Mobile worker help for Collector for ArcGIS

This file is designed to make it easier for you, the admin or project manager, to get your mobile workers help for using Collector in your workflows. It includes a verbose form of the information (the Setup, Use, and Problems sections). Other than this informational introduction, the contents are written for the mobile worker. Take it, customize it, make it your own (add your logo, etc), and share it with your workers.

Looking for a short, condensed single page help template? See the Collector cheat sheet template.

How to use this file

Download it and save it in your Documents > Custom Office Templates folder.

Open Word and pick the Collector Mobile Worker Help template as the basis for a new document.

In the “Sign in” section, insert the Quick Part for the sign in flow that applies to your users.

The Quick parts menu is on Word’s Insert tab in the Text section.

This file focuses on the basic workflow of collecting data with the internal GPS while online. However, the template includes Quick Parts you can insert to add sections for the following workflows:

External or high accuracy GPS

Insert “Set up high-accuracy GPS” Quick Part after “Sign in”.

Offline

Insert “Download the map” Quick Part before “Configure settings”.

Insert “Sync and Remove downloaded maps” Quick Part before “Sign out” section.

Related records

Insert “Collect related record” after “Collect”

Insert “Update related record” after “Edit/Update”

Insert “Delete related record” after “Delete”

If your workers only use related records, you should remove “Collect,” “Edit/Update,” and “Delete.”

GPS averaging
Insert “Note about GPS averaging” in any of the following sections that you use:

In “Collect” at the end of step 6, “Add the feature to the map”

In "Edit/Update” at the end of step 5, “To change the feature’s location or shape…”

In "Collect related record” (if that Quick Part was added) at the end of step 8, “Add the feature to the map”

In “Update a related record” (if that Quick Part was added) at the end of step 8, “To change the feature’s location or shape…”

Update with specific details for your organization and project. Search for and replace the following (some may have been removed as you deleted sections that didn’t apply to you):

Search this file for:	Replace with:	Notes
<<ORG NAME>>	Your ArcGIS organization’s name
<<ORG URL>>	Your ArcGIS organization’s URL
<<USER NAME>>	User name of the mobile worker	This should be unique per worker. If workers already know them, remove the placeholder for providing it.
<<PASSWORD>>	Password for the mobile worker	If workers already know it, remove the placeholder for providing it.
<<GROUP NAME>>	Group the worker needs to join and where the map will be found.
<<MAP NAME>>	The map to use
<<EXT RECEIVER>>	The external receiver to use
<<SEARCH STRING FOR Correction Service’s GCS>>	String to use to find your receiver’s correction service’s geographic coordinate system (GCS).	A subset of the full name that can be used to get the correct value on-screen to be selected.
<<CORRECTION SERVICE’S GCS>>	Your receiver’s correction service’s GCS that the user will select in Collector.	The full name the user needs to select.
<<SEARCH STRING FOR MAP’S COORD SYS>>	String to use to find your map’s coordinate system.
<< MAP’S COORD SYS >>	Your map’s coordinate system that the user will select in Collector.
<<DATUM TRANSFORMATION>>	The datum transformation to specify when setting up a location profile.
<<PROFILE NAME>>	The name to give the location profile.

Remove information about settings your user doesn’t need. For example, if your user won’t be using continuous collect, related records, a 95% confidence interval, GPS averaging, download and sync, remove those settings. You’ll find them in Configure settings.

Provide the information about settings the user needs to configure.

Search this file for:	Replace with:	Notes
<<ATTACHMENT SIZE>>	The required resolution of photos attached to features. Small sizes take up less storage space and uploading them takes less data transfer.
<<STREAMING INTERVAL>>	The minimum time interval between points dropped when streaming a line.	The current accuracy of the device is also used in determining if a point should be dropped: both to tell if the accuracy is good enough, and if the point is far enough from the last point.
<<REQ POINTS TO AVERAGE>>	The number of points to average.	Remove this if not doing GPS averaging.
<<Imperial or Metric>>	The units your collectors should use. This sets the units for required accuracy.
<<REQ ACCURACY>>	The accuracy required for data collection in your project

Provide information about the work the user will be doing.

Search this file for:	Replace with:	Notes
Feature/features	The type of asset/data the user works with. For example, if working with fire hydrants, most instances of “feature” could become “hydrant”	Optional
<<FEATURE TEMPLATE TO PICK>>	The symbol and name for the template the user is going to pick. If they will know which to pick, replace with “the appropriate type” or better, a more specific example like “the appropriate status” (where “status” is information about the type of work your users do).
<<RELATED TABLE OR LAYER NAME>>	The name of the related table or layer. It is the title of the section shown for the related records.
<<TYPE OF RELATED THING. Ex: inspection>>	What you create when you make a new related record. Ex: an inspection for an asset, or a sign for a post.

If your workers won’t be using the GPS to collect new features, update “Collect” section as required by your workflow:

If your workers won’t be at the location of the collection they are doing and need to place features on the map at a specific location manually, replace the first step in Collect:
Tap Collect New .
with:
Long press the map to drop a pin, tap Action in the pop-up, and tap Collect here.

