idea Copy Features for Experience Builder in ArcGIS Experience Builder Ideas

Copy Features for Experience Builder

emontague_napsg — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 17:10:10 GMT

Real-world Problem: First responders are working on an Urban Search & Rescue team during a tornado or flooding event. To organize their search operations, they use a Web App Builder product called Intel Manager within SAR Common Operating Platform (SARCOP) to quickly create search segments and monitor what has been searched. By using Copy Features, they can copy and create a new feature of a selection of Census Block Groups to create one or more search segments. Below is a screenshot of the Smart Editor widget with Web App Builder and a user is using the "Copy by lasso" method to select multiple Census Block Groups to copy.

In the next screenshot, the user created features from the copied Census Block Groups into a new layer called Search Segments.

As we are migrating this project to Experience Builder, this workflow is disrupted because Experience Builder does not offer the ability to Copy Features. Copy Features within the Smart Editor Widget of Web App Builder is a significant workflow for our users. The ability to quickly select multiple features from one layer and then create a new feature to a different layer is critical for our apps that we are migrating to Experience Builder. This workflow is performed during no-notice disaster events, sometimes on tablets on phones so we hope to make this process as simple as possible for our users, rather than needing to use a separate app.

Audience: First Responders, Urban Search & Rescue Team Members.

Technical Problem: Experience Builder does not offer the ability to Copy Features.

Solution: Ability to Copy Features within Experience Builder, similar to the Smart Editor widget from Web App Builder.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

KatieHansen_NIFCAdmin — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 18:11:29 GMT

I will post this "Idea" in the comment section of this post to get more visibility as this functionality is critical to many of our workflows: https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-experience-builder-questions/copy-features-function-missing-from-experience/m-p/1342158

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

PaulDoherty2 — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 18:31:18 GMT

Another common workflow for "copy features" is appending a list of 911 phone calls into another layer like waypoints that need follow-up. This is a common workflow for flood response and often this needs to be done by a first responder because no GIS Specialist is assigned to the incident in the early phases.

We are also exploring Field Maps Tasks and would need to use copy features to create assignments "in bulk" when combined with batch attribute editing (which will be another enhancement request for ExB).

Please consider making copy features a core component of editing in ArcGIS Online (or at least Experience Builder), not just Web Editor. Web Editor works well and we like where it is headed, but we really want to support our first responders with a one stop shop application in Experience Builder versus teaching them "another app".

@JeffShaner

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

SAR_IAFC_Admin — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 18:38:29 GMT

The ability to "Copy Features" is a critical workflow to create pre-planned evacuation zones in the IAFC's Wildfire Evacuation Planning Toolkit. You can see how it is done here: https://youtu.be/mMIj5uHYk2g The data editing functions of the application cannot be migrated to Experience Builder until "Copy Features" is implemented.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

LisaTunnell — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 22:41:14 GMT

This is the only reason that we continue using App Builder. We have many use cases where we need to be able to copy a generalized shape into a table with company-specific schema for editing. I really really hope App Builder doesn't go away before this is added to Experience Builder.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

KristalWalsh — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 14:45:21 GMT

Our agency works closely with Esri on many wildlife planning, monitoring and tracking projects. The copy/paste functionality in the Web App Builder saves an enormous amount of time in recreating concurrent features on large land tracts that must be managed on different schedule for various reasons, i.e., fire, tree planting, invasive species control, etc. Our staff are field biologists not GIS professionals who need a simple experience, one that includes the fewest clicks necessary. Apps like Web App Builder and Experience Builder provide the means for us to centralize data with easily configurable tools. However, it does not make sense to retire one app that is in use without providing the functionality for us to move forward. Significant time and resources have been devoted to the switch from ArcMap to Pro, AGO and migrating to the cloud even for traditional data storage. Please consider these end user impacts and provide a time frame for this functionality if at all possible. Developing an alternate workflow ahead of the release would, of course, not be desirable.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

OfraAi — Mon, 05 May 2025 13:26:47 GMT

Hi,

I have a scenario where my users receive data from files, like shp or FGDB. The file contains plans for new building or site that needs some checking and approvals. The users need to add this plan to our main plan layer, do some checks and write and log their response.

Web Appbuilder and smart editor does is perfectly, while in experience builder or web editor it is impossible.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

malolo — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:45:40 GMT

+1 this is essential functionality for ExB. Use Case: Within Experience map select feature(s) in one layer and paste (Edit - Append) into same or another layer with full control over target attributes (field map & assign default values).

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

BrandonShiveley — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:55:35 GMT

This is a very crucial feature that is still not available in ExB. With the upcoming deprecation of Web App Builder, many users will lose functionality all together. Is there any update on when this will be added?

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

AlixVezina — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:26:45 GMT

@BrandonShiveley This is coming into Experience Builder in the February release of ArcGIS Online, planned for next week!

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

KristalWalsh — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:13:26 GMT

Thank you for the update, @AlixVezina!

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

KatieQuantrell — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:44:51 GMT

@AlixVezina Hi, I'm just wondering if this functionality was released last week? (I can't see where it is in EB?). Many thanks

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

BrandonShiveley — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:52:12 GMT

@KatieQuantrell It was released last week. You can find it in the Edit widget settings at the very bottom under advanced editing tools. It is named Copy and Paste.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

KatieQuantrell — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:37:59 GMT

Thanks @BrandonShiveley - this is great - many thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

KatieQuantrell — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:33:34 GMT

Hi, I've just been having a look at this new 'Copy and Paste' functionality in Experience Builder and although it seems to work well when copying features from a layer to the same layer. When I have tried to copy a features into a different layer the shape copies across but the attributes don't (even though the field names are the same, and the copy attributes box is ticked).

I was hoping this would work in the same way as the 'Copy all' functionality in Field Maps dose. Is this as intended, or is this a bug?

Be grateful for any advice (or to hear if others have got this to work?).

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

AlixVezina — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:57:25 GMT

Hi all,

Copy and Paste in now available in Experience Builder in ArcGIS Online. It will also be available in Enterprise 12.1 which is targeted for May 2026. You can find it in the Edit widget, when using "Interact with a Map widget" Mode. The option is at the bottom of the Content panel, as part of the Advanced editing tools.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

AlixVezina — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:59:14 GMT

@KatieQuantrell ,

We would need to take a closer look at your source and target data to identify the issue. Feel free to reach out to me directly avezina@esri.com.

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

KatieQuantrell — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:36:44 GMT

Thanks for all your help @AlixVezina on trouble shooting this.

I thought I would just post a quick update on here in case its useful for others... the reason data was not being copied across between the different layers was because my source field in my source layer had a length limit that was longer than my target field in my target layer. Making these fields have the same length limit has resolve the issue.

Many thanks

Re: Copy Features for Experience Builder

Bud — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:06:19 GMT

What are the rules when copying/pasting a feature into a different feature layer?