When a zoning overlay vanishes or a building won't lock, a site study stalls. Find the problem below for the usual cause and the fix.
Problems with data layers in a project
For problems drawing, locking, or deleting drawing layers, see Troubleshoot Drawing Issues.
Layer still not on top?
Palette order sets draw order for 2D data layers. Drawing layers and 3D data layers follow their own rules, so a layer can stay underneath even after you drag it to the top of the Layer Palette.
2D data layers draw in palette order. This includes uploaded vector layers, Esri FeatureServer layers, and image (raster) layers from an Esri MapServer or WMS. A raster layer higher in the palette draws above a vector layer lower in the palette.
3D data layers always draw above 2D data layers. A 3D data layer is a data layer with the 3D style type in the Data Table.
Geometries on drawing layers always draw above data layers. Moving a data layer above a drawing layer in the palette does not change this. Palette order only sorts drawing layers among themselves.
Inside one data layer, labels and symbols draw on top of the fills and lines.
Base Height and Stack Order are properties of drawing-layer geometries. They do not apply to data layers. To lift a data layer in 3D, open the Data Table style menu, choose the 3D style type, and set the Base height key and Height key.
Groups only go one level deep. You can't put a group inside another group. Giraffe shows "Groups cannot be moved into other groups" if you try.
Layer disappears when zoomed out
When a data layer disappears as you zoom out, the zoom limit comes from the layer source. Giraffe does not set a minimum or maximum zoom on data layers.
Uploaded layers draw from map tiles that cover a set range of zoom levels.
Esri servers can set the zoom levels where a layer draws.
A layer added from a GeoJSON service URL loads only the geometries within 2 km of the project boundary. Geometries farther away do not appear at any zoom.
Zoom back in to see the layer again.
Show a layer only at certain zooms
To show a data layer only at certain zoom levels, add minzoom and maxzoom to its style JSON with custom layer styling. Zoom limits are not available on Esri FeatureServer layers or layers styled in the Data Table.
My layers reset when I reopen the project
Visibility and opacity changes are not saved automatically. Choose Save Visibility in the Layer Palette to make the current state the project default.
A temporary layer is gone
In Giraffe 6, temporary layers last only for the current session. They disappear when you reload the page and aren't shared with collaborators. To keep the features, copy them into a permanent layer. See Temporary Layers.
A yellow warning triangle next to a layer
A yellow triangle next to a data layer's name means the layer's server returned errors. Hover over it to see the Layer Tile Server Error details. For a token-protected Esri layer, the token usually expired: open the layer menu, choose Manage, and use Refresh Token to update the Esri token. For other layers, open the layer's URL in a new browser tab to check that the server is up.
These are the messages you can see in the Layer Tile Server Error popover.
Message | What it means | How to fix |
"Unauthorized", "Forbidden", or "Layer error status: 401" or "403" | The server refused the request. The layer is private, or its token or credentials expired. | Open the layer menu, choose Manage, and update the Esri token. Check that your account still has access to the service. |
"Not Found" or "Layer error status: 404" | The server can't find the layer at its URL. The service moved, was renamed, or was deleted. | Check the URL with the service's owner, then connect to the endpoint again with the new URL. |
"Too Many Requests" or "Layer error status: 429" | The server is limiting how many requests it accepts. | Wait a few minutes, then reload the project. Ask the service's owner about request limits if it keeps happening. |
"Internal Server Error" or "Layer error status: 500" to "504" | The layer's server is failing or overloaded. The problem is on the server's side. | Try again later. Contact the service's owner if it doesn't recover. |
"The tile server is not responding." | The server didn't answer at all. | Open the layer's URL in a new browser tab to check that the server is up, then reload the project. |
"Failed to fetch" or "NetworkError when attempting to fetch resource." | Your browser couldn't reach the server, or blocked the response. | Check your connection and your browser permission settings, then reload the project. |
"Could not load image because of..." | The server sent back something other than a map image. Esri services often do this when a token is missing or expired. | Open the layer menu, choose Manage, and update the Esri token. |
"N tiles had errors like:" followed by a message | Some parts of the layer loaded and some didn't. The message below the count is the first error. | Fix the error it names, using the rows above. The warning stays until you reload the project. |
"Exception('Token refresh failed', ...)", often with "Invalid username or password." | Giraffe couldn't get a new token from the Esri server with the saved credentials. | Open the layer menu, choose Manage, and enter the username and password again with Refresh Token. |
"Exception('Esri server offers no token service', ...)" | The layer has saved credentials, and the Esri service doesn't use token sign-in. | Remove the saved credentials, or ask the service's owner which sign-in the service uses. |
"Exception('Unknown Esri service type', ...)" | The layer's URL isn't a recognized Esri service. | Check that the URL ends with |
"ReadTimeout", "ConnectionError", or "JSONDecodeError" | The Esri server was too slow or sent an unexpected reply when Giraffe tried to refresh the token. | Reload the project in a few minutes. Check that the server is up if it keeps happening. |
Error messages
Giraffe shows layer errors as plain-text messages, mostly in toasts. Find the message below for what it means and how to fix it.