If your workers need to start collection by copying another feature, replace the first step in Collect:
Tap Collect New .
with the following, with only your copy choice left in place:
View the details of the feature to copy, tap Action , and tap Copy. Choose <Like this one | Like this one, at my location | At the same location | Like this one, new shape | With the same shape>.

You’ll also want to remove any other steps (updating attributes or geometry) that the user doesn’t do since information was copied from another feature.

(optional) Update screen shots to show your maps and data.

Make sure all red text with yellow highlight has been addressed and deleted: it is used to call your attention to places where you need to make choices or add or remove information. Look for those throughout the file, and make sure none are left when you pass this to workers.

Collector for ArcGIS – Field Worker Handbook

Contents

Setup Collector for ArcGIS	4

Install Collector	4

Sign in	4

Configure settings	5

Use Collector for ArcGIS	6

Open the map	6

Map contents	6

Collect	6

Edit/Update	8

Delete a feature	9

Sign out	9

Problems?	9

Setup Collector for ArcGIS

Before using Collector, you need to sign in and configure some settings. This needs to be done with connectivity and before you go out into the field.

Install Collector

iOS App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arcgis/id589674237

Android - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.esri.arcgis.collector

Android – Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Esri-Inc-Collector-for-ArcGIS/dp/B00X8T73BE

Windows Store: https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9wzdncrdg7lk

If you are unable to install on Android or Windows using Google Play or the Windows Store, see http://support.esri.com/en/technical-article/000017298.

Open the app . Allow it to access your GPS and to send notifications to you. You might need to enable the GPS for your device.

iOS: Open the Settings app, tap Privacy, tap Location Services, and turn location services on.

Android: This differs per device. For example, on a Samsung phone, open the Settings app, tap Location, and turn location on. Make sure Mode is set to High Accuracy – if not, tap Mode to set it.

Sign in

When you first open the app, you’ll need to sign in to <<ORG NAME>>.

Insert the “Sign in” Quick Part that applies to your organization’s user accounts.

Configure settings

Specify some settings to set up Collector. When viewing the maps list, tap Action and tap Settings. Set the following:

Leave in place the settings that you need users to set, and delete the others.

In Collection Settings:

Set Collection Style to Continuous
Leave if you want workers prompted to start their next collection after pressing submit.

Disable Filter Related Types
Leave if you want to let workers created child features without associating them with a parent feature.

Set Preferred Attachment Size to <<ATTACHMENT SIZE>>

Set Streaming Interval to <<STREAMING INTERVAL>>
Leave if users stream data to create lines.

For GPS Averaging, enable Average Locations and set Number of Locations to <<REQ POINTS TO AVERAGE>>
Leave if users average points during collection.

Units of Measurement: <<Imperial or Metric>>

In Location choose Accuracy:

Set Required Accuracy: <<REQ ACCURACY>>

Enable 95% confidence
Default is disabled. Delete if 95% confidence isn’t required.

Map Downloads and Sync: WiFi or cellular
Default is WiFi only. Only need to adjust if users should use cellular for download and sync. This will use your cellular data plan when it is available. Remove this if not working offline.

In Synchronization enable Push only
Default is disabled. Enable if you users don’t need to see edits being made by others. Remove this if not working offline.

In Navigation and Directions disable Use Navigator for ArcGIS
Default is enabled. Only need to disable if the device has Navigator for ArcGIS installed but this user shouldn’t use it for directions while using Collector. Remove this if it is not installed on the device or if Navigator should be used.

Use Collector for ArcGIS

Open the map

On the Maps screen find <<MAP NAME>> in <<GROUP NAME>>. Tap the map to open it.
Update with an image that shows your map.

Map contents

Here is the symbology and info shown on this map:
<<INSERT LEGEND>> (suggestion: screen capture of the legend when the map is open in Map Viewer)

Collect

Tap Collect New .

Select <<FEATURE TEMPLATE TO PICK or how to pick one>>.
If there is only one template, remove this step and its image.
Replace with an image showing your templates

Fill out the form by tapping attributes to edit their values. There might be a list of values to select from, a date to choose, or you might have to type in a value. Once you’ve provided the information, tap Done to return to the list of attributes and review the provided information.
If any values are required, or require explanation for users to set correctly, provide information about them here.

Replace with an image showing your form

(optional) Tap Attachments and tap Add to add a photo. Tap a photo to Rename, Download or Delete it. Tap Done once all attachments are in place.
Update this step to be about what your user should add. If nothing to add, remove this step. If it isn’t optional, remove “(optional)”.

Tap Map to see the feature on the map.

Only leave in place the substeps below that apply for your workflow. If only a single substep applies, replace the intro text of this step with the text of the substep, and delete the part in brackets that precedes the substep text.
Add the feature to the map:

[Points placed with GPS] Tap Use My Location to update the point on the map to your current location.

[Points placed manually] Tap on the map to update the point’s location.

