Updating a hosted table from an AGOL excel file

Question

Hi, I have a hosted table that was created from an AGOL excel file. If the excel file is updated using the Update Data tool (from an excel file saved locally on my PC), the excel file is updated but the linked hosted table doesn't automatically update. If I then also use the Update Data tool on the hosted table I can't select to use the excel file on AGOL, instead I have to re-use the file stored locally on my PC.

I was wondering if this is how its intended to work? Or whether there is/should be a way to update the hosted table from the excel file stored on AGOL that it was originally created from?

It's really useful to be able to make updates to the hosted table from an excel file, but it feels like it would be more streamlined to be able to use the linked excel file on AGOL to update the hosted table directly.

Many thanks

KatieQuantrell · Answer

Thanks @ChristopherCounsell and @MErikReedAugusta for your replies and thoughts on this. Glad it sounds like I'm not missing anything.

The idea behind keeping the excel file updated (and not just updating the hosted feature layer) is partly as a back up of the data. But also due to some updates being easier to do in excel rather than directly to the feature layer. As updating this doesn't currently directly update the linked feature layer though there's a slight risk that they could become out of sync (e.g. if someone forgets to update the feature layer after updating the excel document). I may raise this as an idea on the ArcGIS Online ideas board.

Thanks again

MErikReedAugusta · Answer

@ChristopherCounsell is correct that what @KatieQuantrell describes in the original post is the way things are currently implemented and appear to be intended.

For purposes of good housekeeping and backups, though, I can see a few cases where someone might want to keep an updated version of the Excel file in AGOL, as well as keeping the Feature Service updated.

If the user updating the Feature Service has access to the Excel file, the simplest thing is just to use Update Data on both individually.  It feels redundant, but at least both items remain updated.

If the user updating the Feature Service doesn't have access to the updated Excel file, then I can see that causing some minor problems.

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Re: the hypothetical of updating a Feature Service directly from another hosted item:

The only use case I can imagine is one where Person A is responsible for the Excel file and permissions & file ownership are such that only they can update the Excel item in AGOL.  And Person B is responsible for the Feature Service, and only they can perform that update.

In such a case, it would be hypothetically worthwhile to be able to update a Feature Service from a hosted item.  Person A updates the Excel item when necessary and notifies Person B.  Then Person B updates the Feature Service.

@KatieQuantrell, if you find yourself in a situation like that, it might be worth a post on the ArcGIS Online Ideas board, so ESRI can gauge interest in whether to add that functionality.  For now, the workaround would be Person B passing the Excel file off to Person A and the latter being responsible for both items in AGOL.

ChristopherCounsell · Answer

Yes, once you create a hosted feature layer it is a separate item from the Excel item in ArcGIS Online. Updating one won't update the other.

Yes, it appears the 'update' option asks you to upload a new file.

Can't you just do the 'update' option on the hosted table directly, instead of doing it on the excel item and then trying to use that to update the corresponding table?

ArcGIS Pro Append tool is another option.