topic Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget) in ArcGIS Viewer for Flex Questions

Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

JustinRobinson — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:19:54 GMT

Hey all,

I was wonder how people out there are satisfying metadata requirements for their online maps?

I'm currently migrating an ArcIMS/IMF implementation to ArcServer and the Flex Viewer and I'm running into problems. In the IMS/IMF implementation clicking on the name of the layer would open up a new window with the metadata (or the sci. report that generated the data), this could also be achieved by an icon to the right of the layer name. Both were "simple" to implement, mostly due to IMF.

However, I'm now having difficulty figuring out how to implement something similar within the TOC Widget created by Robert (it is most excellent, many thanks Robert). I've contemplated trying to create an icon to the right--failing miserably, I'm not even exactly sure where to start with this beyond it being within TocItemRenderer.as.
I've also tried to make use of the doubleClick (onCheckBoxClick) that is detected for each item, and yet again fail to quite wrap my brain around it. Suffice to say, my level of AS3 programming ability and complete API knowledge seems to be somewhat limited.

In addition to this I've tried to figure out if it was possible to do in the PopUps, however <![CDATA[ is not supported in the <title>, so I can't make the title link to a URL. I could use <description>, however that would mean writing a custom <description> element for every single layer (when there are over 150). Time and time again I see people warning that editing the structure of the popUps to be extremely difficult.

There must be an elegant way to show metadata either through the TOC or through the PopUps.
Has anyone come up with a method to do this, or can anyone offer some suggestions in order to accomplish this?

Thanks.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:31:14 GMT

Justin,

Back in the SFV 1.x days I had a version of my TOC widget that had a button for opening a url that went to an ASP.net webservice and displayed some CANNED xml metadata file in a virtual directory. I did not carry that over as it was over most peoples head how to configure it, but it can be done. The easiest solution you can come up with immediately with little effort at all is to open the MXD that serves the map service and for each layer type metadata in the description field and copyright field. The current version of the TOC widget will display this info as a tooltip.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Fri, 27 May 2011 21:36:04 GMT

Justin,

Here is the old thread I referenced above.

http://forums.esri.com/thread.asp?c=158&f=2421&t=290218

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

JustinRobinson — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:36:26 GMT

Thanks Robert, however I'm not sure I need something quite so advanced. Unfortunately the metadata is not embedded in SDE. I'm hoping to find something similar to effect as pop-ups. I'm beginning to think that modifying the popups might be the way to go... I may have to research how to do this. If I could display both the <fields> and <description> at the same time (which should be the default behaviour, I'm not sure why that decision is/was made for us) I would be able to include the link that I require. Either that or find a way to allow <![CDATA[[ ]]> in the <title> tag... back to the drawing board.

Anyone else out there have novel/alternative ideas that I may be overlooking?

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

JustinRobinson — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 23:17:57 GMT

Here is the edit to the PopUp skin that allows for display of both <description> and <fields> simultaneously (if they both exist) for those that would like it. Not much of an edit, but changes are spread throughout the .mxml file, therefore it was easier to distribute through this method.

From the ReadMe.txt

***************************************************************
DescFieldPopUp -- Description + Fields PopUp
Justin Robinson 2011
***************************************************************

The Purpose of this file is to allow for the display of both
<description> and <fields> tags (if both exist) on pop-ups
called from a widget (or from base).

To Utilise for all calls add the following to your default.css:

----------------

esri|PopUpRenderer
{
 skinClass:ClassReference('widgets.DescFieldPopUps.DescFieldPopUps');
}

----------------

For using with a single widget add the above within your <fx:style> tag

This solves my problem, however not the BEST way (that'd be a link in the table of contents) but a much EASIER way.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:45:47 GMT

Justin,

I have updated the 2.3.4 version of the TOC widget to have a details button that opens an alert window with layer details, and many more enhancements.

Version 2.3.4 - 2 June, 2011
* Removed white background from legend.
* Added ability to exclude basemaps from the legend (this is now the default).
* Verified that classified rasters are now supported if you are using ArcGIS Server SP1 or greater
* Set the legend timeout to 60 Seconds for those with slow servers (configurable in xml)
* Added better handling of layers that come from a slow server when it comes to building the legend
* Added ability to internationalize the text for transparency slider tooltip, layer details button tooltip,
Context menus.
* Transparency/Opacity is now controlled by one slider at the top of the widget. You but select a map service
in the TOC for it to become enabled.
* Added Zoom to Layer Extent context menu for individual map service layers
* Added Map Service description button and individual layer description and copyright alert when details button
is pressed. Details button can be disabled in TOCWidget.xml

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:34:01 GMT

Robert, I like the new release! I've been going through your code and trying to figure out what event triggers your metadata button. Can you enlighten me? I need to come up with a custom way to display the metadata.

