topic Re: How do I edit a feature layer's data when it has replicas in ArcGIS API for Python Questions

How do I edit a feature layer's data when it has replicas

ChrisMowry1 — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 17:08:43 GMT

Hi!

We are currently hosting features in ArcGIS Online to be used with the Collector App. We plan to update these features nightly from an SDE environment with Python. Due to some of the network security implementations, we are restricted from using the REST endpoints from an ArcServer instance to create these feature layers. I have written a script to do this, but the issue I am running into is when a user downloads an area for offline use a replica is created. This replica stops the feature's underlying data source (Service Definition File) from updating the feature. A work around I have found is to unregister the replicas then update the feature, but this causes sync errors on the user's collector area when they attempt to re-sync their downloaded area. Does anyone know of a cleaner solution to updating features with outstanding replicas?

# checks if feature exists:

try:

# Gets access to the existing service definition object

sdItems = self.gis.content.search("{0} AND owner:{1}".format(feature.name, self.user), item_type="Service Definition")

sdItem = sdItems[0]

# Updates feature data

sdItem.update(data=sd)

# if feature does not exits...

except IndexError:

# the service definition file is uploaded to ArcGIS Online

sdItem = self.gis.content.add(feature.getProperties(), data=sd)

# Gets access the the feature collection object

featureCollect = self.gis.content.search("{0} AND owner:{1}".format(feature.name, self.user), item_type="Feature Layer Collection")

try:

# Attempts too publish the service definition to the feature layer

featureService = sdItem.publish(overwrite=True)

# if the feature cannot be updated...

except Exception as ex:

# Accesses Feature Collection object

featureService = self.gis.content.get(feature.service_id)

FeatureCollection = FeatureLayerCollection.fromitem(featureService)

# Unregisters outstanding replicas

for replica in FeatureCollection.replicas.get_list():

FeatureCollection.replicas.unregister(replica['replicaID'])

# Disables Syncing

FeatureCollection.manager.update_definition({"syncEnabled": False})

# Publishes Service Definition to Feature Layer

featureService = sdItem.publish(overwrite=True)

# Updates feature tags

featureItem = self.gis.content.get(featureService.id)

featureItem.update(item_properties={'tags': feature.tags})

# Enables Offline Syncing

FeatureCollection = FeatureLayerCollection.fromitem(featureItem)

FeatureCollection.manager.update_definition({"syncEnabled": True,

"serviceDescription":feature.desc,

"description":feature.desc})

# Updates editing capabilities

FeatureCollection.manager.update_definition({"capabilities":feature.capabilities})

Thanks for your help!

Chris

Re: How do I edit a feature layer's data when it has replicas

Paul_Christensen — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 15:53:32 GMT

Chris, did you ever find a solution to this?

Re: How do I edit a feature layer's data when it has replicas

Anonymous User — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 22:02:13 GMT

I'm hitting the same issue with our Open Data layers which are scripted to be updated (via an overwrite) weekly. Sync was enabled on them to allow for use in Collector/Explorer. When users take a map offline this then creates the replicas.

Aside from having two feature layers, one solely for Open Data and another for mobile users I can't see many other options. Even then the feature layers for mobile users would have to be managed via comms with users to try and get as many as possible to remove their offline maps before doing an update. The update would have to remove any outstanding replicas. I've contacted Esri support but thus far they've got no solution.

At minimum I've suggested they at least catch it as an error rather than throwing “Job failed” when carrying out a publish with the ArcGIS API for Python and an even less useful "ERROR 999999: Something unexpected caused the tool to fail…" message when using ArcPy.

Re: How do I edit a feature layer's data when it has replicas

DanielleKulas — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 21:28:05 GMT

Also coming here to see if there was ever a solution? I heard in a webinar that you could create views for sharing/offline use, and then update the root layer that the view(s) stem from, but I've been trying that today and I can't overwrite the layer if there are maps downloaded in Field Maps. Frustrating, I would love to be able to keep our reference data more up to date without having to disrupt folks' field workflows. Is there an easier way? I've tried editing the layers directly but there are too many features for me to do this efficiently.

Re: How do I edit a feature layer's data when it has replicas

ChrisMowry1 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:00:46 GMT

The work around I went with isn't great, but works for us. If there are replicas, I loop through and unregister them. This means the user will get errors when they sync, so they have to delete their offline copy and download a new one. The edits seem to come over though. Using the predefined areas helps to alleviate some of the issues.