Configure Basemaps

After configuring your operational maps, it’s time to configure basemaps, which also occurs in the Solution Center. Basemaps are the background layer of maps. Users don’t interact with the features of a basemap, but rather the basemaps act as spatial reference points for the operational maps.

Add Basemaps

If required basemaps are not available internally, we recommend using the following tiled map services that are hosted by Esri:

The Basemaps tab shows you all existing basemaps. Each basemap in the list has Display Name and URL fields.

Take it for a drive! (The link opens/switches to the Solution Center app, accesses the Basemaps tab, and initiates a new basemap.)

IMPORTANT:

Although ArcFM Mobile supports Esri’s free tiled basemaps, they do not display well in all circumstances when you specify your own spatial reference source. Additionally, these basemaps do not display if you are zoomed in too far in the map. Performance also can be poor in this situation.
Alternatively, you could use your own map service as a basemap, but it is important that you enable tile caching.

To add a new basemap:

Click the Add New button and type an appropriate Display Name, which is required.

TIP: These are specifically online basemaps. For background layers that can be downloaded to users' devices and used when offline, refer to Upload a Tile Package in the Offline Viewer documentation.
Type a valid URL to a map service and click Save.

TIP: You are also notified of the service status, Up or Down.

You can also create vector tile basemaps or use any of the ones developed by Esri.

If the spatial reference for a vector tile basemap is not the same as the spacial reference configured in the Solution Center Mobile plugin on the Advanced tab, it won’t display in the mobile app. Given that a vector tile basemap is a cached dataset and can only be rendered in the spatial reference in which it was created, Esri considers this expected functionality. Refer to their vector tile basemap article.

TIP: Troubleshooting: If a map service is down, you may not be able to perform certain functions against it. When you see Down as the status, this could mean one of three things:

The map service is not currently running on the ArcGIS Server or cannot be contacted due to a networking issue. Double-check that the URL to the service is correct.
If your organization uses Portal for ArcGIS/AGOL to secure your map services, the map service may require you to be logged in as a Portal for ArcGIS/AGOL user. Ensure that you are logged in as a Portal for ArcGIS/AGOL user with permissions to access the map service.
The service is just unavailable at the moment.