topic Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update? in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Questions

How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

DanAllen — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:53:40 GMT

The November 2015 ArcGIS.com update has a new feature listed for Web AppBuilder where the app automatically saves your last location and layer visibility for the next time you open the app. HOW DO I TURN THIS OFF? This seems to be causing issues with map layers not loading that are coming from our internal server. Plus, I want all the layers to go back to the map default each time on map open.

Thanks

Dan

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:14:31 GMT

Dan,

I don't see an configuration for this new feature. So you can not turn it off currently. I would call esri tech support immediately and get this logged as an enhancement request.

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

DanAllen — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 19:26:35 GMT

Further testing, the issue we have relates to grouped layers in the table of contents of the Web App. Previously we had for example, several districts that were all checked on, contained in a group layer that was checked off by default. So if a user wants to see all the districts, they just had to check on the group. After the November update, when the app "auto-saves" on close, the next time you open the app, the grouped layer and all its subordinates are all un-checked. So the user who was used to just checking on the group layer, now does so and nothing happens. They have to expand the group and check all the layers on one by one.

I checked the ArcGIS.com map that controls the Web App, and group layer is un-checked and the subordinates are still all checked as they should be, and as by design before the November update.

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

DanAllen — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 20:07:14 GMT

Sometimes all you need to do is read the help menu. ESRI clearly states that if you use several of their new URL parameters, it will not save app state on close. So I simply added "&level=16" to the end of my app shortcut url (my map started at zoom level 16 before), it starts out at the default map extent like it used to, and the issue with grouped layer subordinates being un-checked also goes away.

I guess I would prefer an option in the web app builder configuration page about saving app state, but for now, this workaround will do.

http://doc.arcgis.com/en/web-appbuilder/manage-apps/app-url-parameters.htm

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 20:26:50 GMT

For those that are searching for the line that Dan is referencing look at this link:

View and edit app—Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS | ArcGIS

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

Jianxia — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 21:05:14 GMT

Dan,

We will make app state an option to configure in the next release. Thanks for the information.

Jianxia

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

ColeAndrews — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 22:00:24 GMT

Jianxia Song, will an option for saving the app state also be available outside of AGOL through the developer and/or Portal versions?

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 23:07:24 GMT

Cole,

WAB Developer is always released after the latest AGOL update. So eight now it is scheduled for Dec time frame the release of WAB Dev will include the save app state and hopefully they will make that configurable for that release.

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

Jianxia — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 04:20:23 GMT

Robert and Cole,

Unfortunately due to string freeze, we are not able to add the configuration option in dev edition and portal 10.4 release. It will be available in March.

Thanks,

Jianxia

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:18:53 GMT

Jianxia Song,

By string freeze to you mean that coding changes have been frozen until the Dev release? I thought in the past when issues were found in the AGOL version some were fixed before the Dev version was released.

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

ColeAndrews — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:50:54 GMT

Robert Scheitlin, GISP or Jianxia Song, how does the 'save app state' feature conceptually work for apps deployed on a web server? I ask because it seems it possibly solve this thread:

Allow App User to Save Their Personal Settings

Based on that documentation you linked, clearing the cache will clear the app state info. So, would this indicate the app is using HTML5 local storage for any user accessing the apps?

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:54:54 GMT

Cole,

As the Developer version is not out yet (for v1.3) I have not looked under the hood of this new feature to see exactly which mechanism they are using but local storage with a fall back of cookies would be my guess.

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

JunshanLiu — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 02:15:57 GMT

There will be a new function in MapManager.js, called onBeforeUnload, you can remove code in this function and app state will net be saved.

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

DanAllen — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 13:18:46 GMT

One thing that has not be answered is about how the save app state on exit is turning off all the layers inside of a grouped layer that were defaulted to being checked on in the table of contents. Is this a bug, or by design? Is anyone else seeing this behavior after the November update?

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

Jianxia — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 01:24:13 GMT

Robert,

String freeze is for localization, which ties to AGOL release. For developer edition, we cannot add or update any strings but can fix critical issues as long as they do not require any string changes. Since the option setting for app state requires UI strings, we are not able to do it until March.

Junshan shows how to disable it in code. This is a workaround. Hopefully, it helps.

Thanks,

Jianxia

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 01:54:35 GMT

Jianxia,

Thanks for the explanation. I will use the workaround when Dev version is released

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

Jianxia — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 02:58:40 GMT

Dan,

We are able to reproduce and looking into the issue. Thanks for letting us know.

Jianxia

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

JasonSmith6 — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 15:49:25 GMT

Jianxia,

I am also having the same issue as Dan in WAB. Layers that are checked by default inside grouped layers are turning off after you refresh the browser or don't clear the cookies. I hope a solution provided soon. The only workaround I could find was to either set the cookies to clear on exit, or add the "&level=1" to the end of the URL.

Jason

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

Jianxia — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 20:24:29 GMT

Jason,

The issue on sub-layers in a group being turned off has been submitted. It has something to do with Layer List in conjunction with app state. It is a bit complicated. We decided to move it to the March release for a holistic approach. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thanks for sharing the workaround,

Jianxia

Re: How to turn off new "auto saved map extent and layer visibility" in Nov 2015 update?

ChrisMathers — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 18:42:14 GMT

Thats good to know. It should be documented somewhere as the current solution.