Workbook Backups- Archiving workbook states as .insightswbk files with referenced packages

Anonymous User — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:21:24 GMT

Workbooks are fantastic formats for putting together cards, charts, and other analytical tools for a a variety of different purposes. Sometimes, a lot can end up in one workbook making it an essential part of your daily business routines. As with any online-based editing, sometimes there are hiccups in data handling over Web GIS and I wanted to highlight a helpful tool for mitigating risk.

This post is a gentle reminder that you have some options when it comes to securing and archiving various states of your ArcGIS Insights Workbooks. As you're working on increasingly complex workbooks, I would recommend exporting a working state of your workbook just prior to making major edits.

Please review items below and implement at your discretion:

Back-up the current, working state of your workbook as a Workbook Package

Documentation: Package a workbook
A workbook package is an exportable file containing all aspects of an Insights workbook. All pages, data, models, and themes are included in the package exactly as they appear in the original workbook.
When possible package with referenced data for your workbook environment:
- Documentation: Package methods:
  - Live updates from the original dataset (when applicable); supported by referenced exports only
  - Import into Insights in ArcGIS Online
  - Import into Insights in ArcGIS Enterprise
  - Import into Insights desktop
- While packaging as copied data is also possible, theses are not recommended for usage as backups because data connections are lost in this format
e.g.:
- Reviewing the Export option under Insights> Home > [WorkbookName] > and selecting Export under the three ellipses option

Notes on Cross-Platform Usage (Desktop vs. Enterprise vs. ArcGIS Online)

Only like version numbers should be considered for cross utilization:
- That is, a workbook exported with ArcGIS Insights 2021.1 on ArcGIS Enterprise may be viewed by ArcGIS Insights 2021.1 for Desktop
- Confirming version number if your administrator doesn't know:
  - Desktop/Windows- check your install version for Insights in the Apps & features window
  - ArcGIS Enterprise- Review install files on the Portal machine or review network traffic, open the Insights homepage and filter network traffic results for the base version compatible for your Enterprise deployment (2020, 2021, etc)
  - ArcGIS Online- This will always be the latest version, which you can confirm by reviewing network traffic, open the Insights homepage and filter network traffic results for the suspected base version; e.g.:
    Reviewing network traffic in web browser and searching for term '2022' to confirm that we are using the latest base version of Insights in ArcGIS Online

Thanks for reviewing these items on utilizing ArcGIS Insights Workbook packages as back-ups! Below are some additional materials related to workbooks that may also be of interest to you:

Kind regards!

-Marc (They/Them)

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Workbook Backups- Archiving workbook states as .insightswbk files with referenced packages