Allow to Launch Survey123 Native Client from Experience

Question

We are working with the native survey123 client on desktop because our survey has nested repeats (not supported in the web form).  I want to launch the survey app from Experience Builder from a button widget but EB can't read the link properly.  It appears EB requires an https:// for the url link.

Works in browser: arcgis-survey123://?itemID=xyz

Tried from EB: https://arcgis-survey123://?itemID=xyz  - the critical colon from survey123: gets dropped and nothing happens.

Anyone try this or see a workaround? If nested repeats don't get support then EB needs to provide a solution for this.

@IsmaelChivite, @Jianxia

HélèneTouyéras · Answer

Hi @rachelm  and @ChristopherCounsell ,

I was looking for the same functionnnality, and cannot start the desktop app (on PC) from Experience Builder either.  Were you able to find a way around?

As you described it, my tests following the dedicated help page failed - none of the proposed URL are able to launch the installed field app, and at best, they land on the download link.

I tried the steps described by below:

* The URL provided by the 'collaborate' tab in Survey123 follows the scheme https://survey123.arcgis.app?itemID=xyz
* it does not open Survey123,
* it lands on icons to download the app (which is already installed).
* the behaviour is the same whether opening the link fro MS Word or form Experience Builder.

I aslo tried the URL scheme arcgis-survey123://?itemID=xyz.

* It gives me an error message stating no app is associated to this file (?) to perform an action.
* I looked into my MS parameters (default apps), but I cannot associate Survey123 to anything, nor can I point a default app for arcgis-survey123:// . (Not sure whether MS is limiting here, or whether my organization’s IT system management is ;  but I could not find any documentation on how to solve this).

Last test : I was hoping using the command line syntax to launch Survey123 would work, for instance:

"C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\ArcGISSurvey123\Survey123.exe" --show maximized

but this test fails on two separate issues:

1- Experience builder cannot use command line commands (apparently, if it's not a URL, it won't work)

2- The command line does not seem to take the survey ID as a parameter. I was hoping appending something like:  --itemID=xyz   or like   --xyz

Our use context is Survey123 FieldApp v3.15.156 on PC (Win10  21H2).

For compelteness-sake, the surveys are built using Survey123Connect, on referenced feature services in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8.1. I guess this does not make a difference on launching the FieldApp from a URL per se ; but Experience Builder is somewhat late behind in this version.

With kind regards,

Hélène.

ChristopherCounsell · Answer

My apologies - reading the documentation the link I posted is only supported for iOS and Android.

Does the link you are creating work as desired when launched from Word or somewhere else that is not experience builder? There could be something with the experience builder that is removing the necessary components of the URL.

I usually test sharing from the 'collaborate' tab in Survey123. Choosing the option to share and launch in app directly should construct a URL that will prompt users to open the Survey123 app. On browsers, you may get a new tab / pop-up saying it's trying to launch an app. Testing these and maybe a different browser may help identify if the issue is tied to the URL, browser or experience builder.

rachelm · Answer

Yes, I did mean editing, thanks @ZhifangWang

and yes, I had tried @ChristopherCounsell's suggestion already but it only opens the survey123 landing page for mobile devices. Of course the app is already installed.

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