AGOL EB: Temporary files for results of Analysis Tool

Question

I am trying to use the Analysis widget (Create Buffers tool), but I do not want the results to be saved as a hosted layer — I only want the output to exist as a temporary layer during the session.

Is there a way to do this in Experience Builder (ArcGIS Online)?

From what I found online, disabling the “Allow export results” option in the widget configuration was supposed to prevent the output from being saved, but in my case the tool still requires an “Output name” for the result layer. Does this mean the buffer output is always being created as a hosted layer behind the scenes, or is there another way to configure it as a truly temporary result?

Ramon_de_Leon · Answer

@JBH Thank you for sharing, this workaround will work on some of the other apps that I am configuring.

For this particular one I am doing now, I want to make the buffers for all records on a couple of point layers on my map easily without selection or marking the locations on the map. Just a quick visual overlay of the buffers.

JBH · Answer

Not sure if there is a better way but my workaround for this was creating an editable layer that I named "Buffer" and adding it as the "Save search area" layer in a Near Me tool. So my user can select a feature, run the Near Me tool on it with a custom search distance and then when that runs, they have the option to save it. So instead of a unique output for each user running the tool, it is all amalgamated into one layer and makes things a bit cleaner. I have the settings in the editable layer that users can only see features they create.

I also created a field with a domain containing a bunch of written out style descriptions ("Yellow Fill", "Blue Dashed Outline", etc.) so the user can edit the symbology in an Edit widget by switching this field value.