topic Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views in ArcGIS Collector Questions

Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

Kylie — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 20:18:30 GMT

I've posted a new blog about how you can Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views. You might have a single layer of data that you need to add to a map multiple times (perhaps so that visibility can be toggled separately). In the blog, I show a way to take the same data offline multiple times in a single map, and have filters honored on each layer. Give the blog a read, then come here to discuss it.

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

JoeHershman — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 20:43:39 GMT

This seems like a good start, but what is still needed is to be able to apply this to generating an offline replica from enterprise data (not hosted). Would love to see the Feature Layer Views add the functionality as this is sorely lacking today

-Joe

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

BerneJackson — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 21:50:34 GMT

I may be mistaken, but this is not possible at this time in Enterprise Portal 10.6, and my own testing confirms it. See the bottom of this link: Create hosted feature layer views—Portal for ArcGIS | ArcGIS Enterprise .

"Synchronization is not supported on hosted feature layer views at this time."

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

BrantCarman — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 23:21:11 GMT

I have many users that access the layers that I own, or view layers that I own, and many of them have a need to create copied and filtered versions of my content within the same web map. Am I correct in thinking that they are not able to do this AND take those maps offline with Collector, unless they have me create a new view layer for them each time they need a new filtered layer (since I am the owner and the only one able to create view layers from these layers)?

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

BrantCarman — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 18:22:42 GMT

This sounds more like a bug than a "limitation." Don't get me wrong, I love feature layer views and use them a ton, but I don’t see them as a reasonable solution when a user just wants to add a second, filtered, version of a layer to a map quickly and efficiently, and may not need that layer in any other maps. Especially since they would be relying on the owner of the layer to create and maintain these view layers for them. This would become a huge time sync for the GIS Professionals of an organization with many users at the Creator license level accessing other users' data.

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

erica_poisson — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 19:19:35 GMT

Hi Kylie,

I've used views in Collector maps successfully many times, but I am mystified by a situation in Collector right now. I have a hosted feature layer (points ~14,500 of them) from which I have created a view layer; I filtered the view layer through the layer properties (item details > visualization page). I've added this view to my web map and configured further. When I open the map in Collector, the layer is not visible and does not show up in the layer list. Do you have any suggestions as to what is happening here?

Thanks!

Erica

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

Kylie — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 05:12:26 GMT

Sorry for the delay Erica! I haven't seen that - Colin Lawrence‌ have you?

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

ColinLawrence — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:31:33 GMT

Erica,

There are some known issues with View layers with View Definitions set on them to exclude fields. Is a View Definition what you used in the Visualization page? The difference in my experience is that the layer still appears in the layer list but does not render in the map. Can you let me know what specific type of filtering you used and on which fields?

Regards,

Colin

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

erica_poisson — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 17:52:14 GMT

Hi Colin,

I do not exclude any fields from my View via the "View Definitions" option, however I have set a filter on the View layer through the Visualization page (through the filter icon, not the "View Definitions"). As a test, I removed the filter on the View's Visualization page, went into View Definitions > Define features, and applied the filter there. This didn't change anything, the layer is still not visible in Collector although it works fine in the web map online. I also did another test of just removing the filter from the View Visualizations page entirely and then applied it directly in the web map; this had the same result.

My filter is set on a date field and I used - Date_Entered is after 4/1/2018.

Also, you are correct that the layer shows in the list but doesn't render.

Thanks,

Erica

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

ColinLawrence — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 19:00:10 GMT

Erica,

I would be happy to take a look if your data is in AGOL and you are willing to share. The easiest way to do so is to create a group, share the map and layers with the group, and invite the user Collector4ArcGIS to the group.

I am assuming the layer renders fine with no filter applied to the layer/map? Also, which platform and version of Collector are you using?

Regards,

Colin

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

erica_poisson — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 15:36:01 GMT

Hi Colin,

I have invited your account to a group from an account name DWSP_erica.tefft; the group is "Collector Technical Support - Esri". Within the group is the web map and layers.

We are using Collector version 20.1.0 on iPad Pro 10.5in devices. Even with no filter on the View, it does not display in Collector.

Thank you!

