idea Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online in ArcGIS Online Ideas

Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

Anonymous User — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 14:50:28 GMT

Currently, if we develop a custom widget using the Developer Edition of ArcGIS Web App Builder we have to go through this process to deploy the application with the widget inside it. It would be great if we could just upload individual custom widgets to our ArcGIS Online like how you upload data. These custom widgets are small folders that usually have a config file that could be used to configure the widget for any application that would access it in ArcGIS Online.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

daveostrander — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 02:00:27 GMT

The OP makes a solid point. For instance, there are some apps, that for critical mission/disaster recovery reasons need to be hosted off premises (i.e. Damage Assessment), yet custom widgets for these applications are not available if hosted on AGOL. I understand the possible security concerns associated with uploading mystery widgets to AGOL, but the only other way around this would be to have an AWS server in place. Seems like an awful lot of added expense/maintenance just to use an extra widget or two. If security is the concern, maybe there could be a vetting/review process for developer edition widgets.

Thank you for your consideration.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

ThomasColson — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 13:46:26 GMT

Maybe the middle ground would be "Add Roberts Widgets" to AGOL Widget choices.....

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

EdHarrell2 — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 18:25:17 GMT

Before Operations Dashboard became browser based, you could upload a custom widget to your AGOL organization and then include it into a dashboard. For those of use in the emergency response community, the bomb threat widget was quite popular.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

JenniferKuntz1 — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 16:19:10 GMT

This is an excellent idea! As an Esri business partner with a widget, I find that our customers are challenged with finding a place to deploy their applications that include our widget.

A related idea (not sure it's different enough to submit it separately or how feasible it is for that matter) is for Esri to write into Web AppBuilder a way for those who write widgets to host a widget on their own web infrastructure and provide a way for ArcGIS Online users to consume a widget as a service via the online Web AppBuilder.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

MatthewBradbury — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 00:22:37 GMT

We could really use this. Having to host our applications when it's just for one widget is quite cumbersome. An app configuration that would normally take a minute on AGOL become a half an hour job or more. Our end users also can't create their own apps with custom widgets because they don't have edit rights to our external server, and that's not even considering how our publishers would handle going through the process of hosting an app on our server.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

KevinMWright13 — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 21:35:55 GMT

I love this idea. LOVE it.

Our organization must do all things via AGOL so we are limited to the functionality that exists there. Our talented developers would love a chance to build extensions to more appropriately answer our specific clients needs. Hosting this on AGOL would be the most ideal. I understand the security concerns, however.

That said, I wonder (as did Mr. Ostrander above) if a model similar to Apple's App Store could be created whereby you must register as a developer and the app/widget must be approved by Esri.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

GeraldLee__GISP — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 14:24:12 GMT

Bingo.. Problem solved..

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

DavidWheelock — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 13:07:08 GMT

I asked ESRI about uploading custom widgets to AGOL a couple of years ago, and their firm answer was no. This is to "prevent injection of malware" into the AGOL environment. We have portal for custom apps.

I heartily support the suggestion that Robert Scheitlin's marvelous tools be added to AGOL!

Someone should create an idea for THAT and link it here.

Kory Kramer, do you know anyone at ESRI who would like to comment on this idea?

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

KoryKramer — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 13:09:28 GMT

Katie Cullen‌ is the Customer Advocacy Lead for ArcGIS Online.

See https://community.esri.com/community/arcgis-ideas/blog/2017/11/28/customer-advocacy-who-s-who-and-what-do-we-do?sr=search&searchId=da8eb206-4c68-4596-b7af-ca55427fddda&searchIndex=0‌

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

MegHoole — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 16:00:55 GMT

Any updates on this from Esri? Wondering what may be in the works post "Reviewed" status of this idea. Please and thanks!

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

BenjaminMittler — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:21:17 GMT

Any further progress on this?

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

deleted-user-8KkqhMYcTNGx — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 13:37:47 GMT

Greetings,

If I may I would like to add to this idea. Currently, you can host custom widgets in ArcGIS Enterprise Portal. It would be wicked cool if custom widgets could be passed through Distributed Collaboration to ArcGIS Online. That way an organization could control which custom widgets are internal and which are passed through to the public utilizing ArcGIS Online. It would be awesome. Thank you for everything and have a delightful day.

Sincerely,

Joe Guzi

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

DEWright_CA — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 21:50:17 GMT

I would vote this one up if you submit it...

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

JenniferKuntz2 — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:54:01 GMT

Done! https://community.esri.com/ideas/18102

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

DonMorrison1 — Sun, 24 May 2020 20:33:58 GMT

This would be a great capability. Unfortunately I spent the last week building a very useful custom widget but now I realize that it can't be used since we deliver everything through ArcGIS Online.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

BrianD — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 20:20:38 GMT

This functionality would be very useful. If ESRI doesn't want to allow users to host custom widgets, why don't they expand their standard list of widgets so users don't have to?

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

DirkVandervoort — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 23:41:29 GMT

This essential WAB developer functionality.

I’d love to be able to sell my custom widgets and be able to support both ArcGIS OnPrem and ArcGIS Online releases.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

KevinMacLeodEV — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 18:51:05 GMT

I would speak for myself as an author of custom widgets and say this would be huge for Esri. I also say at least unofficially at my new role as technical manager at EagleView, I'm sure EagleView-Pictometry would love to see this. I imagine other big Esri partners would love this integration as well. We have had several counties ask if they can use our Pictometry for WebApp Builder on their AGOL. They do not have Portal or WAB Dev Ed. Nor will they. Portal and Dev are beyond most smaller counties but AGOL is perfect for them. I've met dozens of counties now that do not have their own ArcGIS Server, but they do have AGOL, and.. they love it! Hub, StoryMaps, WebApp Builder, Exp Builder, they love it. They would love to be able to use the Pictometry widget and Robert's widgets on their AGOL WAB and Experience Builder apps.

The security concern over malicious code is for sure valid, probably more every year. I would imagine there could be a way to sandbox the code or otherwise validate and secure it and the effort would be worth it for the huge boost in functionality for Esri and partner customers.

Re: Upload Custom Widgets To ArcGIS Online

SamJakson — Tue, 02 May 2023 21:49:39 GMT

Come on ESRI, the basic lack of customizability and flexibility coupled with your premium prices is making the switch to open source more appealing by the day.

Custom widgets hosted on AGOL should be standard.