Big Changes for ArcGIS Online
ESRI has made two important changes to the ArcGIS Online platform: an account name change and a new account option.
- Account name change: An ArcGIS Online account, once called a personal account, is now referred to as a public account.
- A new account option, referred to as an organization account, has been created. This account type requires a subscription to ArcGIS Online for Organizations. There is a cost associated with this account type.
Both platforms allow users to author web maps and/or applications within the map viewer interface using data from map and feature services or other available data.
This article outlines the basics for sharing web maps and applications between the two account types.
In order for the following examples to hold true, be sure that the administrator of your organization account has these parameters set: allow for Anonymous Access and for members to be able to share and search for content outside of the organization. This will allow any web map, application, or group created within the organization account and shared as PUBLIC to be discoverable from within the organization and to all public ArcGIS.com accounts.
ArcGIS Online Public Account
The public account is a free account available at www.arcgis.com. In the map viewer interface, a web map can be created using map and feature services that are publicly shared. The web map can be saved to the content area of your personal account on Arcgis.com. All content is private unless you choose to share it. Once shared, it is publicly available to all users of ArcGIS Online, public or organization. Content includes maps, applications, and files contained within your personal content area.
ArcGIS Online for Organizations Account
A subscription account is available to members of a paid organization account. In the map viewer interface, a web map can be created using map and feature services that are publicly shared or services that are shared with only the organization. The web map can be saved to the content area of your organization account. All content is private unless you choose to share it. With an organization account, you have these options:
- choose to keep your content private,
- share it with other members of the organization, or
- share it publicly with all users of ArcGIS Online, public or organization accounts.
Groups
A group is used to organize a collection of maps or applications based on a topic or area of interest. Groups can be created in either a public account or an organization account. The privacy options differ depending on your account type. A group created by a public account is either private or public. A group created by an organization account can be either private, shared with members of the organization, or public.
As the owner of the group, you may invite users to become a member of your group. Here are some rules about invitations to groups between public and organization account users.
- A group created by a public account may not invite an organization account user to be a member of the group.
- A group created by an organization account may not invite a public account user to be a member of the group.
- A group created by an organization account may invite a user from another organization account to be a member of the group.
Sharing Content: Maps, Applications, Files
Privacy Settings
- Public: Content is discoverable by all account users, public or organization.
- Organization: Content is discoverable by members of the organization account.
- Private: Content is undiscoverable by all account users, public or organization.
Example Workflows
As an organization account user, you have these options:
- create a map, save it, and share it with Everyone (public). All ArcGIS Online users, public and organization accounts, will be able to discover (find) the map. When you create a public group, all ArcGIS Online users will be able to find this group via search from within ArcGIS.com and the organization account interface. All public content can be seen, and all public web maps can be viewed and used. Public account users will be able to save the web map shared by the organizational account user into their public content area. Public account users may not become members of this organization’s group.
- create a group and share it with the organization. Create a web map and/or applications, save and share with the organization. This content is discoverable only by members of your organization’s account. You may invite other organization account users to become members of your group even if they are not members of your organization.
- create a private group. This group is undiscoverable by all other users. You may invite any organization account user to become a member of your private group. Create a web map or application, and share it with the private group. Members who have been invited to your group will see the shared contents.
In order for web maps, applications, and other content to be discoverable by all users of ArcGIS.com, public or organization, they need to be shared with Everyone (public).