topic Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times in ArcGIS Field Maps Questions

Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

LindsayLewin — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:40:51 GMT

Hello.

I have a form that is edited by multiple users at various dates. There are 3 groups and each group has a date field that needs to be populated.

I'd like the dates to be autopopulated, and I've used date() function for all three fields, however, if the form is opened again at another date, all the date fields from previous entries are changed the current date.

I need to retain the original dates - is there are way to do this?

Many thanks,

Lindsay

Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

KerriRasmussen — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:40:14 GMT

Hi Lindsay,

Good afternoon. You can use an Arcade expression on that field. I've included a sample below. You will need to update the name of your date field. This will capture the date when a new feature is added, but it will remain read only after that.

if ($editcontext.editType == "INSERT") { var originalDate = Today(); //keep original date return originalDate; } else { return $originalFeature.yourdatefield; }

Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

LindsayLewin — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 18:44:57 GMT

Worked like a charm! Many thanks!

Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

LindsayLewin — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 03:40:14 GMT

Hey Kerry - after adding some new data - with no dates recorded as of yet - i see that there is an issue with the code capturing that first date submission.

If the field is null to begin with I need the user to submit that, then after retain that specific value throughout the lifecycle of the inspection.

I've tried to add a date() at the beginning of this expression with no luck - thoughts?

date()

if ($editcontext.editType == "INSERT") {

var originalDate = Today();

//keep original date

return originalDate;

} else {

return $originalFeature.SeedDate;

}

Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

LindsayLewin — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 03:54:36 GMT

SO i figured this out - on features that are already exisiting, where the user is no actually creating new geometry - UPDATE is used instead of INSERT.

Thanks for getting me started on that one 🙂

if ($editcontext.editType == "UPDATE") {

var originalDate = Today();

//keep original date

return originalDate;

} else {

return $originalFeature.SeedDate;

Lindsay.

Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

Krocha — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:13:35 GMT

Is there a way to do this but with the creator field? I use offline maps in field maps.

Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

KerriRasmussen — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 13:53:57 GMT

@Krocha the creator field is a system generated field and it will only populate when the feature is first created, meaning it won't update. The editor field will update when the feature is updated with the name of the latest editor (this is assuming that editor tracking is turned on for that feature). Is that what you were looking to do or did you have another workflow in mind?

Re: Auto populate Date only once on forms that are edited multiple times

Krocha — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 18:11:49 GMT

I was thinking i would have a separate field for who created the feature point (this is in case i have to re-publish the feature layer). It will grab the username by calculation in the forms but i wanted it to display as the full name of the user instead of the username. I believe i have tried but this does not work for offline maps.