Knowledge Base - Technical Articles
Problem: None of the WMS layers draw
| Article ID: | 27938 |
|---|---|
| Bug Id: | N/A |
| Software: | ArcGIS - ArcEditor 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS - ArcInfo 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1, 10 ArcGIS - ArcView 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1, 10 |
| Platforms: | Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP |
Description
When a WMS service is added to ArcMap, none of the WMS layers draw. The WMS layers are listed in the Table of Contents, however all the checkboxes are greyed out, signifying that the layers are on" but not visible. -show me-
** The feature addressed in this article is only available in ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2, which can be downloaded through the link in Related Information, below. **
** The feature addressed in this article is only available in ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2, which can be downloaded through the link in Related Information, below. **
Cause
A number of things may cause WMS layers not to draw:
- The WMS service is version 1.0.0. and you are using ArcGIS version 9.0.
- The data frame is in a coordinate system not supported by the WMS service. Pre 9.2 versions of ArcMap will only draw WMS layers in a coordinate system that is supported by the WMS server.
At version 9.2 ArcMap will draw WMS layers in all ArcGIS supported coordinate systems, even if the WMS server does not support the given coordinate system.
- The spatial envelope of the data frame is outside of the LatLonBoundingBox specified by the WMS service capabilities file. For example, the request contains an X value that is greater than the maximum X specified by the service. Depending on the server, an error may be reported, or it is possible that a blank image will be sent.
- The WMS service may not be compliant with OGC specifications. For example, the server may be specifying the LatLonBoundingBox in incorrect units, such as meters or feet. The LatLonBoundingBox should be specified in decimal degrees.
- The size of the image requested by ArcMap is beyond the size limits allowed by the WMS server. This is likely to occur if you are attempting to draw WMS layers within a large size layout. In such cases, the WMS server should report an error.
- The WMS service is version 1.0.0. and you are using ArcGIS version 9.0.
- The data frame is in a coordinate system not supported by the WMS service. Pre 9.2 versions of ArcMap will only draw WMS layers in a coordinate system that is supported by the WMS server.
At version 9.2 ArcMap will draw WMS layers in all ArcGIS supported coordinate systems, even if the WMS server does not support the given coordinate system.- The spatial envelope of the data frame is outside of the LatLonBoundingBox specified by the WMS service capabilities file. For example, the request contains an X value that is greater than the maximum X specified by the service. Depending on the server, an error may be reported, or it is possible that a blank image will be sent.
- The WMS service may not be compliant with OGC specifications. For example, the server may be specifying the LatLonBoundingBox in incorrect units, such as meters or feet. The LatLonBoundingBox should be specified in decimal degrees.
- The size of the image requested by ArcMap is beyond the size limits allowed by the WMS server. This is likely to occur if you are attempting to draw WMS layers within a large size layout. In such cases, the WMS server should report an error.
Solution or Workaround
The causes given above have corresponding numbered Solutions below:
- This issue has been resolve in ArcGIS 9.1.
-show me- Description **This issue has been resolved in ArcGIS 9.1**
After adding a WMS service version 1.0.0 to ArcMap, none of the layers draw.
** The feature addressed in this article is only available in ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2, which can be downloaded through the link in Related Information, below. **
Cause ArcMap is formatting its request incorrectly for WMS version 1.0.0. The REQUEST parameter for the map is in the wrong case.Workaround There are no workarounds for this issue.- ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2
- WMS layer issues
There are a number of issues related to working with WMS Layers in ArcMap. The articles listed below pertain to issues with WMS support in core ArcGIS. The core support was added with ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2. These articles do not perta...
- A WMS service may only support a limited set of coordinate systems. If you are using a pre 9.2 version of ArcGIS you can use set a new coordinate system for the data frame to one that is supported by the WMS service layer(s).
-show me- Summary ArcMap supports a wide array of coordinate systems (spatial references), while the WMS service added to the map may only support a limited set. If the ArcMap data frame uses a coordinate system not supported by the WMS service, the service will not draw for pre-9.2 versions of ArcMap. To draw, the data frame must be in a coordinate system that is supported by the WMS server.
** The feature addressed in this article is only available in ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2, which can be downloaded through the link in Related Information, below. **
If the version of ArcMap you are using is at least 9.2, ArcMap will draw the WMS layer regardless of the data frame's coordinate system. For more information see the 9.2 ArcGIS Desktop online help topic, "WMS service layers and coordinate systems"Procedure - Right-click the WMS layer to open the layer’s context menu and select Change Coordinate System.
- Open the dropdown list near the bottom of the Change Coordinate System dialog box, and select one of the listed coordinate systems. These are the supported coordinate systems for the WMS service.
-show me-
Launching this dialog box can also be done by right-clicking any group or an individual layer inside the WMS service. If you launch the dialog box this way, it will list the coordinate systems supported by the group or the individual layer that you right-clicked.
If your map contains more than one WMS service, use the first radio button option in the dialog box to select a coordinate system that is supported by all the layers in all WMS services in your map. Depending on the services you are accessing, you may encounter a situation where no coordinate systems are common to all of the services. In this case, you won't be able to draw some of the layers, and they will remain shown with a grey check box in the Table Of Contents.
-show me-
Using the Change Coordinate System dialog box will ensure that the coordinate system selected will be one that is supported by all the WMS services in your map.
