idea single-click map selection to update widgets in ArcGIS Dashboards Ideas

single-click map selection to update widgets

KevinMcMaster2 — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 15:45:16 GMT

@DerekLaw I’m trying to enable Dashboard map-click functionality where when a user clicks on a feature in a map, the widgets in the dashboard update to reflect that selection. Currently, just getting a pop-up (with no widget update) when a feature is clicked on. I know that if I enable the “selection” action, then the user is presented with a non-intuitive selection tool they have to use to select a feature (which then updates the widgets), but that seems really kludge.

I’ve run into this request multiple times for various clients, and usually end up using pick-lists and dropdowns to force a single selection, but it really shouldn’t be that complicated. See a couple of non-Esri solutions that intuitively do what I’m trying to do:

https://capitalprojects.seattle.gov/

https://capitalplanning.nyc.gov/facilities

Thank you!

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

JamieLambert — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 01:17:37 GMT

"the user is presented with a non-intuitive selection tool". I agree with this. The UI needs to be improved. And it would be good to be able to allow the selection tool to remain active.

I have suggested to at least expose all selection tools when using map layer actions rather than have a dropdown: Map layer selection tool layout. Even with the current dropdown setup, the default selection option needs to be configurable or automatically default to the last selection made by the user.

The selection can also be made from the pop-up, though I prefer to use the Details element rather than the pop-up for most of my Dashboards.

Jamie.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

DerekLaw — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 16:25:30 GMT

Hi @KevinMcMaster2,

Belated thanks for your post. I responded to your direct email 2 weeks ago, but forgot to update this post.

@JamieLambert,

Belated thanks for your comments to help provide more context on this enhancement.

We'll wait and see the level of interest from the user community to help us prioritize this item.

Hope this helps,

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets - Status changed to: Under Consideration

patrickb — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 19:19:24 GMT

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

TanGnar — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:45:42 GMT

I'm surprised this doesn't have more comments. I think this option would be a major ux improvement. Think about google maps - you don't have to turn on a selection tool in order to get the details of some point of interest. You just click it. I feel like that should be standard functionality, with the option to force a more deliberate selection tool if the workflow requires it.

This could be an option for configuration in the web map widget - either use the selection tools, or use a map click without the selection tool to trigger actions.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

Anonymous User — Fri, 13 May 2022 17:01:32 GMT

This would be great to have as a function. seems pretty clunky to have to toggle a selection tool to trigger an action.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

OscarMonell — Wed, 18 May 2022 08:39:13 GMT

Yes, from a usability perspective this would be a great improvement.

Several public authorities in my country are requesting this functionality, to be able to publish some public facing applications.

The user should be able to click in map directly (without selecting a tool prior) and the widgets in the dashboard update to reflect that selection.

I'll be happy to elaborate further around this @DerekLaw if needed.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

wayfaringrob — Fri, 20 May 2022 17:11:28 GMT

I agree. The best web apps don't need instructions, but I have to go to great lengths to splice in instructions for all my dashboards -- either in the dashboard somehow (wasting space) or in a separate document (which I can't guarantee that people will read or even have access to) because it's nowhere close to intuitive. It's also just annoying to have to deal with turning a tool on and off, even if you do know where it is/what it does. In one case, I really wanted my feature-linked S123 form to live in the Dashboard alongside the map, but found it too complicated to have to not only use the selection tool, but explain (and likely re-explain over and over) to users that you need to use a selection tool, so I opted for adding a link in the popup that opens it in a separate window.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

MappyIan — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 16:17:13 GMT

I completely agree with all the comments above and I'm surprised this idea hasn't gained more interest. The current method of having to enable a selection tool, then use this to select a feature is counter-intuitive for the general public. It would be a real UX improvement to Dashboards if this was implemented.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

StaceyStark1 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 22:38:50 GMT

Yes! This is definitely needed. We ended up embedding a dashboard in experience builder just so the user could click the map and get information without having to first use the select tool. This is really not intuitive and quite clunky. Thanks to @KevinMcMaster2 for the original post. I hope we can demonstrate more need/ interest.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

KevinMcMaster2 — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 15:51:25 GMT

@StaceyStark1 I'm intrigued by your work-around! Are you able to share a link to your experience builder solution so that I can see how it works? Thank you! Kevin

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

KevinMcMaster2 — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 15:52:15 GMT

@patrickb is this still under consideration? Or should I be looking to Experience Builder for the functionality my clients are requesting?

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

StaceyStark1 — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 18:44:56 GMT

@KevinMcMaster2 Here is the experience builder with a workaround: z.umn.edu/ww_dashboard.

The dashboard is the two panels on the right, it is embedded in EB. The map in EB on the left has features with a field to store the url of the dashboard embedded on the right. Depending on the feature selected, a different URL will show up in the embedded content on the right. Also, there aren't really six different dashboards, I used URL parameters in the dashboard to filter the results.

Here's and example of an embedded dashboard for the NE region:

dashboard: https://umn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/006e2068a99943fb8f0ad0f9d11e6ce0#theregion=NE

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

KevinMcMaster2 — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 15:26:08 GMT

Thanks @StaceyStark1 this is a really good workaround and a great use of URL parameters. It seems like Experience Builder is the way of the future, so I'm going to learn from your solution and try implementing similar "on-click" experiences!

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

DevonReed — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 19:50:14 GMT

This would be incredibly useful for my current project. It's frustrating to be able to configure elements that populate on selection but then have the selection part be so hard.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

wayfaringrob — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 19:59:52 GMT

Agree @DevonReed . The overhead needed to rig EB to do something similar is just not appealing. One of the selling points of a dashboard over EB app is the ease of setting up. I am really surprised it's taking Esri this long to implement something so common sense. I don't think that this should be the behavior for all dashboards, but we at least need the option.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

KatiePhillips1870 — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 14:48:02 GMT

It seems silly to me that a single click is not a standard function on all ESRI products for maps. This should be standard.

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

JonCardiello — Thu, 11 May 2023 21:13:36 GMT

I agree with this post! This functionality is something my team could use in all of our dashboards. Without this functionality we have had to use workarounds that at times are a bit clunky. Would love to see this feature added to a future Dashboards update!

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

wayfaringrob — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 22:50:55 GMT

Please, please, PLEASE make this a priority. I have a very hard time explaining to users, especially those not so familiar with computers, how to use this functionality as-is. It would be so, so much simpler if you could just set it to update with clicks. I don't even need multiselect half the time, so if that needs to be the tradeoff so be it. @DerekLaw @OscarMonell @patrickb

Re: single-click map selection to update widgets

KatiePhillips1870 — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 12:01:58 GMT

I fully agree @wayfaringrob., explaining to a non-GIS user or a user who is not fully comfortable with technology is such a challenge. The reaction I always get is "why cant I just click it? Why would you use a software that does not allow you to simply click to view information." Then I have to explain that building a similar product completely from scratch would take four times as long. We love the EB product and use it often, expediting the single click functionality would honestly be amazing.