idea Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability in ArcGIS Field Maps Ideas

Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

LindseyStone — Mon, 02 May 2022 15:34:37 GMT

Our base maps via Field Maps use to zoom PAST the cached layers defined scales up until a few weeks ago. I'm thinking some sort of update changed something. I opened up the exact same map in Collector and we can still zoom in past the extent of defined scales. This is new to Field Maps!

We need this capability back!!! We are using a GPS with field maps and sometimes we need to zoom far in to see points that they GPS that are within 5 feet of each other. Having the aerial basemap disappear on them is making it difficult for them to do their job.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

ChrisDunn1 — Mon, 02 May 2022 17:12:02 GMT

Hi Lindsey,

The ability to zoom in beyond the maximum visible scale of a basemap was actually a bug (albeit a useful one for many people). Field Maps now honors the MaxScale setting in the json for the map so the basemap will disappear when you zoom in beyond that scale. The current easiest way to get around this and keep the basemap showing when you zoom in is to use https://ago-assistant.esri.com to change the MaxScale for the basemap to 0. This will keep the basemap visible no matter how far you zoom in.

I hope that helps.

Chris

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JustinReynolds — Mon, 02 May 2022 17:34:38 GMT

@ChrisDunn1

Please consider exposing this setting in the new map viewer's UI. I'll post this as a new idea and link to this thread.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

Linde_Carmack — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:15:36 GMT

@ChrisDunn1 We really need this back, either as the default or exposing in the UI as suggested by @JustinReynolds. Right now this will require us to manually alter the JSON in AGO Assistant for every mobile map we create. Absolutely not sustainable.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

ChrisDunn1 — Fri, 06 May 2022 16:22:21 GMT

We are currently working with the ArcGIS Online team to expose this setting in the map viewer UI, I will provide an update when we know more and/or when we have a timeline for it to be released.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

LindseyStone — Fri, 06 May 2022 18:35:16 GMT

Your working on this for ArcGIS Online, what about the people using Portal?

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

ChrisDunn1 — Wed, 25 May 2022 17:43:45 GMT

@LindseyStone enhancements typically go through ArcGIS Online first and then are moved to Portal in subsequent releases, so it will come to portal as well.

For anyone experiencing this issue, I believe the following steps will give you an option to keep over zoom capabilities in your maps without using ago-assistant:

1. Create a map in pro with the basemap you want

2. Set the max scale to 0 (not none)

3. Save as a web map

4. Open the web map in the online Map Viewer

5. Move the basemap up to the layer section of the web map

6. Save it as a layer item

You will now be able to add that layer item to a map and move it to the basemap and it should honor the maxScale of 0 and allow you to over zoom. While this does require a few extra steps up front, it will at least create a re-useable basemap so you won't need to change the maxScale setting for every map you create.

I hope that helps.

Chris

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

DougMorgenthaler — Thu, 26 May 2022 14:20:01 GMT

Please see this knowledgebase article for details on this change.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JakeJacobsAVA — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:34:31 GMT

Agree with the frustration this change is causing. I am currently working with Esri support because the documented workarounds in the knowledge base article don't address sideloaded basemaps. The workaround is extremely awkward. I couldn't find any way to do it on an iOS device; I had to redeploy the entire tpk after making the change on a windows device (which is hours of file transfer) but the following does work:

1. Change the .tpk extension to .zip and unzip

2. For a tpk Go to servicedescriptions >> mapserver >> mapserver.json

2a. For a tpkx Go to root.json

3. Search for maxscale in Notepad ++ or something

4. Find the one that is not = 0 and change it to 0.

5. Rezip using compression = 0 (store)

6. Rename the file extension

7. Redeploy tpk to device

Note that tthe Esri analyst I'm working with says there is currently no way in Pro to adjust this maxscale when you build the tpks or tpkxs - you will have to produce the package and then hack the file before deploying to the device.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JakeJacobsAVA — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:37:27 GMT

@ChrisDunn1 You mention exposing this in the map viewerUI for AGOL - but that won't help with sideloaded basemaps. We use tpks (see above) for our offline imagery. I think the option has to be exposed in Field Maps itself....

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

ECanGIS_Team — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 23:03:20 GMT

We are going through exactly same issue, trying to follow your steps but not sure how you mean by step 5?

When i make changes, i dont see in the list of Basemap this newly created TPK, any clue/steps i have missed @JakeJacobsAVA ?

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JustinReynolds — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 00:20:27 GMT

@ECanGIS_Team

For step 5, I believe Jake is using 7zip to zip the file.

Using the 7 zip app, select the directory you wish to zip and then click Add. Then change the zip type to "zip" and change the compression level to "store" which is no compression. If you are using WinZip you can select no compression.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

ECanGIS_Team — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 23:55:55 GMT

Using 7Zip for step 5 actually solved the problem. Hopefully Esri will fix this issue so we dont have to go this path 🙂

Cheers,

Subodh

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JakeJacobsAVA — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 15:24:39 GMT

@JustinReynolds Thanks Justin for clarifying and providing the screen shot. That is exactly the process I'm doing.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JakeJacobsAVA — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 15:30:24 GMT

Here's the enhancement that has been logged. If you have the ability within your organization, you can escalate it.

#ENH-000153769 [Enhancement] Provide the functionality within the ArcGIS Field Maps mobile application to enable/disable zooming beyond max scale

A comment was posted on the Ideas page for this request <https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-field-maps-ideas/bring-back-the-over-zoom-basemap-capability/idc-p/1169774#M662> stating that the ArcGIS Online team is considering exposing a setting in Map Viewer UI to allow for overzoom, but this will not resolve the user's issue since they are not using ArcGIS Online and rather creating a basemap in Pro and immediately bringing it to Field Maps.
Providing the option/setting to enable overzoom within Field Maps will resolve the user's issue and provide the most time-efficient and seamless resolution.
ENH-000147018 is a similar request but does not address what the user is actually looking for - a button/setting within Field Maps to enable/disable zooming beyond max scale.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JonHoch — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 21:45:16 GMT

End of 2023 and this is still an issue for sideloaded aerials and topos. Overzoom should definitely be a default/option in the UI!

I created a set of imagery and topos for our tracts in ESRI Labs' Tile Package Kreator. These work but have the no overzoom issue.

I have not had luck following the workaround.

@JakeJacobsAVA, would you be willing to provide clarification/details on this workaround.

My TPK includes zooming from 12 to 18, when I open it in Notepad++ and try to follow step 4,

4. Find the one that is not = 0 and change it to 0. , there are multiple instances of maxscale not equaling 0. I have tried changing them all or just the maxscale that seem associated with the closest zoom but I feel like I am grasping at straws.

Suggestions are appreciated!

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

JakeJacobsAVA — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:46 GMT

@JonHoch In the mapserver.json file for a tpk the element I needed to change was the maxscale under contents. When I created the tpk it was set to 1128.497176. Hope this helps.

Re: Bring Back the Over zoom Basemap Capability

SveinungBertnesRåheim — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 07:10:42 GMT

Is this partly implemented in field maps by now? In field maps designer, open the "app settings", in the maps-tab, there you can define the zoom levels when downloading maps for offline use.
I have not tested if this setting overrides the setting in the base map you download.