Be able to Import Service Definition (.sd) file in ArcPro

[ChristopherJStrong]

Include functionality that currently exists in ArcMap to import an existing Service Definition (.sd) file. 

Importing a SD file allows users to re-publish an existing service and pull in the existing properties of that service (including all of the parameters and descriptions).

Currently, overwriting the service requires re-inputting the parameters and descriptions. 

This ArcGIS Idea is related, and could potentially provide a workflow, but only if there is functionality to import the existing details of a service during the overwrite process:

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-pro-ideas/add-quot-save-as-sd-quot-to-overwrite-an-existing/idi...

Existing ArcMap examples:

[JonahLay]

Hi @ChristopherJStrong,

Thank you for your idea. With ArcGIS Pro, you can publish service definitions using the Upload Service Definition geoprocessing tool. Does this tool meet your requirements?

Thanks,

Jonah

[ChristopherJStrong]

Hey @JonahLay , unfortunately no.  Doesn't look like there is even an import option with that tool - just a way to publish a service from an .SD file.

We create .sd files to upload/publish on each of our servers*.  When changes are needed (such as symbology updates, definition query updates, or adding/removing data layers), we will re-author the existing service (usually a saved mxd or map file), and import the existing .sd file to copy over all of the parameters and descriptions.

This tool could work for the upload process itself, but wouldn't help in transferring the parameters/descriptions from an existing service to a new one.

*We are using a single machine high-availability (active-active) deployment.

Hope that helps

[Jeff-Reinhart]

I feel this issue was well stated and does not need clarification. We had a similar issue. What I would ask @JonahLay to clarify is where does the .sd file come from that will be passed to the Upload Service Definition tool? If a user wishes to simply change the data source on an existing service and then republish that service with the same parameters from the existing service, what is the workflow to get those parameters into the publishing process?

All I could find was to change the data source in the old MXD and then use the Service Editor to save the .sd file. There doesn't seem to be a way to generate a .sd file from Arc Pro (or Server Manager) that is based on an existing service. Should we not be able to do all of this without ArcGIS Desktop?

[Jeff-Reinhart]

Esri is now considering this for an enhancement (ENH-000162966).