[Lines and polygons created with GPS] Tap Use My Location to use your current location to add a point to the feature. Continue until the feature is drawn.

[Lines and polygons created by streaming] When ready to start streaming your location to create the feature, tap Stream. If you need to make manual edits, tap Pause to pause streaming, make your edits, and tap Stream to resume streaming. Remove the last sentence if manual editing is not allowed.

[Lines and polygons created manually] Tap on the map to add points.

[Lines and polygons created with a mix of manual and GPS] Tap Use My Location to use your current location to add a point to the feature. Continue until the feature is drawn. You can also add a point by tapping on the map.

Tap Collect Attributes to return to the form, if needed.

Tap Submit.
Leave this line if working connected: You’ll see “Updates Sent” and your feature is submitted and shared.

Leave this line if working offline: You’ll see “Stored on device” and your feature is saved and ready to be synced.

Remove this step if you enabled continuous collect.
You’re returned to the map and can see your new feature.

Remove this step if you didn’t enable continuous collect.

You are prompted for what type of collection you want to do next. Choose Insert text from lettered list below about the type of copy to do

Like the last one to copy the attributes and location of the feature and use them to start a new feature.

Like the last one, at my location or Like the last one, new shape to copy the attributes only.

At the same location or With the same shape to copy the location of the feature, but not any attributes.

New feature to start a fresh collection, not copying any information from your last.

Repeat the steps you just took here to collect your next feature.

Edit/Update

Include this section if updating features that aren’t related records.

Tap the feature on the map that you are inspecting or updating.
Replace with an image showing your data

Tap Action , and tap Edit. The feature’s attributes are displayed.
Replace with an image showing your data

Update the information in the form by tapping attributes to edit their values. There might be a list of values to select from, a date to choose, or you might have to type in a value. Once you’ve provided the information, tap Done to return to the list of attributes and review the provided information.
If attributes aren’t updated, delete this step.
If any values are required, or require explanation for users to set correctly, provide information about them here.

(optional) Tap Attachments . Tap Add to add a photo. Tap a photo to Rename, Download or Delete it. Tap Done once all attachment changes are in place.
Update this step to be about what your user should do with attachments. If nothing, remove this step. If it isn’t optional, remove “(optional)”.

To change the feature’s location or shape, tap Map and update the feature on the map:

Only leave in place the substeps below that apply for your workflow. If feature location/shape isn’t updated, delete this step.

[Points updated with GPS] Tap Use My Location to update the point on the map to your current location.

[Points placed manually] Tap on the map to update the point’s location.

[Lines and polygons updated with GPS] Tap Use My Location to use your current location to add a point to the feature. Select and drag vertices to update the shape. Continue until the feature is complete.

[Lines and polygons updated by streaming] To add your current location onto the feature, tap Stream. If you need to make manual edits, tap Pause to pause streaming, make your edits, and tap Stream to resume streaming. Remove the last sentence if manual editing is not allowed.

[Lines and polygons created manually] Tap on the map to add points.

[Lines and polygons created with a mix of manual and GPS] Tap Use My Location to use your current location to add a point to the feature. Select and drag vertices to update the shape. You can also add a point by tapping on the map. Continue until the feature is complete.

Tap Collect Attributes to return to the form, if needed.

Tap Update.
Leave this line if working connected: You’ll see “Updates Sent” and your feature is updated and shared.

Leave this line if working offline: You’ll see “Stored on device” and your updates are saved and ready to be synced.

You’re returned to the map and can see your updated feature.

Delete a feature

On the map, tap the feature that you want to delete and tap Action . Tap Delete and tap Yes to delete it.

Sign out

Sign out of your account before you turn the device back in. Tap Action and tap Sign Out.

Problems?

Put in your issue resolution process: who to contact, what they’ll do, who will get back to the field worker

Some field troubleshooting:

I can’t sign in

- Need to be connected for initial sign in.

- Check for typos in your username and password. Your password is case sensitive.

- Check for typos in your organization’s URL. remove if not provided

Can’t add a feature

- Make sure it has a location (check the map).

- Make sure you have permissions to edit the data (ask admin).

Can’t get GPS fix (no location available)

- Go to an open area (away from trees, buildings, etc.) until get a location, then go back to the point of interest.

- Make sure Collector can use your location (in your device’s settings).

Get poor location accuracy message and can’t collect a feature.

- Wait and see if accuracy improves.

- Lower your required accuracy (in Settings).

remove if not working offline Sync failed
- Make sure you have good connectivity.

- Make sure you aren’t in airplane mode.

- Try enabling Push Only synchronization.

- Specify a smaller preferred attachment size in Settings, delete images, and retake them.

remove if not working offline Sync takes forever
- Try enabling Push Only synchronization.

- Specify a smaller preferred attachment size in Settings, delete images, and retake them.

- Sync more frequently.

My position consistently shows shifted from where I am

- If shifted in the same direction, ensure the location profile is configured correctly.

- If shifted randomly, check your location accuracy.