topic Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature in ArcGIS Collector Questions

Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

ShaunGibbins2 — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 17:40:54 GMT

In the post below it describes using ArcGIS Collector to carry out inspections of assets by creating a relationship to an inspection table. This works really well and is a good way to separate asset edits from maintenance operations, however I cannot work out how to update the symbology to display when an asset has had an inspection.

If you have a large number of assets then you need a method for the field works to keep track of what has been inspected and what is still due, I originally thought of having a 'inspection_status' field that would be set at the start of the season to 'Due' and would have a default setting of 'Not Due' so that every time an inspection took place the field value would automatically change from 'Due' to 'Not Due' without the field worker having to do anything other than fill in their inspection form.

I was then going use the icons below depending on which value the feature had for 'inspection_status' The only problem is that this field is in the inspection table and not accessible from the feature class to use to set the symbology!!!! Arrrgh

Due

Not Due

Does anyone know another way to achieve the same result please or could this be considered for a future enhancement.

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

RandyBurton — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 16:24:53 GMT

Since I have the same question, I was hoping you would get an answer.

I think the symbology could only be part of the feature and not in the related table because of a one to many relationship. So when a user completes the form part in the related table, they would need to reset the symbology flag in the feature.

As an alternative, it may be possible to access the REST API via a Python script to query the related table to see if a form had been completed within a specified time period. If a form meets the criteria, then the script would make an update to the feature’s symbol indicating “not due”. Likewise, if a related form is found to be out of date, then the feature’s symbol could be changed to “due”.

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

ShaunGibbins2 — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 16:57:39 GMT

Hi Randy

My problem is my crews are used to seeing an icon update the second they update an asset, we have been using a third party iOS app for gully emptying which does exactly that but it is a one trick pony and I have other assets to attend to. There would be some delay if using a script to update an attribute.

What I almost got to work was using labels instead of symbology to highlight an asset using a query based on the last edit date so my intention was to set a field as a inspection start date and use > last edit to set the label I even managed to get the label to display the icon I was a after but when you go to add the feature service to the arcGIS online map for collector to use the service drops the bloody labels, they work if adding as a MapServer which is no good for collector but not when added as a FeatureServer. So close lol.

Looks like I'll have to nag my Esri rep to get some sort of enhancement implemented!

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

PaulCone — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 20:44:10 GMT

I have written a Python script to do exactly this, for post-earthquake building safety inspections. Yes, you can't use a field on the feature because of the one to many relationship. I have a layer that is used just for symbology on the map and it not editable in Collector. It runs in a loop. Here are the steps.

# Queries AGOL service for new ATC-20 building inspection records collected with ArcGIS Collector.

# Adds new inspections to table in local geodatabase.

# Updates inspections with precalculated lat/long values from building footprints.

# Downloads photos attached to inspection records and adds them to geodatabase.

# Updates inspected buildings layer on AGOL feature service.

Paul

-------------------------------------------

Paul Cone

Corporate GIS

Bureau of Technology Services

City of Portland, Oregon

paul.cone@portlandoregon.gov

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

JerryCorum1 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:54:21 GMT

I ran into this problem recently -

I created a view through ArcCatalog that joined my related table to my feature class, but with simplified attributes (not using all of them, this was just for visuals). I then published this view as a map service.

Publish your Feature Service with the editable feature class and related table normally.

Then add both to your map! Remove popups on the map service for the view, and your Collector edits will change the symbology! It does require you to move the map around a little though to get it to refresh, but if you are setup with Operations Dashboard, those updates show up within seconds.

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

KyleWikstrom — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 14:50:59 GMT

We have managed to symbolize features based on related record field values when we set up the service. Perhaps this will offer a little hope, This is done by setting up definition queries on map document layers.

So, You Want to Color Features Based On Related Inspection Records? - Pro-West & Associates WordPress Site

ArcGIS Online: Using Related Tables to Symbolize Features - YouTube

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

JoshuaCarver-Brown1 — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 17:06:59 GMT

Hi Paul,

Was this symbology update also functional when Collector was disconnected? I've created a script similar to yours in that the feature updates based on the related table. However, I'm cannot figure out how to drive this symbology change when not connected to our services.

Thanks,

Josh

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

deleted-user-JzIjmzC7H6Ko — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 04:38:40 GMT

Kyle I need to do something similar for a project and ran into this old thread. And your suggestion got me thinking. Am I right in assuming the basic concept is to have a feature to feature relationship class (1:m) with the definition query on the "many" side based on something like the the most recent date of inspection to pull in the latest and then symbolize of some other field you want on that same many side? Another question. How would you handle the scenario of "resetting" the map (such as after a flooding event and the inspections are over), but you don't want to delete the data. You just don't want them displayed when the next even starts?

