ACME is a high-performance Python framework designed to solve the “last mile” problems of GIS administration. Whether you are moving from ArcGIS Online to a self-managed ArcGIS Enterprise Portal or consolidating multiple organizations, ACME ensures your maps, data, and dependencies arrive intact and ready for production.
The ACME Advantage
Migrating Enterprise GIS content is no small task, and Spatialty speaks from experience. Our team has successfully stood up a new ArcGIS Enterprise on Azure while keeping the existing on-premises ArcGIS Enterprise fully functional, with downtime of fractions of a second during the switchover. What does this mean for your organization? Business as usual during a major migration – that’s almost unheard of.
How ACME Works
- Inventory & Extract: ACME catalogs your items and downloads the underlying JSON and source data to a local directory.
- Transform: The engine applies your custom logic for username changes, field mappings, URL swizzling, and updated database connections.
- Inject: Content is pushed to the destination. ACME validates the upload and verifies that all service URLs are correctly updated.
- Report: A comprehensive log is generated, detailing the status of every item, ID, and data link.
Most migration tools assume a perfect, always-on connection between source and destination. ACME is tested on and built for the real world:
1. Built for Disconnected or High-Security Environments
ACME doesn’t just “copy-paste.” It extracts content into a standard local staging format. This allows you to download content in one environment, physically move the data if necessary, and import everything into the destination portal—making it the ideal solution for seamless implementation in disconnected or high-security environments.
2. Intelligent Dependency Mapping
- Item ID Preservation: ACME retains the original Item IDs whenever possible, keeping external integrations and user bookmarks current.
- Smart Fix-ups: If an Item ID must change, ACME scans and updates references within Web Maps and Apps – meaning nothing breaks for the end-user.
- Username Mapping: Seamlessly transition content ownership during migrations involving SSO changes or organizational restructuring.
3. Data-Level Transformation
- Field Name Resolution: Automatically handles schema drift by remapping field names between source and destination.
- Database Re-pointing: Updates ArcGIS Pro maps and layers to point to new Enterprise Geodatabase connections automatically upon arrival.
Workflow Comparison
| Feature | Standard Cloning | ACME |
| Connectivity | Requires direct URL access | Offline / Staging Ready |
| Database Paths | Manual update required | Automated Re-pointing |
| Field Mapping | Strict schema match only | Resolved via Logic |
| ID Management | “Best effort” | Persistent & Repaired |
| Environment | Cloud-to-Cloud | Hybrid / Cross-Platform |
Ready to Automate Your Migration?
Don’t let legacy configurations or disconnected networks stall your progress. Get in touch today to see the ArcGIS Content Migration Engine in action or to discuss how we can tailor the ACME framework to your organization’s specific migration needs.
