# Create Your Hub Site

With your Creator license active, you can now create your Hub site. This chapter walks through site creation, naming, and initial configuration.

## Before You Begin

Confirm you have:

- [ ] A Creator license (verified in {doc}`license-request`)
- [ ] Your purpose statement from {doc}`prerequisites`
- [ ] Agreement on who will be the Hub Steward

```{tip}
Have your country's ISO3 code ready (e.g., NGA for Nigeria, AFG for Afghanistan). You'll need it for the Hub URL.
```

## Hub Naming Convention

World Bank Hubs follow a standard naming pattern:

| Element | Format | Example |
|---------|--------|---------|
| **URL** | `[ISO3]-geowb.hub.arcgis.com` | `nga-geowb.hub.arcgis.com` |
| **Site Name** | `[Country] Geospatial Data Hub` | `Nigeria Geospatial Data Hub` |

## Create the Hub Site

1. **Sign in** to `https://geowb.maps.arcgis.com`

2. **Open the Hub interface:**
   - Click the **App Launcher** (grid icon) in the top navigation
   - Select **ArcGIS Hub** from the list

3. **Start site creation:**
   - Click **Create** in the Hub interface
   - Select **Site** (not "Hub Initiative" or "Page")

4. **Enter site details:**

   | Field | What to Enter |
   |-------|---------------|
   | **Name** | Your country/CMU name + "Geospatial Data Hub" |
   | **Short Name (URL)** | `[ISO3]-geowb` (this becomes your URL) |
   | **Summary** | Your purpose statement (1-2 sentences) |

5. **Click Create** to generate the site.

```{note}
The site is created in **private** status. It won't be visible to others until you publish it.
```

## Configure Basic Settings

After creation, configure these essential settings:

### Site Information

1. From your Hub site, click **Edit** (pencil icon)

2. Go to **Settings** > **Site Settings**

3. Complete these fields:

   | Setting | Guidance |
   |---------|----------|
   | **Title** | Full Hub name (e.g., "Nigeria Geospatial Data Hub") |
   | **Summary** | Purpose statement from your planning |
   | **Description** | Expanded description (who it serves, what content it provides) |

### Site Visibility

Set initial visibility conservatively:

| Level | Who Can See | When to Use |
|-------|-------------|-------------|
| **Private** | Only you | During initial setup |
| **Organization** | All WB AGOL users | Internal Hubs, sensitive data |

To set visibility:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Site Settings**
2. Find **Access and Permissions**
3. Select the appropriate visibility level
4. Click **Save**

### Custom Domain (Optional)

For production Hubs, you may want a custom subdomain:

| Default URL | Custom URL |
|-------------|------------|
| `nga-geowb.hub.arcgis.com` | `nigeria.worldbank.org/geodata` |

```{note}
Custom domains require IT coordination. Contact GeoLab for guidance on custom domain setup.
```

## Verify Your Hub

After creation, confirm everything is set up correctly:

1. **Preview your site:**
   - Click **View** to see the public-facing site
   - Verify the URL matches your expected format

2. **Check the editing interface:**
   - Click **Edit** to return to the editor
   - Verify you can access all editing tools

3. **Confirm in AGOL:**
   - Go to **Content** > **My Content**
   - Your Hub site should appear as an item
   - Check the item details show correct ownership

## Hub Site vs. Hub Items

Understanding the relationship:

| Component | What It Is |
|-----------|------------|
| **Hub Site** | The website container (what users see) |
| **Site Item** | The AGOL item that stores site configuration |
| **Content Groups** | AGOL groups that feed content to the Hub |
| **Catalog** | The searchable content displayed on the Hub |

```{tip}
The Hub site is the "storefront" — the content you create is the "inventory" it displays.
```

## Troubleshooting

| Issue | Solution |
|-------|----------|
| **Can't find Hub in App Launcher** | Verify your Creator license is active; contact GeoLab |
| **URL already taken** | Choose a different short name; check with GeoLab if the URL should be yours |
| **Site not appearing in Content** | Refresh the page; check "My Content" filter settings |
| **Can't change visibility** | Verify you have Hub administration permissions |

## Outcome

After completing these steps, you have:

- [ ] A Hub site created with the correct URL format
- [ ] Basic site information configured
- [ ] Visibility set appropriately for your stage of development
- [ ] Verified access to editing tools

## Next Steps

Your Hub site exists but has no content yet. Proceed to {doc}`create-groups` to create the AGOL groups that will organize and feed content to your Hub.