You can change the coordinate system of your map by using the Data Frame Properties dialog box, but this doesn't limit your choices to those supported by WMS services in your map, and therefore may result in some or all of the layers in WMS services being unable to draw. In the Data Frame Properties Coordinate System tab, only one supported coordinate system is listed for WMS service layers.
- WMS layer issues
There are a number of issues related to working with WMS Layers in ArcMap. The articles listed below pertain to issues with WMS support in core ArcGIS. The core support was added with ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2. These articles do not perta...- ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2
- Right-click the WMS layer to open the layer’s context menu and select Change Coordinate System.
- Zoom in to a spatial extent that is within the bounding box specified for the layer. The bounding box for each WMS layer is listed in the WMS service capabilities file.
-show me- Summary Information about a WMS service can be gleaned from its service capabilities file. Much of this information is presented in the WMS Service Properties dialog in ArcCatalog and also in the Layers Tab of the Layer Properties dialog in ArcMap. Capabilities information can include such things as: all interfaces that a WMS service can support, supported image formats, supported spatial reference systems and a list of layers in the service.
** The feature addressed in this article is only available in ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2, which can be downloaded through the link in Related Information, below. **
Procedure - To view the WMS service capabilities in ArcCatalog:
1. Open ArcCatalog
2. Expand the WMS Server listing to view the WMS Service Connection
3. Right click the WMS Service Connection
4. Choose Properties in the context menu
5. The capabilities information is displayed
-show me- - To view the WMS service capabilities in ArcMap:
1. Add the WMS service to ArcMap
2. Right click the WMS service layer name in the Table of Contents
3. Choose Properties in the context menu
4. Click the Layers Tab
5. Select the WMS layer or group name in the left panel tree view
6. Scroll through the capabilities information at the bottom left corner of the Layers dialog
-show me- - To view the default WMS service capabilities file in an internet browser:
1. Copy the WMS Server URL into the address portion of an internet browser (Note: you can copy the server URL from the WMS Server Connection Properties. Access the Connection Properties by right clicking the WMS Connection in ArcCatalog)
2. Append the following to the URL you just copied: VERSION=1.1.1&REQUEST=GetCapabilities&SERVICE=WMS
3. Click Enter
4. View the WMS service capabilities file
- WMS layer issues
There are a number of issues related to working with WMS Layers in ArcMap. The articles listed below pertain to issues with WMS support in core ArcGIS. The core support was added with ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2. These articles do not perta...- ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2
- To view the WMS service capabilities in ArcCatalog:
- There is no workaround. Check the WMS service capabilites file to determine if the units are correct.
-show me- Summary Information about a WMS service can be gleaned from its service capabilities file. Much of this information is presented in the WMS Service Properties dialog in ArcCatalog and also in the Layers Tab of the Layer Properties dialog in ArcMap. Capabilities information can include such things as: all interfaces that a WMS service can support, supported image formats, supported spatial reference systems and a list of layers in the service.
** The feature addressed in this article is only available in ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2, which can be downloaded through the link in Related Information, below. **
Procedure - To view the WMS service capabilities in ArcCatalog:
1. Open ArcCatalog
2. Expand the WMS Server listing to view the WMS Service Connection
3. Right click the WMS Service Connection
4. Choose Properties in the context menu
5. The capabilities information is displayed
-show me- - To view the WMS service capabilities in ArcMap:
1. Add the WMS service to ArcMap
2. Right click the WMS service layer name in the Table of Contents
3. Choose Properties in the context menu
4. Click the Layers Tab
5. Select the WMS layer or group name in the left panel tree view
6. Scroll through the capabilities information at the bottom left corner of the Layers dialog
-show me- - To view the default WMS service capabilities file in an internet browser:
1. Copy the WMS Server URL into the address portion of an internet browser (Note: you can copy the server URL from the WMS Server Connection Properties. Access the Connection Properties by right clicking the WMS Connection in ArcCatalog)
2. Append the following to the URL you just copied: VERSION=1.1.1&REQUEST=GetCapabilities&SERVICE=WMS
3. Click Enter
4. View the WMS service capabilities file
- WMS layer issues
There are a number of issues related to working with WMS Layers in ArcMap. The articles listed below pertain to issues with WMS support in core ArcGIS. The core support was added with ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2. These articles do not perta...- ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2
- To view the WMS service capabilities in ArcCatalog:
- Reduce the page size of the layout or reduce the size of the data frame on the page layout that contains the WMS layers until an an image size acceptable to the WMS server is requested. Different WMS servers may support different image size requests. Currently, there is no way for ArcMap to report acceptable sizes.
Related Information
- WMS layer issues
There are a number of issues related to working with WMS Layers in ArcMap. {NOTE}The articles listed below pertain to issues with WMS support in core ArcGIS. The core support was added with ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2. These articles do not perta... - ArcGIS 9.0 Service Pack 2
Created: 10/27/2004
Last Modified: 11/29/2011
Article Rating:
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(1)
By Anonymous - 08/03/2005 10:39 AM
I found a workaround for WMS layers not drawn that is not mentioned in the article, that might work at least in some cases. - Right click directly on the WMS layer that is not drawn. - In the range of scales for drawing probably a very small number for not beyond is marked. - Set visible at all scales (probably the WMS server has its own range of scales, as in my case). - The WMS layer is probably visible now. - It worked in my case.
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