Content Management with the ArcGIS (Online) API for Python

Download arcgis_api_overview.png and managers.txt

A brief overview of the content in this section.

In this video we will add a Shapefile item to our ArcGIS Online content. We will use the minimum amount of parameters necessary to achieve this. The Shapefile components (.shp, .shx, .dbf, .prj) must be in a zipped forder for the API to add as an item to your content. The add function in the ContentManager module returns the Item object for the created item.

In this video we will publish the Shapefile item we added in the Add a Shapefile without Item Properties video. We will use the get function from the ContentManager module to access the Shapefile Item object, and the use the item object to publish the Shapefile as a Hosted Feature Service. We will also use the publish_parameters parameter with the publish function and assess the output.

We will combine the first two videos in this section into one workflow, but this time we will use the item_properties parameter and set properties when we add a Shapefile as a content Item. This video will add a Shapefile as an Item and chain that item into publishing as a Hosted Feature Service.

So far we have added two Shapefiles and published to two separate Hosted Feature Services. We have a zipped folder that contains four Shapefiles, we will add as a Shapefile item and publish, all four are represented in four different layers in the Hosted Feature Service.

In this video we will add a CSV (comma separated value) file as an item in ArcGIS Online and publish the CSV item as a Hosted Table.

Let's create and empty Feature Service without a Feature Layer or Table. In The Feature Layer Object section we will add a Feature Layer, and the in the Attributes, Geometries, and the FeatureSet section we will add some records.

In this lesson we will take a look at the ItemProperties class which can be used instead of a dictionary when defining the item_properties parameter for add/update methods, and the ItemTypeEnum class that provides access to the correct text for each item type.

In this lesson we will create a folder in our ArcGIS Online. Folders are a great way to organize content items per user.

Note: from version 2.3.0 the Folder object was introduced to replace using the ContentManager for folders.

In this lesson we will create a folder in our ArcGIS Online. Folders are a great way to organize content items per user.

Note: from version 2.3.0 the Folder object was introduced to replace using the ContentManager for managing folders folders.

In this video we will move some Feature Services into our newly created National & Regional Datasets folder.

In this video we will use the User object to list or custom folders that the current logged in user has connected with their account.

In this lesson we will get a list of Folders that belong to the logged-in user.

In this lesson we will rename a user Folder.

Note: from version 2.3.0 the Folder object was introduced to replace using the ContentManager for folders. From 3.0.0 we rename using the Folder object.

In this lesson we will rename a user Folder.

Note: from version 2.3.0 the Folder object was introduced to replace using the ContentManager for folders. From 3.0.0 we rename using the Folder object.

In this lesson we will delete a Folder associated with a user.

Note: from version 2.3.0 the Folder object was introduced to replace using the ContentManager for folders. From 3.0.0 we delete a folder using the Folder object.

In this lesson we will delete a Folder associated with a user.

Note: from version 2.3.0 the Folder object was introduced to replace using the ContentManager for folders. From 3.0.0 we delete a folder using the Folder object.

In this video we will move a Content Item from a folder back into the home folder. NOTE: This video was added after the first publication of the course. Make sure to re-download the ArcGISAFP_01.zip from the Course Setup & Data video in the Introduction section.

In this lesson we will take a look at the properties property available with a Folder object. The properties property is a dictionary containing four key, value pairs for username, id, title, created.

In this lesson we will use the add() method for a Folder object to add a Shapefile item directly into a folder. We will use the ItemProperties class to define the title and item_type.

In this lesson we will take a look at the list() method available with a Folder object. The list method returns a generator object containing item objects. The item objects represents the items in the folder of interest in ArcGIS Online.

In this video we will create two Groups using the create() function from the GroupManager module, one using the two required parameters; title and tags, and a second Group using some optional parameters. The optional parameters available are listed and discussed.

In this video we will access the properties associated with a Group object.

An Item object has a share function that can be used to share the Item into a Group, we will share an individual item to a Group and then share all items from a specified folder into a Group.

In this video we will unshare a content item from a Group

In the Access a Group Item and View Properties video we printed the properties to screen, in this video we will look at updating some properties and show the updates in ArcGIS Online

In this lesson we will take a look at the add() method available from the SharingGroupManager to add an item into a Group. The SharingManager is a property of the Item object via the sharing property, which provides access to the SharingGroupManager via the SharingManager group property. Makes sense? Watch the video for more clarity.

NOTE: The Item object share() method is deprecated in 2.3.0 and removed in 3.0.0. The video shows the new age for sharing items into a group.

Prevent a Group from being accidentally deleted.

In this lesson we will take a look at the remove() method available from the SharingGroupManager to remove an item from a Group. The SharingManager is a property of the Item object via the sharing property, which provides access to the SharingGroupManager via the SharingManager group property. Makes sense? Watch the video for more clarity.

NOTE: The Item object unshare() method is deprecated in 2.3.0 and removed in 3.0.0. The video shows the new age for unsharing items into a group.

The get_member() method for a Group object returns a dictionary detailing the usernames of the Group owner, users, and admins.

The user_list() mthod for a Group object returns a dictionary with information about the Group owner and the users. It returns more detailed information about each user than the simple usernames returned in the get_members() method.

The notify() method for a Group object allows you to send notifications and emails to members of the Group.

The delete() method for a Group object can be used to delete a Group permanently. This does not delete content items from AGOL, these are still available. What happens if you call the delete() method on a Group that has delete protection enabled?

In this video we will access an Item objects properties for a Feature Service and print to screen.

We will update an Item object's properties and show the updated properties in ArcGIS Online

The add_comment() method for an Item object allows you to add a comment to the item's page on ArcGIS Online if comments are enabled for the item.

The protect() method for an Item object allows you to prevent the Item from accidentally being deleted.

The update_thumbnail() method enables you to add a thumbnail for an item of content.

The export() method for an Item object allows you to export from a Hosted Service and create a content item as various types such as a Shapefile in this example.

You can use the download() method for an Item object to download data to disk. You would use the export() and download() methods together to achieve successful download of data.

The usage() methods enables you to access the usage metrics for an Item.

In this lesson we will look at sharing content publicly, within the organization, and with the owner of the Item.

Note: as of 2.3.0 the item object share() method is deprecated, and removed as of 3.0.0. There is a new item object sharing property that accesses a SharingManager to provide users the ability to control how an item is shared.

As of version 2.3.0 the API introduced the SharingManager along with the SharingLevel class. We will take a look at both of these in this lesson. The SharingManager is accessed via the Item object.

Note: the SharingManager replaces the Item object share() method with is deprecated as of 2.3.0 and removed as of 3.0.0

In this lesson we will take a look at the Item object copy() method. We will focus on copying Feature Services. There is a catch with the copy() method, it does not create a standalone hosted Feature Service as the copy, but a reference back to the original it was copied from.

In this lesson we will take a look at the copy_feature_layer_collection() method available with an Item object that represents a Feature Service. Unlike the copy() method, the copy_feature_layer_collection() method creates a standalone hosted Feature Services, but, it does not copy data, it only creates the layers using the same schema without any records.

In this lesson we will take at the copy_item() method available with the Item object. The copy_item() is quite similar to the copy() method with hosted feature services in that it produces a shallow copy referencing back to the original data. Any edits in one are reflected in the other.

In this video we will access an Item as a Feature Layer Collection object, which represents a Hosted Feature Service, and print the properties to screen.

We will look at updating a selection of Feature Layer Collection properties.

In this video we will look at updating the capabilities that can be set for a Feature Layer Collection such as Edit, Update, and Delete.

With Editing capabilities set, you can enable Editor Tracking for each Feature Layer in the Feature Layer Collection