Skip to content

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

ZhongPing Guo edited this page Mar 28, 2023 · 10 revisions

General

Do I need ArcGIS Enterprise to use Esri Geoportal Server?

No. Esri Geoportal Server is a stand-alone product that does not require ArcGIS Enterprise to use. It consumes a set of Web services that may be provided from ArcGIS Online, an accessible ArcGIS Server, WMS service or OpenStreetMap basemap.

Is the Esri Geoportal Server compatible with the latest version of ArcGIS?

The Esri Geoportal Server runs independently from other Esri software. We do perform comprehensive testing to ensure that the geoportal can sync successfully with new versions of ArcGIS Enterprise services. Older Geoportal implementations can be configured to support newer versions of ArcGIS. Please contact [email protected] if you have more specific questions about the compatibility between your Geoportal and ArcGIS implementations.

What is the mechanism or procedure for publishing content?

Metadata is the fuel that powers the geoportal. There are three main ways you can publish your content:

(1) Publish your content to the geoportal by registering the content's metadata with the geoportal harvester, then harvest metadata into geoportal metadata repository through harvesting, See the Geoportal Server Harvester broker help document for a list of protocols supported.

(2) Upload directly through geoportal catalog for individual metadata;

(3) Create metadata using metadata editor included with Geoportal Catalog if your content does not have metadata currently.

What is the mechanism or procedure for discovering content?

There are three main ways you can discover your content:

(1) Browse or search through Geoportal Server Catalog web page.

(2) Search through the Geoportal REST/OpenSearch/CSW API.

(3) Search through CSW-Client-for-ArcGIS-Desktop-and-Pro

Is the catalog service accessible through a Web service?

The Esri Geoportal Server catalog is exposed via a CSW service and as an OpenSearch endpoint. It is also accessible through the Geoportal REST API. Geoportal provides ATOM, GeoRSS, KML, HTML, DCAT, CSV, or JSON responses.

Open Source

Why did Esri make Esri Geoportal Server an open source product?

From the beginning, customers have been able to access the geoportal's source code to create custom geoportal Web sites that match their organization's Web identity. Releasing the Geoportal Server as a free open source product follows its natural evolution. The benefits of the open source Geoportal Server includes.

Improved Integration—The Geoportal Server is highly configurable and customizable for integration with authentication systems, metadata profile support, discovery indexing, localization, skin development, and more. Access to the source code makes it easier to integrate the geoportal with other systems, such as content management systems, map viewers, desktop programs, and more.

Improved Collaboration—Geoportals make it easier to share and discover geoportal resources. By releasing the source code, it is easier to develop geoportals that connect and share with other geoportals, such as ones across political boundaries. Meet Government or Organization Requirements—There is a strong and growing trend toward using open source technologies. Governments and organizations are issuing regulations where open source is either preferred or required. By releasing the Geoportal Server under the Apache 2.0 license, it is easier to meet these requirements.

Can I customize and redistribute Esri Geoportal Server?

Yes! Esri Geoportal Server is released under the Apache 2.0 license. You can freely use, modify, and redistribute the Esri Geoportal Server under the Apache license or any other license of your choosing (except for GPL and some other licenses).

Please visit http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html for full details about using, customizing, and distributing software released under the Apache 2.0 license.

Can I contribute to the primary Esri Geoportal Server source code or documentation?

Yes! Esri is using GitHub as the center of the Esri Geoportal Server community. Here is where you will find the Geoportal Server application, the source code, and documentation. You can communicate with other Geoportal Server users and developers in the forums, where you can find other users' enhancements to the source code and work together to solve problems. We welcome you to join the project and contribute your improvements and additions to the Esri Geoportal Server source code and documentation.

Clone this wiki locally