topic Re: Map viewer: possible to specify anchor for uploaded feature symbol? in ArcGIS Online Questions

Map viewer: possible to specify anchor for uploaded feature symbol?

MartinRust — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 15:10:06 GMT

Hi,

in the map viewer I've configured a feature layer to use an uploaded (custom) symbol for features.

This symbol resembles a flag pole with flag. Thus the symbol's anchor should be on the bottom left corner (flag pole base), rather than the center.

I'm aware I could work around this by adding enough transparent margin to the bottom and left side of the PNG file so that the flag pole base becomes the center of the image.

But it would be better if I could explicitly specify the position of the anchor in the image - is this possible? If not on the web UI, using the Python API would be fine too.

Re: Map viewer: possible to specify anchor for uploaded feature symbol?

RussRoberts — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 16:07:12 GMT

this is currently not possible to set anchor points on symbols in Map Viewer. You would have to alter the web map JSON written out.

https://developers.arcgis.com/web-map-specification/objects/esriPMS_symbol/

Re: Map viewer: possible to specify anchor for uploaded feature symbol?

JayLarsen — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:31:19 GMT

Thanks for this.

So, normally the anchor would be the center of the x by y pixel bounding box?

To "cheat" it into where you want to be, add blank space to the bottom so that the new bounding box anchor point is where you want it?

I've wondered about this for years...didn't know the proper term to ask!

Thanks!

Re: Map viewer: possible to specify anchor for uploaded feature symbol?

RussRoberts — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:46:21 GMT

Yup its captured at the center of the image.

Yup what you are describing is covered towards the end of this blog:

https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-online/mapping/using-images-as-custom-point-symbols/

Re: Map viewer: possible to specify anchor for uploaded feature symbol?

MartinRust — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 19:50:33 GMT

yes. To be precise, not "blank", but transparent is what it's called in most drawing applications 😉

Re: Map viewer: possible to specify anchor for uploaded feature symbol?

JayLarsen — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 23:03:29 GMT

Great article. Covers the exact thing! Surprised to see it so recent...I've been wondering about this for years.

Thanks!

😁