Erica

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

ColinLawrence — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 22:49:26 GMT

Erica,

Thanks for sharing the data. I can reproduce the problem but I dont see anything obvious jumping out at the moment. I will take a more extended look at this. Do you know if this is reproducible with any other View layers (from the original source or another)?

I would note that when you take this data offline, the layer displays just fine. This could give you a temporary workaround.

Regards,

Colin

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

erica_poisson — Fri, 01 May 2020 18:13:20 GMT

Hi Colin,

I am not aware of any other view layers we have that do this. In an attempt to correct this, I have deleted and re-created the view for this particular layer multiple times, with no success.

I actually did not know that going offline resolved that, however I just did a test and do not see the points from my View layer showing up in the offline map (although the layer is listed in the legend/layer list.

Erica

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

TravisNaibert — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 18:46:18 GMT

Hello,

I have a point feature layer in a webmap that I will use in Collector this summer to collect geologic data. The feature layer has 4 templates to collect based on rock type: metamorphic, sedimentary, volcanic, plutonic. After a point has been created there is a domain list of map unit. I want my field workers to be able to see the points symbolized by the 4 simple rock types or by map unit. I created a hosted feature layer view from the points layer and changed the symbology of it to map units and then added this to the webmap. So in Collector there are 2 layers, rock_station (the hosted feature layer) and rock_station_map_unit (the view). The feature layer is set to editable. I have the view set to sync but not editable.

When I look at the map in Collector and I edit attributes in rock_station or move a point, the hosted feature layer view also updates or moves, but only when I leave the map and then return. This is almost what I want.

When I download the map in Collector and I edit the attributes offline in rock_station or move a point, the hosted feature layer view does not update symbology of move to match the edits. This is obviously not what I want. The edits don't get updated in the view until I sync the data to the portal, which is at the end of an entire day of fieldwork.

Is it possible to get the view to update with the underlying feature layer in offline mode in Collector? I have tried both Collector Classic and new Collector and they both seem to be the same unwanted behavior.

Thanks, Travis

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

ColinLawrence — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 00:24:06 GMT

Erica,

Sorry I lost track of this one...are you still having issues with your View layer? It may warrant opening a case with Tech Support if you have not already.

Regards,

Colin

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

ColinLawrence — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 00:32:31 GMT

Hi Travis,

I think this is a really good question and unfortunately I dont have a definitive answer for you at this point, but I thought I would chime in. What you have identified is likely expected behavior. I believe the relationship between View Layer and its Parent are handled at the feature service level (online). When you take a make offline the data is packaged into multiple sqlite databases. These databases are likely not aware of the relationship between the two layers and therefore and updates to each other would only be recognized after a sync is performed.

Have you tried using sync in the map after making the changes you explained?

Regards,

Colin

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

TravisNaibert — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 00:43:53 GMT

yes, I have made offline changes to the feature layer and the feature layer view does change after a sync.

In a perfect world, I think a view of the data would still be related to the underlying data when it is taken offline, but I am sure in practice it is harder to program it that way. I made my view not editable, but I wonder what would happen if the view were editable and the view and the feature layer were both edited in the same offline session. I imagine whichever edit was more recent would be kept.

Thanks for your response Colin.

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

ColinLawrence — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 01:05:16 GMT

This is something that got my thinking for sure. I will bring this up to some other relevant teams to see what could be done but as you say, the solution is not so easy. You could also log this as an Idea on the ideas site here.

For your other scenario, as a general rule, last edit in win so I imagine that is what would happen. I hope this info helps a bit!

Regards,

Colin

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

erica_poisson — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 02:46:44 GMT

Hi Colin,

No worries. Yes, we are still having problems. If you think a Tech Support case is the way to go, I will do that soon.

Thanks,

Erica

Re: Blog discussion: Take the same layer offline twice in Collector using feature layer views

TravisNaibert — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:17:02 GMT

Thank you for your reply. The more I think about this, the more feature layer views seem designed only for applying various filters to your data and not for having multiple copies of the same features with different symbologies. Having multiple views related to the underlying dataset even offline would multiple symbologies for the same data much more useful. Currently, feature layer views are not as useful for data collection as they could be.

I have logged my idea here: https://community.esri.com/ideas/18638 for anybody is interested, please upvote it.