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

KyleWikstrom — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 17:02:15 GMT

Hi Devin,

In the simplest case, there is a relationship class between a feature class and a table. In ArcMap, add the feature class and set up a definition query on that layer. The definition query filters features where the foreign key in a related table equals the primary key in the feature class AND any other queries. To use multiple symbol styles, we found that the same layer had to be added for each style of symbol and then the definition query filtered the features based on what we wanted to symbolize. Then publish a service.

For retaining old data when a new event occurs, these are just some ideas that I would consider: the definition query could filter based on a more recent date OR create an attribute field that serves as an event identifier and include these in any definition query.

I confess that this method is not the prettiest and is only a workaround. We have not tested with the latest versions of ArcGIS Server, and I imagine one day this more advanced definition query could be parsed out.

Kyle

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

deleted-user-JzIjmzC7H6Ko — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 19:03:12 GMT

Kyle - I have tried to do as you suggested, however I cannot get Arcmap to "see" the inspection table inside the SQL query editor for the definition query without actually joining the two tables together (ArcGIS online doesn't support uploading joined tables together, so I'm stuck). I've tried this in both ArcMap and Pro. I would have thought having the 1:M relationship class present would be enough, but it doesn't appear to be. The relationship class is working just fine and keeping the records straight when I'm adding things - I just can't seem to get the parent layer I want to symbolize to reference or see the inspection table in the definition query with just relying on the relationship class. Is there some kind of trick or SQL syntax or something I'm missing? This is in a file geodatabase. See below for screenshots. The only difference between is the top doesn't have a join and the bottom does.

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

KyleWikstrom — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 20:34:43 GMT

Here is an updated blog on the definition query we used to set this up.

Update on Symbolizing Features by Related Record Values in ArcGIS

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

PMGIS — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 13:53:09 GMT

Hey Kyle,

I am trying to achieve the same thing here. I read the update to your previous article. The SQL statement makes sense. However, I noticed that Devin above needed to apply a join first in ArcPro before it would work. And like Devin, my data is is an AGOL hosted feature, not on ArcServer. Are you writing that SQL statement in ArcGIS software(AGOL, ArcMap, etc..), or is it and SDE layer that you are accessing through SQL Studio?

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

yaserkhouja1 — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:26:04 GMT

I tried this, and it works for me;

I joined the feature layer with the related table, and add the query to get the related values only. Then publish them as a services in GIS Server or AGOL. After that, apply the map service, and enable the pop up. This will show the related tables points only. Also, you can make many copies, and filter by attributes if you want. However, I couldn't able to make it happen with the feature service. After the join, I only got a table as a feature access. It's only work as a map service for me.

Thanks,

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

PMGIS — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 21:33:30 GMT

Nice. So you are saying that the join you used was able to be carried into AGOL? I am not publishing to ArcServer. I am publishing straight to AGOL as a feature service. It seems to not take a join when published as a hosted feature service. That is the problem I keep running into.

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

yaserkhouja1 — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 23:38:07 GMT

Yea, it will work, but there is a trick. You need to make a join first in ArcMAP or ArcPRO. Then publish the layer and table in AGOL as a feature services. However, you will only allow to publish a feature table only because the join. So all you need is to add the table only, and look for the map service layer. After that, you can filter your data as you want. You will see all attributes in the map service. Also, don't forget to enable the popup configuration in the map service layer.

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

PMGIS — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:35:37 GMT

So if I pull the hosted feature service from AGOL into ArcPro, create the join, then go back into AGOL to create the filter, the join wont mess up the relationship between the two tables?

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

PMGIS — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:39:13 GMT

With the symbolgy change, how would I reset the symbology back to its original state evry month when the do new inspections. That made me think, maybe it might be better for me to label the feature with the creation date from the last inspection. is that possible?

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

PMGIS — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:45:18 GMT

Also, do I join the relate table to the features, or do I join the features to the relate table?

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

yaserkhouja1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:41:57 GMT

You just need to create the join then publish everything to AGOL. One limitation, I see that I can't edit the layer from the web map since it's a map service. But you can edit through ArcMAP or ArcPRO, and the change will apply on the web map.

Re: Collector: use related layer to symbolise feature

yaserkhouja1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:48:12 GMT

You can filter them by the attribute, but the symbology need to be created through ArcPro before you host the layers.

You should join the feature to the relate table.