Ellipsis Drive exposes layers via standard OGC web services, allowing direct use in tools such as QGIS and ArcGIS.
However, these external applications often return generic error messages, which can make connection issues difficult to diagnose. This guide highlights the most common causes of failed connections and how to resolve them.
If a layer is not set to Public or Link Sharing, authentication is required before the web service can be accessed.
You must provide valid credentials in the authentication settings of your GIS software.
If authentication fails:
verify your username and password by logging into Ellipsis Drive
use the “forgot password” flow if needed
To avoid authentication entirely, the layer owner can enable Link Sharing.
Some Esri applications swap X and Y coordinates when using WFS services.
If geometries appear incorrectly or fail to load, ensure the coordinate order is adjusted accordingly.
Certain Esri configurations require an explicit GetCapabilities request.
Append one of the following to your service URL depending on the protocol:
?request=GetCapabilities&service=WFS
?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMS
?request=GetCapabilities&service=WMTS
Some Esri licenses restrict or partially limit web service connectivity.
If connections fail despite correct configuration:
verify whether your license supports OGC connections
contact your administrator for clarification
If upgrading is not an option, QGIS is often a more flexible alternative for OGC-based workflows.
Some GIS clients may restrict access levels when using OGC services, for example limiting functionality to read-only access depending on the software and license configuration.
For software-specific configuration or protocol requirements, consult the support resources of your GIS provider:
QGIS support: https://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/support.html
ArcGIS Online FAQ: https://doc.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-online/reference/faq.htm
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