[GIS] Can you use GetLegendGraphic for a ArcGIS Server 9.3 WMS

arcgis-serverwms

The following request should return a legend graphic for a particular layer:

http://myserver/arcgis/services/default/MapServer/WMSServer?Service=WMS&Request=GetLegendGraphic&Version=1.1.1&Layer=3&FORMAT=image/png

However instead I get the following error:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
<!DOCTYPE ServiceExceptionReport SYSTEM "http://schemas.opengis.net/wms/1.1.1/exception_1_1_1.dtd">
<ServiceExceptionReport version="1.1.1">
  <ServiceException code="InvalidFormat">
Can't parse XML request.
  </ServiceException>
</ServiceExceptionReport>

The GetCapabilities request for the service for the layer contains the following:

<Style>
<Name>default</Name>
<Title>Layer Name</Title>
<LegendURL width="100" height="62">
<Format>image/png</Format>
<OnlineResource xlink:href="http://server/arcgisoutput/wms/default1.png" xlink:type="simple"/>
</LegendURL>
</Style>

The OnlineResource href is a valid PNG file that is accessible externally.

It seems others have had issues, and recommend using external capabilities files, but when the legend already has a valid image file is this necessary? Has anyone successfully configured a WMS to support the GetLegendGraphic request?

Best Answer

It appears for ArcGIS Server 9.x the GetLegendGraphic operation was never implemented. Apparently this operation is an optional implementation and is not a part of the "basic WMS" standard.

From the ESRI docs:

"it is not necessary for a WMS service to support all the operations. But one must support at least GetCapabilities and GetMap operations to be a "Basic WMS"

The good news however is that in ArcGIS Server 10 this functionality has now been added.

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