topic Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:23:16 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I'm currently using ArcGIS Pro 2.8.2. I happened upon a script that was graciously shared by Jonah Lay to publish and overwrite web layers in Modelbuilder (see JonahLayCode.txt). I followed the directions for adding the script, creating the script tool, and adding to an existing model. The directional post from Jonah can be found here: https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-pro/mapping/publish-and-overwrite-web-layers-in-modelbuilder/

I've attached a screenshot that illustrates my model with the Publish Web Feature Layer section added (see AutoPublishOutagesScreenshot.png).

In running the model as it is illustrated in the above screenshot, I received the following error messages (see AutoPublishOutagesFailureScreenshot.png).

I am not a programmer. That we just establish. To that end, can someone please offer some kernels of wisdom on how I may succeed in using this script successfully given the errors I have encountered? I'm sure it is something that I have not done properly given the indicated messages.

Thank you one and all in advance.

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 16:04:37 GMT

Hi,

Thanks for the screenshots. Just a quick question first... Are you attempting to publish a web feature layer to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise?

Thanks,

Jonah

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 16:12:23 GMT

Hi Jonah,

Thank you so much for replying.

I am attempting to update a hosted feature layer on ArcGIS Online.

Jeff

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 17:24:04 GMT

Hi Jeff,

I tried recreating the model in your screenshot and was able to successfully publish a web feature layer. I'm not seeing any issues with the script itself. There are a couple things that might be worth checking though:

Are the output data variables set to Add to display? (Right-click Layer Name and YukonOutageLocsAGOWMPro in your model).
For the map variable—Do you have other layers or tables in your map, or is it just the stand-alone table (mapLocations...csv)?

Best,

Jonah

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 17:33:05 GMT

Hi Jonah,

Thank you for doing some investigating. It's much appreciated. Yes, the output layer (YukonOutageLocsAGWMPro) is set to Add to Display. Other than the mapLocations...csv file called on as a table variable, both the World Topographic and World Hillshade are present in the map and form the basemap under the YukonOutageLocsAGWMPro locations. Could that be the issue?

Thanks.

Jeff

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 19:01:39 GMT

Hi Jeff,

No, the basemaps shouldn't be a problem. The error, "No Layer or Table was initialized" seems to indicate that no layer or table was present in the input map (though you should have received an analyzer error if this was the case). If you can confirm that the input map is correct, then I'm not sure what else could be causing the issue. If you are willing to share the project and data as a package, feel free to message me privately and I can take a closer look.

The following help topic has some suggestions you can also try: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/tool-errors-and-warnings/999001-999999/tool-errors-and-warnings-999998-999999-999999.htm

If nothing else works, contacting Technical Support might be your best option.

Best,

Jonah

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 19:07:26 GMT

Hi Jonah,

Should my .csv file be located as a standalone table in the map? The lead-off table variable in modelbuilder is "pointed to" the location of the csv file.

Thanks.

Jeff

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 19:15:18 GMT

I don't think that would make a difference, but it is worth trying. You can add the file to the map, then drag it into the model as a variable.

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 19:20:35 GMT

I went through the suggestion help topic and decided to check the csv file for "empty cells". I removed the offending records that did not possess XY coordinate information and the script without errors. However...and there is always an however...right...I checked my corresponding AGO layer...the one that should be updated and sure enough it was recently updated...but when I go to the layers items details section...Data tab...it refused to load the data. I then attempted to open the layer within a new AGO map and there are no point locations showing. Any thoughts?

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 19:26:38 GMT

I should probably add that only the hosted feature layer shows today's date but it's corresponding service definition file on AGO is unchanged and shows yesterday's date.

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 20:20:01 GMT

It sounds like publishing is now successful but overwriting isn't? If so, double-check that the web layer name matches the existing web layer name and the Overwrite Existing Web Layer check box is checked.

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 10:51:02 GMT

Hi Jonah,

Yes. Publishing ran successfully without any issues. I double checked the parameters of the Publish Web Feature Layer component and everything looks fine and matches (see SDDFile Location. png). I circled the Output Directory portion of the Publish Web Feature Layer screenshot because I think something might be happening here. After running the model, I checked and indeed the YukonOutageLocsAGOWMPro hosted feature layer displayed an updated date but contained no data. Also peculiar is that the corresponding Service Definition file, located in the same folder as my YukonOutageLocsAGOWMPro hosted feature layer, was not updated. However, a new Service Definition file was created and placed in my root default directory in AGO with the same name as my hosted feature layer. Could there be a some conflict going on between the two service definition files? In addition, am I storing the SDDFiles correctly in the Output Directory section of the Publish Web Feature Layer parameters section?

Thanks.

Jeff

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 17:53:46 GMT

Thanks for confirming, Jeff.

Did you change the output directory after publishing and before overwriting? Does overwriting work if the output directory is a local folder like on your C drive instead of a network folder?

Jonah

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 11:07:27 GMT

Hi Jonah,

I'm not sure about the order of change for the output directory but I did perform two scenarios to see if there was any difference in the workflow. I first performed a standard Publish Web Layer for the YukonOutageLocsAGOWMPro layer out of Pro and placed it within a folder I created on AGO entitled "Yukon Outage". Both the hosted feature layer and corresponding source definition file were successfully published. I then ran the modelbuilder script to update this hosted feature layer and source definition file. The update ran successfully, the data was indeed updated in this AGO folder and the point locations can be added to a map in AGO without issue. However, the only caveat was that it also produced a source definition file and saved it to my root AGO directory file. I did experiment with changing the Publish Web Feature Layer parameters by redirecting the Output Directory path to my C:\ drive but this did not change the end result. I guess the question is, which is the valid source definition file?

Thanks.

Jeff

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:31:45 GMT

Hi Jeff,

I believe you are seeing this behavior because your script tool hasn't been modified to include the portalFolder property. The Next Steps section in the blog covers how to do this.

Hope it helps,

Jonah

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JD1016 — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:40:10 GMT

Hi Jonah,

That did it! Thank you so much for all your help. This script will help us immensely.

Jeff

Re: Issues with publishing and overwriting web layers using modelbuilder

JonahLay — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 18:50:57 GMT

Glad to hear. You're welcome!