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Create a GIS View

This workflow walks through creating a GIS View — the first and most important step in exposing live, database-backed business data to mapping and GIS tools such as QGIS or ArcGIS.

A GIS View does not store or edit spatial data. Instead, it defines how existing business records with geographic fields are grouped, exposed, and shared in a safe, read-only way.

When Should You Create a GIS View?​

Create a GIS View when you need to:

  • Visualize business data with a geographic component
  • Share live, up-to-date location-based information
  • Provide read-only map access to internal teams or partners
  • Group related GIS Layers into a single, reusable output
  • Allow external GIS tools to view current database records

Create one view per purpose, not per table or experiment.

Do not create a new view for:

  • Temporary analysis
  • Testing ideas or layouts
  • Minor variations of an existing view (use layers instead)

Mental Model (Before You Start)​

Before creating a view, think in terms of business intent, not tables or geometry.

Ask yourself:

“What business question does this map help answer?”

Good examples:

  • “Active Projects by Location”
  • “Client Properties Overview”
  • “Operational Assets Map”

Poor examples:

  • “Projects v2”
  • “Test Map”
  • “Josh’s Layer”

GIS Views are long-lived and often reused across teams.

Step-by-Step: Creating a GIS View​

1️⃣ Open the GIS Views Page​

Navigate to the GIS Views page.

This page shows:

  • Existing views
  • Associated layers
  • External GIS access URLs (once layers exist)

2️⃣ Click + New View​

Click + New View to open the Create GIS View popup.

This popup is used for both creating and editing views.

3️⃣ Enter a View Name (Required)​

Choose a clear, descriptive name that reflects the purpose of the data being shown.

Best practices:

  • Describe what the view represents, not the data source
  • Avoid personal or internal shorthand
  • Assume someone else will use this view later

Good examples

  • Active Projects
  • Client Properties
  • Operations Overview

The view name may appear in external GIS tools.

Use the description to document why this view exists.

This helps:

  • Other team members
  • Future maintenance
  • Auditing data access and sharing decisions

Example

“Displays all active projects with status, client name, and associated property geometry for operational review.”

Descriptions are internal-only and safe to update later.

5️⃣ Choose a Share Scope​

The share scope controls who can access this view and its external endpoints.

Typical options include:

  • Private – Only visible to you
  • Organization – Available to internal users
  • Public / Shared – Accessible via URL

⚠️ Important
Share scope controls data visibility, not editing rights.
All GIS Views are read-only regardless of share scope.

Choose the most restrictive option that still meets your needs.

6️⃣ Select a Base Map (Optional)​

The base map controls the visual background used when viewing the data.

Examples:

  • Imagery
  • Streets
  • Topographic

This does not affect:

  • Which data is exposed
  • How queries are built
  • How external GIS tools access the view

You can change this later without breaking existing connections.

7️⃣ Save the View​

Click Create View.

At this point:

  • The view exists
  • No data is exposed yet
  • No layers are attached
  • External URLs are generated but empty

This is expected behavior.

What Happens After Creation?​

After creating a view:

  • The view appears in the Views list
  • It can be selected and edited
  • GIS Layers can now be added
  • External GIS URLs become meaningful once layers exist

A view without layers exposes no data.

Editing a GIS View​

You can edit a view at any time to:

  • Rename it
  • Update the description
  • Adjust sharing behavior
  • Change the base map

Edits:

  • Apply immediately
  • Do not modify underlying data
  • Do not require recreating layers

Deleting a GIS View​

Deleting a view:

  • Permanently removes the view
  • Deletes all associated layers
  • Invalidates all external access URLs

A confirmation dialog is always shown.

⚠️ Tip
If the view is used by external users or tools, confirm it is no longer needed before deleting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid​

  • Creating views for minor variations
  • Using vague or personal names
  • Making views public prematurely
  • Treating views as disposable objects

Remember: Layers change often. Views should remain stable.

What’s Next?​

Once your GIS View exists, the next step is to add GIS Layers.

Layers define:

  • Which business tables are queried
  • How related records are joined
  • Which geographic fields are exposed

Continue to:

Summary​

Creating a GIS View is about defining purpose and access, not managing spatial data.

A good view:

  • Represents a clear business use case
  • Exposes live, read-only data
  • Uses restrictive sharing by default
  • Acts as a stable entry point for mapping and GIS tools

Think of a GIS View as a published window into your business data, not a GIS dataset.