topic Re: Lock point location in ArcGIS Field Maps Questions

Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 02:44:50 GMT

Is it possible to lock the collect here location?

We are going to roll out a new survey to contractors but do not want them to be able to move the point where they are collecting data.

Re: Lock point location

DavidTipping-Jsy — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:24:50 GMT

Why not define your points and use a related table for contractor input? Use this excellent set of videos to define your workflow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0W6X6ovi_Q

David

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 19:12:41 GMT

Not a bad idea but unfortunately won't work for us because the the contractors need to be able drop the point at current location during each survey. We would like to ensure the location can't be modified where the survey is taking place.

Re: Lock point location

DougBrowning — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:50:54 GMT

Yes check the setting page of the service there is a section to turn off geometry updates and pick which layers.

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:59:42 GMT

Cheers Doug. Please can you let me know where exactly that is? I've looked on the feature layer settings, Field Maps settings but can't find it. Quite excited to give this a try!

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 22:10:49 GMT

I think I found it on the target feature settings page, however, in Field Maps the user is still able to collect at a different location. Perhaps the settings will lock in the location once it's been collected; but it doens't prevent them from collecting at a different location

Re: Lock point location

DougBrowning — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:44:07 GMT

Well new points no I thought you meant preloaded points. I would always let the exact be collected. What if they labeled it wrong? Picked the wrong preload? What about proof they went out there? You always want the real location of a new point.

What I do is have arcade the tells them how far they are away and have them get closer in the popup.

Current point distance from design meters
var originShift = 2.0 * PI * 6378137.0 / 2.0;
var lon = (Geometry($feature).x / originShift) * 180.0;
var lat = (Geometry($feature).y / originShift) * 180.0;

lat = 180.0 / PI * (2.0 * Atan( Exp( lat * PI / 180.0)) - PI / 2.0);

return Round(Acos(Sin(lat * PI / 180)*Sin($feature.DesignLat * PI / 180) + Cos(lat * PI / 180)*Cos($feature.DesignLat * PI / 180)*Cos(($feature.DesignLong * PI / 180)-(lon * PI / 180))) * 6371000,2)

Hope that helps. But I do not know a way to force a location of a new point.

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:30:28 GMT

Apologies I may not have explained the issue very well...

What I'd like to do is ensure the contractor can't move the point to a different location. So the new point where the survey is carried out is unable to be moved elsewhere.

For context, we're designing a trap checking survey. In theory, the contractor may use the project basemap to navigate to each trap, and then completed a trap check survey at each station. I don't need the point location to snap to the target feature, and I don't want the contractor to be able to be able collect data at a separate location.

Re: Lock point location

DougBrowning — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:51:32 GMT

If you mean they can make a new one then not move it after that then no. It can move or not move is it. Which makes sense you can either edit geometry or you can't.

Re: Lock point location

ChrisDunn1 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 14:52:57 GMT

Hi @FrankHerbert ,

If I'm understanding correctly - you don't want the user to be able to drop a pin and then choose "collect here", is that correct? You only want them to be able to collect a point at their current device location?

There is a setting in Field Maps Designer for that. Under the App Settings -> Collection, if you choose "Block Manual Location" they will not be able to set the location manually, they will only be able to collect at their current location.

Test that setting out and see if it creates the behavior your looking for.

Chris

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:44:24 GMT

Hi @ChrisDunn1 yes that's correct.

I have tried that setting but it didn't make any difference.

I believe it hinges on the GPS being inactive. I'm a little confused because I would need the GPS active to obtain a location fix.

Re: Lock point location

ChrisDunn1 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:50:22 GMT

Hi @FrankHerbert ,

Apologies, I missed a detail here. The setting I pointed you do should make it so a user cannot move a point after initial creation. I think you'll want to keep the manual location disabled - basically after a user drops a point they can pan the map and hit "update point", but with manual location they won't be able to do that.

For your initial ask though, under App Settings in Field Maps Designer, there's also the "Feature actions" section. That's where you can disable "Collect Here" so that they can't drop a pin and collect a feature at that location.

If you disable Collect Here and manual locations, they will only be able to submit points at their current GPS location.

I hope that helps!

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 19:50:54 GMT

I just want them to collect a point at their current location. I don't want them to be able to move the point to somewhere else. I've tried experimenting with the settings and getting the feeling it's not possible.

I like how in S123 you can complete the form and the point location is set at the users current location by default, without an immeditate option to move it. The problem with Field Maps is, when the user 'collects here', it is obvious they can also move the point somewhere else. Hope this makes sense!

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:01:12 GMT

Thank you for the quick response @ChrisDunn1 Unfortunately it doesn't work for me.

I've tried those settings and made sure the Field Maps project is refreshed and using those changes.

I'll keep trying different things for now.

Re: Lock point location

ChrisDunn1 — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:09:05 GMT

Hi @FrankHerbert ,

Good news/bad news on this - it seems that you have helped us uncover a bug. The setting to block manual location should give you the behavior that you want - where a user cannot move a point once they collect it at their physical location. It appears that sometimes the App Settings that are configured in Field Maps Designer are not being applied in Field Maps. From what I can tell, if you go into Designer and change one or two settings and save the changes (and then change them back and save again), it will hopefully fully update everything and make it work in Field Maps. We'll be working on some fixes in this area as well now that we know there's a problem. Let me know if it continues to not work, or feel free to reach out via arcgisfieldmaps@esri.com.

Thanks!

Chris

Re: Lock point location

FrankHerbert — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:09:26 GMT

Thank you for the update @ChrisDunn1 much appreciated.

I'll see if I can trick it into fully updating everything using the tips you provided.

Thanks again for taking the time to look into this.