idea Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Ideas

Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

dgray — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 18:26:25 GMT

Allow you to create a preset/default value for an existing feature that doesn't have a value yet. It seems like only new features fill in preset values, and existing features, even if you give them preset values using Attribute Actions, do not actually fill these attributes in. For example, an existing feature that has a date field preset to today's date for a field inspector (if date is currently blank) when they edit that feature, etc.#

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 23:10:18 GMT

Hi Dianne Gray,

Thank you for sharing on ArcGIS Ideas!

As you've stated, the Smart Editor widget in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder does not currently provide the capability to update Preset Attribute Actions for existing features - Presets will only be triggered when creating a new feature. This is a known limitation and updating all Presets for existing features will probably not be included in the product plan for now.

However, we are looking to allow batch updating Attribute Actions for multiple selected features (including Addresses, Coordinates, and Intersections - but this excludes Presets).

Also, while it is not currently possible to trigger an update on a date Preset Attribute Actions, you may be able to use the following workaround for what you are trying to do: keep track of created and updated features, see the associated documentation here.

By enabling this capability on your layer from the item settings, fields are added to your layer with the last edited date and the editor's username.

We will keep you posted on any related updates.

Regards,

Alix

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

dgray — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 15:21:46 GMT

Ok thank you, I already use the "keep track of created and updated features" setting but because the entry may not always be the same date as when the information is updated this wasn't what I was needing. Thanks anyways.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

Laura — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:58:05 GMT

I agree, I also find this to be extremely frustrating. I am trying to work with Esri solutions which seem great on the surface, but run into all these little issues such as this. I loaded in some data through Pro and then went into the apps to configure everything to my liking hoping to have preset values as the surveys/attributes they are required to fill in are quite long. Looks like we'll have to waste time manually doing it all instead.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:53:09 GMT

@Laura , How are you looking to use the preset values? Please are you able to provide more details on your setup and what you are trying to achieve? Perhaps we can find a workaround?

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

Laura — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:54:51 GMT

I am specifically using the lead service line solution in AGOL and would like the smart editor to have default 'answers' for some of the attributes to make the process easier, but it says it would only do that for new features.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 18:46:37 GMT

@Laura That's correct, the preset values that you configure in the Smart Editor will only be applied when the user will create new features.

Do you need preset values to show up when they update individual features instead? Or are you looking to batch-calculate values for multiple features?

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

Laura — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 18:48:00 GMT

We are manually going in to update each point based off of paper records, so just having them show up when they are updating points would be fine.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 19:27:54 GMT

@Laura

Depending on your version of ArcGIS your options will defer. But if you're using ArcGIS Online or Enterprise 11.0 or later, Calculated expressions in the new smart forms may be an option for you as you can define the presets to show up depending on the edit context (on feature create or update). This is the functionality that will replace the Smart Editor widget when Web AppBuilder retires.

Here are blogs with some examples:

More basic: From the Smart Editor to Smart Forms (esri.com)
Example with Edit context: Go Beyond the Smart Editor using Smart Forms (esri.com) (the sequential value code sample is one of them). Edit context values can be INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, which determines when the attribute value should be calculated.

One limitation to keep in mind though: a field with a calculated expression (preset value) assigned becomes read-only. That preset value is hardcoded into the field and the user will not be able to modify it while editing that feature.

You can play with some examples in this web map using the Editor widget:

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

Laura — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 19:38:01 GMT

ah ok, that does sound more along the lines like what I was going for. However, I do need it to be editable.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 19:44:59 GMT

@Laura we're evaluating the possibility of making these calculated fields editable. Do you have any examples of why this is necessary based on your use case? Thank you!

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

Laura — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 19:48:12 GMT

For the lead lines - a majority of our older records are missing info, but a few do have that missing piece. So, it would be easier to automatically populate some unknown fields, but be able to change it for the few times we have that information. A lot of our lines are public and private owned, but again you may have a few occasions where that isn't the case. Things like that.

Is there a way to calculate based off of previous answers? Like if I say a line is lead it will auto population the ever lead? field to yes.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 20:01:49 GMT

@Laura Thank you for sharing those details!

Is there a way to calculate based off of previous answers? Like if I say a line is lead it will auto population the ever lead? field to yes.

Yes, an example somewhat similar is available in the web map , where the value for the field "Is there a High School in this area?" is calculated based on the value found in the field "Which schools are found within the area?".

There are many different ways to achieve this and lots of possible nuances you can define in the Arcade script you define in your smart form.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

Laura — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 17:46:59 GMT

@AlixVezina I need this done in the editor of web app builder, not a map itself. I am struggling to find a way to do it there.

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 17:57:37 GMT

@Laura This will not be available in Web AppBuilder. But if you configure the Smart Forms in the Map Viewer you will also be able to use them in Experience Builder through the Edit widget.

See the Experience Builder example provided here From the Smart Editor to Smart Forms (esri.com).

Experience Builder is planned to eventually replace Web AppBuilder: ArcGIS Web AppBuilder retirement—ArcGIS Web AppBuilder | Documentation

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

Laura — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:17:04 GMT

The lead line solution is built on web app builder which is why I am using it. So I can't calculate fields or have preset values?

Re: Smart Editor Widget - Presets for Existing Features

AlixVezina — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 19:29:46 GMT

@Laura

In Web AppBuilder, you will only be able to use the Smart Editor widget with Preset Attribute Action on new features you create, not when updating features. If you want to leverage the new functionality we've been discussing you would need to create a new app using the Instant Apps or Experience Builder, or edit directly in Map Viewer.

The Lead Service Line Solution will be updated to use the latest technology some time in the future. Most Solutions are gradually being updated to use newer apps.