topic Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use in ArcGIS Collector Questions

Update on Collector and Offline Use

KeithAubin — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 18:42:55 GMT

I've read that offline use is coming to Collector at some point. I was looking to see if there has been any progress on this issue. This lack of offline capabilities is the major issue that is preventing our organization from deploying Collector in the field as we are often in rural areas. We need the ability to cache basemap data as well as features from our ArcGIS Server and/or ArcGIS Online.

My company is currently deciding which Android based data collection tool we want to pursue. Collector would be the most ideal since it ties in nicely with ArcGIS Serve, but the lack of offline capabilities simply is a deal breaker. We need to know if it's worth the wait or if we should continue to pursue alternatives such as GISCloud, Mapwith.us or just develop our own in house solution.

I would really appreciate some information about how you plan on implementing offline capabilities for Collector.

1) When offline use does come how will it work? Will it cache basemap titles as well as editable features from the map?

2) How will it work in terms of what is cached? Would I draw a box around the area I want cached and it downloads all the corresponding data. Or do I select which layers are to be cached?

3) If it does cache basemap layers will it cache all view levels or would I select which view levels to cache.

Thanks for your time. If you'd like a guinea pig to help test out features in Collector I'd certainly be interested in providing feedback. My organization does a lot of complex field data collection and Collector really has the potential to dramatically streamline the process.

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

DavidBurchfield — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 13:04:04 GMT

I'm right there with you, Keith. I would appreciate some news on this from ESRI. It would be great to have this functionality in place before this year's field season begins!

I've read that offline use is coming to Collector at some point. I was looking to see if there has been any progress on this issue. This lack of offline capabilities is the major issue that is preventing our organization from deploying Collector in the field as we are often in rural areas. We need the ability to cache basemap data as well as features from our ArcGIS Server and/or ArcGIS Online.

My company is currently deciding which Android based data collection tool we want to pursue. Collector would be the most ideal since it ties in nicely with ArcGIS Serve, but the lack of offline capabilities simply is a deal breaker. We need to know if it's worth the wait or if we should continue to pursue alternatives such as GISCloud, Mapwith.us or just develop our own in house solution.

I would really appreciate some information about how you plan on implementing offline capabilities for Collector.

1) When offline use does come how will it work? Will it cache basemap titles as well as editable features from the map?

2) How will it work in terms of what is cached? Would I draw a box around the area I want cached and it downloads all the corresponding data. Or do I select which layers are to be cached?

3) If it does cache basemap layers will it cache all view levels or would I select which view levels to cache.

Thanks for your time. If you'd like a guinea pig to help test out features in Collector I'd certainly be interested in providing feedback. My organization does a lot of complex field data collection and Collector really has the potential to dramatically streamline the process.

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

RussRoberts — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:37:47 GMT

We are currently pulling together a series of blog posts and video demos to help show what is coming in the Collector app. I will post a link to the first blog post when it gets published which should be very soon.

Russ

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

KeithAubin — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 17:06:34 GMT

We are currently pulling together a series of blog posts and video demos to help show what is coming in the Collector app. I will post a link to the first blog post when it gets published which should be very soon.

Russ

Awesome, I'll be looking forward to it. Thanks.

If reliable offline access and smarter forms come to Collector it really could be a major evolution in the way we collect field data.

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

AndySuppiger — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 16:31:01 GMT

That would be great Russ.

I imagine there are many of us out there who are anxiously awaiting this functionality.

Thanks

We are currently pulling together a series of blog posts and video demos to help show what is coming in the Collector app. I will post a link to the first blog post when it gets published which should be very soon.

Russ

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

KeithAubin — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:26:51 GMT

Any word on when the new 'March Release' of Collector is going to be available? I'm stoked about the offline mode, from what I've read in last months blog article it's everything I was hoping for.

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

KeithAubin — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:05:35 GMT

Oh boy it's out! I'm can't wait to try it out. This is huge... Go ESRI!

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

AdrianMarsden — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 08:23:58 GMT

So, with excitement I downloaded and tested - Doh! Disconnected editing isn't yet available for my data, in my SDE, published by my ArcGIS server as this isn't supported until server 10.2.2 http://doc.arcgis.com/en/collector/android/create-maps/offline-map-prep.htm

<face palm>:confused:

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

TysonJohnston — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 10:53:37 GMT

We are in the same boat as you, amarsden. Also, it doesn't support Versioned data. We went as far as creating a two-way replica, and disabling versioning, enabling archiving, publishing a new sync-enabled service from the replica. No dice...

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

KeithAubin — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:41:15 GMT

Yeah, same boat here. Need to upgrade ArcGIS Server to 10.2.2. We should get to that in the next week or two. I'll keep you all posted on how it works out.

We have some Nexus 7 tablets paired with bluetooth Trimble GPS receivers. We are really hoping this is going to be the sub meter near real-time field survey tool of the future. If offline use works as advertised some smarter/dynamic forms are next on my wishlist.

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

TysonJohnston — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:34:01 GMT

Yeah, same boat here. Need to upgrade ArcGIS Server to 10.2.2. We should get to that in the next week or two. I'll keep you all posted on how it works out.

We have some Nexus 7 tablets paired with bluetooth Trimble GPS receivers. We are really hoping this is going to be the sub meter near real-time field survey tool of the future. If online use works as advertised some smarter/dynamic forms are next on my wishlist.

How are you getting Server 10.2.2 so soon?

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

AdrianMarsden — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:36:15 GMT

How are you getting 10.2.2?

By waiting until April when it is released 😞

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

KeithAubin — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:39:14 GMT

How are you getting 10.2.2?

Sorry I got my versions mixed up. I meant to say 10.2.1, we are still on an older version.

Wait a minute, so this offline functionality does not work with ArcGIS server 10.2.1 we need to wait for 10.2.2?!? I thought we just need to update ArcGIS Server to 10.2.1. Is that really the case ESRI?

I did not read the above post close enough., this is a real bummer.

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

AdrianMarsden — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:41:50 GMT

Yep - "One or more feature layers that are sync-enabled. These can be hosted feature layers or ArcGIS 10.2.2 Server or later feature services. "

I got offline working today by adding a feature layer to my ArcGIS.com account and using their basemaps, but to get it all the way back to your server and your SDE your need 10.2.2 - which isn't out yet!

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

KeithAubin — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:56:40 GMT

Yep - "One or more feature layers that are sync-enabled. These can be hosted feature layers or ArcGIS 10.2.2 Server or later feature services. "

I got offline working today by adding a feature layer to my ArcGIS.com account and using their basemaps, but to get it all the way back to your server and your SDE your need 10.2.2 - which isn't out yet!

Wow, amazing. We'll get there eventually, but apparently not just yet. I guess there is not much point in upgrading our server to 10.2.1, might as well just wait for 10.2.2

In the mean time I'll test out the functionality using ArcGIS.com....

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

AdrianMarsden — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 15:01:33 GMT

Indeed - I wish someone else had found this out first. I did my upgrade to 10.2.1 at the weekend - I looked at what was coming in 10.2.2 and decided to go for it as the Help seems to indicate this feature is for 10.2.1 - but the server online notes already includes stuff for 10.2.2!

Plus, when you go to 10.2.1 you do actually get the option to allow "sync" in the Feature Access setting of the service - so what is all that about if you can't do it from the Esri supplied app until 10.2.2!

Re: Update on Collector and Offline Use

AllisonMead — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 19:40:56 GMT

Hey Keith,

I'm trying to pair my android phone with an external GPS, but it seems that collector keeps using the internal GPS instead. Any advice?