Thanks yet again!
Frank

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:02:37 GMT

Frank,

The ShowMeta function is WAY down in the TocItemRenderer.as code. I have noticed that the Alert dialog that I use is not working very well for big descriptions. I will be releasing another version that uses a custom popup to handle html tags (the supported ones) and large descriptions.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:21:03 GMT

Thanks, I was looked high and low for it yesterday, just not in the right spot... I hope they build out the API out so we can get better access to the metadata. I'm thinking about just putting a url back to the metadata record in the description of the layers in the mxd so I can get back to the metadata.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:55:14 GMT

All,

My new version 2.3.5 that combines the TOC and Legend is now available as well as other improvements.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:14:13 GMT

Yes!!! Way to go man. You rock!
Thanks so much!!!

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:31:39 GMT

Robert is looks you you have a pointer in ResizeTitleWindowSkin.mxml to a png in one of your other widgets:

widgets/eSearch/assets/images/w_resize.png

In addition there an issue at line 233:
widgets.eSearch.WidgetCloseButtonSkin

No worries, but I though you would want to know.

fr

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:51:12 GMT

Frank,

Thanks download is now fixed.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:46:23 GMT

OOps one more:

In addition there an issue at line 233:
widgets.eSearch.WidgetCloseButtonSkin

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:04:45 GMT

Sorry to be the bearer of more bad news.
Seems to be an issue with displaying type=feature for points. No symbol on the legend for those. Howevever, polygon and line seem to work fine for feature services.

Thanks again
fr

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:10:03 GMT

All,

Please try out the latest version 2.3.6 and see if it resolves the reported issues. If not keep the feedback coming and I will fix whatever I can.

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:44:35 GMT

Robert, thanks for the repost of the code. I�??m seeing a couple different things, and if you know of a work around I�??m all ears.

I�??m still not seeing the legend for most points both in feature services and regular map services. However with my group layers they are showing up. So I�??m not sure if it is the type of point I�??m using or something else. Some of them are very vanilla esri triangle stuff, others are more complex graphics. However, neither seem to show. I can point you at some of my services if you want to give it a shot.

There seems to be a lack of sync between the More�?� button and TOC. See the graphic I�??ve uploaded

The Layer Visibility slider seems to be stuck to the left and not move or work.

On the other hand, the link to the metadata really works great! I�??m doing some neat stuff with embedding html within the description and it works sweet in your tool.

Thanks again,
Frank
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7236[/ATTACH]

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:54:59 GMT

Frank,

1. I would love to test your point map services to see what the issue is. You can post the address here or send them to me privately (I think you remember how to get in touch with me directly).

2. Are you meaning that you are turning off layers in the MapSwicherWidget and the change is not getting reflected in my TOC right? (you know you should not use both right?)

3. The layer visibility only works with the parent map services (remember individual layers in a map service can not have their opacity adjusted).

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

FrankRoberts — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:48:35 GMT

1. I would love to test your point map services to see what the issue is.
     Fr: Feel free to bang on it, I just sent it to you.

2. Are you meaning that you are turning off layers in the MapSwicherWidget and the change is not getting reflected in my TOC right? (you know you should not use both right?)
   Fr: Ok I will dissable the MapSwitcherWidget, and sorry I missed that...

3. The layer visibility only works with the parent map services (remember individual layers in a map service can not have their opacity adjusted).
   Fr: Owe I see, you need to click on the parent and then move the slider... That wasn't apparent to me as an end user, I wonder if you added a tip to that?

Thanks again,
Fr

Re: Metadata (and the TOC Widget)

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:07:58 GMT

Frank,

1. Thanks your services helped me find the error. It is fixed in version 2.3.7.

2. I now have the TOC responding to programmatic changes in visibleLayers. So if you make a change to the MapSwitcherWidget as far as turning on or off a sublayer of a map service my TOC updates to match but the MapSwitcherWidget does not do the same if you change a sublayer in my TOC.

3. There is a tooltip if you hover over the on the widget.