ArcGIS Online updated this week, and here are the top five things we think educators should know about:
- Retirement of Map Viewer Classic
- ArcGIS organization management updates (AI access, credit dashboard, over-assigned user types)
- Control the UI when opening maps
- Better configure printed maps
- Content management updates (AI for metadata, identify layers used, redirects)
I've thrown in a few ArcGIS StoryMap enhancements since the last ArcGIS Online release as a bonus. And there is, of course, more. Check out the full What's new blog for all the juicy details.
1. Retirement of Map Viewer Classic
It's the end of an era! Map Viewer Classic came with the introduction of ArcGIS Online in 2012, and it's expiration date is finally past. Links to maps in Map Viewer Classic now open the map in Map Viewer.
Learn more
2. ArcGIS organization management updates (AI access, credit dashboard, over-assigned user types)
ArcGIS Online administrators are responsible for a number of management tasks, and with this release come updates to help handle some concerns we've heard.
Restrict use of AI assistants
You no longer have to allow all users in your organization to use AI, or none. Custom roles and the Use AI assistants privilege control access to AI assistants. Your organization can choose who has access, for example, temporarily or permanently limiting student use.
Learn more
Dashboard to track credit consumption
Better monitor, manage, and optimize organizational credit usage with a new credit management dashboard (beta). It provides deeper visibility into credit usage for storage, for transactions, and by members. Access it by going to the Organization page > Dashboard tab and choosing View beta dashboard at the top of the page.
Learn more
Manage user types without page navigation
Messaging around the over-assignment of user types now persists until resolved, and also launches a window for managing user types. Admins no longer have to navigate to the right page to fix the problem.
3. Control the UI when opening maps
Keep student attention on the map and remove distractions by hiding the toolbars when opening a map in Map Viewer. Append &mapOnly=true to the end of your Map Viewer map URL to hide the toolbars. For example, use this URL to open the map "What is a Gerrymander" with the toolbars hidden: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=c2e4e89261d54a639c9d02aa9fbc9d0a&mapOnly=true
When using the Share map > Create custom link tool in Map Viewer, you can configure the map elements included with your links. And now that includes if you want a basemap gallery so that students can use different maps when exploring the data in the map. For example, this short link https://arcg.is/1Lfie44 opens the same "What is a Gerrymander" map focused on California and including a title and basemap gallery.
Learn more about URL parameters and about creating custom links.
4. Better configure printed maps
When printing maps, you can have the legend only show relevant items and you can choose your scale bar limit.
Learn more
5.Content management updates (AI for metadata, identify layers used, redirects)
Managing your content becomes easier with the introduction of AI for metadata, information on the item page that helps identify layers used, and redirects to help your user migrate from your old content to new, better items.
Use AI to jumpstart your metadata
Let the Item Details Assistant (beta) suggest metadata for your layer item pages and field properties. Like all AI assistants, remember that this is a good starting point - not a good final answer. Review and modify the suggestions to fill out your item page.
Learn more
Identify the layers used in maps from the item page
See the layers used in your map, including if any are deprecated, right from the map's item page. Easily check the data you are including and if any is deprecated and should be replaced.
Learn more
Provide replacements for retired ArcGIS Configurable Apps and Classic Esri Story Maps
If you have an older, now retired, ArcGIS Configurable Apr or Classic Esri Story Map, you can provide a replacement item. Doing so redirects the original content to the replacement when its opened. It also provides notification to others through badging and popup messages when browsing content in your organization.
Learn more
Bonus: ArcGIS StoryMaps updates since the last ArcGIS Online release
While ArcGIS StoryMaps updates more frequently than ArcGIS Online, here are a few changes I'm excited about that were introduced since ArcGIS Online last released in October:
- The StoryMaps content page includes view counts on your stories!
- A new format, Frames, is dedicated to short-form storytelling. (I tried it out as one format for the Presidents Day story on Home States of US Presidents. You can see the Frames version, and compare it with the full story.)
- Undo and redo are now available as keyboard shortcuts.
- The writing AI assistant has been updated to better support your writing.
And more!
There are many more updates as well. Check out the full What's new blog to see the changes and enhancements across ArcGIS Online and its apps.