Errors when using layers
Error | What it means | How to fix |
"Failed to add N layer(s). You may not have permission to use them." (toast) | You added private layers from the Layer Library that aren't shared with you. | Ask the layer's owner to share the layer with you or your Workspace, then add it again. |
"N layer(s) already in project." (toast, Giraffe 6) | The layers you ticked are already in this project. | Find them with the search box at the top of the Layer Palette. |
"You do not have permission to edit this layer." (toast) | You don't have edit access to this layer in the Layer Library. | Ask the layer's owner for edit access. |
"Error updating layer" or "Error: Layer not saved." (toast) | A change to the layer, such as its name, style, or boundary, didn't save. A server error, a dropped connection, or invalid input can all cause it. | Check your connection and try again. Refresh the page and contact support if it keeps happening. |
"Layer not added to map yet. Try to turn it on first." (toast) | The Data Table can't apply a lens to a layer that is turned off. | Click the layer's eye in the Layer Palette to show it, then try again. |
"Failed to fetch layers." (toast) | The Layer Library list didn't load. | Check your connection and reopen the Layer Library. |
"Failed to fetch" on a layer | Your browser blocked the layer's data. | Check your browser permission settings, then reload the project. |
Errors when creating a layer
Error | What it means | How to fix |
"Something went wrong when connecting to the Esri server." or "...the WMS server." (toast) | Giraffe couldn't reach the service at the URL you entered. | Open the URL in a new browser tab to check the service is live, then connect to the endpoint again. |
"Error fetching details from ESRI server: [detail]" (toast) | The Esri server returned an error when Giraffe asked for the layer's details. | Check the URL ends with |
"Invalid Credentials" (toast) | The username or password for a token-protected Esri service was rejected. | Check the credentials with the service's owner and enter them again. |
"Couldn't find a token endpoint for this layer's URL." (toast), or in Giraffe 6, "This Esri server doesn't offer a token service..." | Giraffe can only sign in to a token-protected Esri service when the server offers a token service. | Check the URL with the service's owner. Contact Giraffe support if you think it should work. |
"Error fetching token: [detail]" (toast) | The Esri server refused the sign-in request. | Check your credentials and the service URL, then try again. |
"This file is too large. The maximum file size is 10MB." (toast) | Vector uploads are limited to 10MB. | Split the file, or talk to your account team about hosting large vector datasets. Learn how to upload a vector layer. |
"Failed to load file. Check the file is a valid GeoJSON, KML, DXF, or Shapefile" (toast) | Giraffe couldn't read the file. | Check the file type and that it isn't damaged, then upload it again. Zip a Shapefile before you upload it. |
"Error parsing file" (toast) | Giraffe couldn't convert the file. | Re-export it from your GIS or CAD software as GeoJSON or a zipped Shapefile, then upload it again. |
"Too many geometries (N > limit) - continue to step 3 and publish a layer instead." (toast) | The file has more geometries than Giraffe can import onto a drawing layer at once. | Continue to step 3 and publish the data as a data layer instead. |
"No geometries." (toast) | None of the features in the file, or the rows you selected, have geometry. | Check the file has coordinates, or select rows that have a location. |
"Image file limit is 5MB. This image has been compressed." (toast) | Your raster image was over 5MB, so Giraffe compressed it. The layer still uploads. | To keep full quality, shrink the image before you upload a raster layer. |
A file type is rejected (toast) | Each layer type accepts certain files. Vector layers take GeoJSON, Shapefile (.zip), KML, DXF, and CSV. Raster layers take PDF, JPG, and PNG. | Convert the file to an accepted type. |
"Invalid Style JSON", "Invalid Vector Style JSON", or "Invalid Vector Source JSON" (toast) | The JSON you entered isn't valid. | Check for missing commas, brackets, or quotes. Learn the format in custom layer styling. |
"Invalid boundary GeoJSON" (toast) or "boundary too large, simplify the geometry" | The layer boundary isn't valid GeoJSON, or it has too many points. | Fix the GeoJSON, or simplify the boundary so it has fewer points. |
"Error creating layer" (toast) | The new layer didn't save. | Check your connection and try again. |
"Error: No organization selected." (toast) | No Workspace was selected when the layer was created. | Choose a Workspace, then create the layer again. |