topic Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data in ArcGIS Online Questions

Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

first_namelast_name — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:57:10 GMT

I am having an issue refreshing the time extent of a time aware feature service (published using ArcGIS Server). The feature service is continually getting new data that is time aware and thus should update the feature service's published time extent or "Max Time" to match the newest data's "Submitted Date" value. Within the feature service's properties it lists that the layer is "Time Aware", has "Live Data", and describes the time extent (see attached for details on feature service's time proprieties from rest endpoint).

You can also see the properties of the featureclass layer in ArcMap prior to publishing in the attached images.

This issue persists through to ArcGIS Online where I am trying to display my data. Using a web map, the data is "time enabled" so that a time slider is used. When a new feature is added the time slider's properties "End Time" (found in the Time Settings of the time slider) does not update. The only way update the "End Time" is to disable time animation on the layer and then re-enable time animation.

I have tried many different combinations of properties both on the feature service's properties as well as on the layer in AGOL and I have not been successful in resolving this issue. I am looking for guidance on this issue or further troubleshooting.

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

KellyGerrow — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 23:43:31 GMT

Hi Kevin,

Where are you displaying the data? in a web map or web app?

For live data, check out this web application that doesn't require you to update the time extent when you data updates:

https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-online/sharing-collaboration/live-data-options-with-the-time-aware-temp…

-Kelly

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

first_namelast_name — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 12:55:07 GMT

Kelly,

Currently this feature service is being utilized in a Crowdsource Manager application and as such the application is being fed by the web map. The basic configuration is:

Published feature service that is time aware from ArcGIS Server -> AGOL feature layer with credentials stored in the layer -> AGOL feature layer added to web map, layer's time animation enabled -> web map used in Crowdsource Manager application.

I was doing some additional testing yesterday and I found that after a new data point is added and the service restarted, the time extent in the service properties would update, but not still not in the web map/web app. Again the time extent would only refresh in the web map/web app if I disabled time animation and then re-enabled it.

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

first_namelast_name — Fri, 11 May 2018 15:25:16 GMT

Kelly,

I was wondering if there was any update on the above issue.

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

JamesShute — Tue, 14 May 2019 19:59:44 GMT

I'm having the same issue. Any update/resolution on this?

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

ThomasNoble — Thu, 16 May 2019 16:18:30 GMT

Hi,

This is by design. The Time Slider properties are stored within the web map when the map is initially saved. The web map does not detect the time ranges or updated values of the contained services. To update the time properties of the service within a web map, manually update the time properties within the web map, or add the service to the web map again, and save it.

Best Regards,

Tom

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

KellyGerrow — Tue, 28 May 2019 19:57:08 GMT

There are two apps that dynamically update the date/time extent. Check out this blog for details about the configurable app:

https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis-online/sharing-collaboration/live-data-options-with-the-time-aware-template/

Web AppBuilder Widget (time span setting):

https://doc.arcgis.com/en/web-appbuilder/create-apps/widget-time-slider.htm

Thanks,

Kelly

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

AlstonHicks — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 19:30:59 GMT

Same issue, running 10.4 Portal. I checked the help documentation on the widget, the language changed at 10.7, so I don't think the end date updates automatically in previous versions. Always improving.

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

Anonymous User — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 21:55:53 GMT

With Python, you can override the hard-coded end time in the Web Map. This blog explains how: Auto-Update Time in Web Maps

Hope that helps,

-Peter

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

BrandonNelson3 — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 19:31:57 GMT

Ran into this myself in AGS 10.9, but not a single response in almost four years has addressed updating the service as stated multiple times in the question. 😞 Ended up digging into it and found an answer: open the feature layer properties (https://…/<service>/FeatureServer/<layer>/) and click "Return Updates" at the bottom of the page. (Or open https://…/<service>/FeatureServer/<layer>/?returnUpdates=true .) Yes, that simple, and much faster than going through disabling/reenabling time-awareness.

According to the docs this has existed since 10.1 but it's pretty well hidden! Maybe this could be made accessible from Portal, e.g. as a button on the layer info page?

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

BrittanyBurson — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 17:51:09 GMT

Hi @KellyGerrow

I am using the Time Slider widget in Web App Builder 10.8.1 and the start/end date/time is not updating, even though the data itself is.

I see in the WAB documentation for the Time Slider widget that it should support this:

The Configure time settings menu does show me the correct dates (give or take), but this isn't translating through to the widget:

What am I doing wrong, or where can I go to fix this? Thank you

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

BrittanyBurson — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 18:00:20 GMT

I want to scream that this is "by design"... how is this the workflow that makes the most sense?😫

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

RyanBohan — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 18:12:07 GMT

The idea of a static time slider makes no sense. It needs to be dynamic and inclusive of newly added data. It looks like Exb has a bug and that is why it's now showing the 10/14 data

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

BrittanyBurson — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:27:45 GMT

I tried this and the Time Slider widget is still not updating, WAB 10.8.1.

Deleted the ‘startTime’ and the ‘endTime’ properties of the time slider widget for my map:

So frustrating.

Re: Refresh Time Extent of Layer on New Data

BrandonGuo — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:07:16 GMT

This is life saver. Works well. Though "return updates" no longer available. The second URL still works.