Can we publish Composite Locator as referenced service on ArcGIS Server?

[GeeteshSingh07]

Hi,

I am trying to publish Composite Locator as referenced service; however, it gives a message 30009: "Composite locator will be copied to the server".

I saw a similar query, it dates back to 2013, therefore, not sure, if it's still true: Solved: Re: Publishing a composite locator- registering da... - Esri Community.

[George_Thompson]

It looks like you can register it as a data store on a network location (accessible to the Enterprise deployment): https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/data/geocoding/share-a-locator.htm

[GeeteshSingh07]

@George_Thompson, this works for single feature locator, but for composite locator I have registered a folder on server, however, it still gives a message: 30009: "Composite locator will be copied to the server".

[George_Thompson]

I was not 100% sure on the composite one. I guess that workflow requires it to be copied.

Is copying it an issue?

[GeeteshSingh07]

@George_Thompson , not an issue. But I want to be sure that if copying is the only option. Can't we publish it as reference service?

[MichaelVolz]

Are you expecting the address locator to have a live link to the data source?  If so, that is not going to happen as address locators take snap shots of the data at a point in time.

[GeeteshSingh07]

@MichaelVolz , I was trying to publish a reference composite locator. But it is not very well documented...I got the answer after testing it out:

 We can publish single locator as reference Locator. But, composite locator will always copied over the server. If our single locators are already referenced, then, composite despite being published as copied works as a referenced service.

When I update referenced single locator, it automatically updates in composite locator without the need to recreate the locator or republish it.

[Priya97317]

Hi  @GeeteshSingh07 

I believe you can publish referenced Locator. Refer to this documentation: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/data/geocoding/share-a-locator.htm#ESRI_SECTION1_C30D7...

[GeeteshSingh07 · Accepted solution]

Thank you @Priya97317 .

I got the answer by testing it out. We can publish single locator as reference Locator. But, composite locator will always copied over the server. If our single locators are already referenced, then, composite despite being published as copied works as a referenced service.

When I update referenced single locator, it automatically updates in composite locator without the need to recreate the locator or republish it.