:16 GMT

Yes, this area doesn't get a lot of discussion!

You are correct, in my experience. You MUST put the image file somewhere convenient in your AGOL content, and then share just those symbol items to the whole world.