topic Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use? in ArcGIS Collector Questions

How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

KevinWatt — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:24:00 GMT

I was able to get the collector app to work in offline mode on an adroid device. I downloaded the basemap with the app. It created a folder called ArcGIS_Collector/offline_data/basemaps/Imagery on my device. Inside there it stores a tile package (.tpk), a tumbnail .jpg, and a .json file which appears to be some sort of information (world file) about the tile pacakage.

I created my own tile package (.tpk) in ArcGIS desktop, and copied it to a new folder in ArcGIS_Collector/offline_data/basemaps/ , restarted the collector app, but I cant pick my basemap when i go to download a map for offline use. It only gives me the option to use the basemap that I download orginally with the app as reference above.

Is there any documentation or "how-to" yet for side loading your own tile package for offline collector use? I am assuming my basemap does not show up because either I have the folder structure wrong, or b/c I am missing the .jpeg thumbnail and .json world file.

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

KevinWatt — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:38:53 GMT

Sorry, answered my own question. You need to copy your .tpk to the root ArcGIS_Collector folder, and it then gives you the option to select it when you download your map once you restart the collector app.

Note: If you are using a Google Nexus 7 tablet The "ArcGIS_Collector" folder is hidden when you connect to a windows pc using windows explorer. To work around, I simply copied the .tpk to the "download" folder, then used ES file explorer on the Nexus 7 to copy the .tpk from the download to the ArcGIS_Collector folder.

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

RussRoberts — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 15:46:32 GMT

Here are the steps for using your own basemap

Prepare a tile package using ArcGIS for Desktop.

Plug your device into your computer.

Find your device listed in My Computer.

Navigate to the ArcGIS_Collector folder on your device.

Copy the tile package to the ArcGIS_Collector folder.

Restart Collector for ArcGIS on your device.

http://doc.arcgis.com/en/collector/android/collect-data/offline-use.htm

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

KevinWatt — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:13:09 GMT

Thanks Russ! I found that link right after i made my original post. I tried a few different android devices and none of them display the ArcGIS_Collector folder. Please take note of the work around I included above as I am sure this will trip up quite a few people. Google only allows MTP or Camera for supported USB connections on every device I have tried. Your ArcGIS_Collector folder must not be considered "media", so it doesn't show the folder in Windows explorer on the desktop PC.

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

JohnRoberts1 — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:17:05 GMT

Hi Guys

I've created a TPK with ArcGIS 10.1 Toolbox and followed the instructions to copy it to my Android (Kit Kat) device. I can see it in the basemaps folder, but I can't do anything with it. I'm assuming that I'll need 10.2 to interact with an off loaded TPK in the new Collector app?

The only option I have is to Remove the TPK, and below the preview image I get a message "This basemap is not currently being used"

Thanks for your time.

John

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

RussRoberts — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:31:11 GMT

Did you put it into the Collector basemap folder or into the ArcGIS_Collector folder? You will also have to restart the app and when you go to download a new map you will have the option to Choose an existing basemap or you can download a new basemap which will be coming from the web maps basemap.

Russ

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

JohnRoberts1 — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 16:51:00 GMT

Did you put it into the Collector basemap folder or into the ArcGIS_Collector folder? You will also have to restart the app and when you go to download a new map you will have the option to Choose an existing basemap or you can download a new basemap which will be coming from the web maps basemap.

Russ

Yeah, I put I've tried putting it in the base folder, as well as the Basemaps folder. When I select the "Manage" option and then refresh the Basemaps drop down I only get the "remove" option. [ATTACH=CONFIG]33379[/ATTACH]

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

RussRoberts — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:24:35 GMT

Yes the manage section is only for removing and viewing the content that is downloaded/sidloaded content. You can use this basemap you see under manage when you go to download a new map you can choose this WaterUtils basemap and it will be used to help you pick out the extent of data you want to take offline and then it will be associated to that downloaded map.

Russ

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

JohnRoberts1 — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:32:43 GMT

I guess what I don't understand is - how is the TPK Basemap available to "Manage" - but it never appears in any of the other screens to work with. Again, this is a 10.1 TPK. Are you sure I don't need to create these packages using a 10.2 Desktop install?

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

RussRoberts — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:31:07 GMT

After you restart the app by force closing it through the application manager and relaunch the app try to download a new map and post a screen shot of the Choose a Basemap screen. I would like to see what could be showing up there.

Thanks
Russ

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

AnnKitowski — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 14:24:54 GMT

How do you do this on an ipad? When I connect it to my computer, which is Windows, I can't drill into any folders of the device.

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

MiaogengZhang — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:24:16 GMT

You can check "Use basemaps on your device" at Go offline—Collector for ArcGIS | ArcGIS.

iTune in Windows should support this:

iTunes 11 for Windows: Transfer files between your computer and mobile apps

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

AnnKitowski — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 17:13:26 GMT

Thank you!!

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

DaveChamberlin — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 21:52:12 GMT

Thread revival! What about Windows? Where is the default folder for storing tpk's on these? I can save them pretty much anywhere, and load them just fine. But it is doubling the hard drive space being used once uploaded into Collector, and with modern day tablets, there just isn't the space. We do not have the option of having live data in the field either.

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

FaithWebster — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:56:19 GMT

I am having trouble finding the process for ArcGIS Collector as opposed to Collector for ArcGIS (Classic). How do I use a tpk in the new Collector?

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

Kylie — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 19:58:59 GMT

Here is the doc for ArcGIS Collector: Configure Collector > Copy a basemap — ArcGIS Collector | Documentation

Re: How To Side Load Your Own Tile Package For Offline Use?

FaithWebster — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:48:23 GMT

Yay! thank you! I will try that out