topic Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes in ArcGIS Web AppBuilder Questions

How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

StephenLead — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:22:10 GMT

County of Simcoe have a nice interactive map based on ArcGIS Web AppBuilder, at https://maps.simcoe.ca/Public/

This application contains functionality I haven't seen before in a WAB map - it aggregates layers into "themes", allowing the user to change the contents of the map with a single click:

Is this function provided by an existing WAB widget, or is this something that Simcoe have written from scratch?

(Note that the "themes" in this case don't refer to styling of the application, but to grouping similar layers together. Eg viewing the Local Real Estate "theme" changes the map's layers to only show real estate).

I can think of a few different ways to approach this, but I don't want to waste time if an existing widget already handles it.

(I asked this question elsewhere within Geonet but I'm trying again in the main WAB section as I didn't get any responses)

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:27:23 GMT

Stephen, you should send them a comment in the contact us link, there is an option for them to return a response to you if you provide your email address

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

StephenLead — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:39:00 GMT

Hi Dan,

Yep, I tried that but haven't heard back yet.

Cheers,

Steve

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

DanPatterson_Retired — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:53:06 GMT

twitter? Simcoe County GIS (@simcoecountygis) on Twitter ... I could drive down

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

StephenLead — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 01:07:48 GMT

Tell em I'll buy them a coffee if they let me know the secret. I'll throw in enough for you, too

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

StephenLead — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 23:47:07 GMT

Simcoe confirmed via Twitter that they wrote custom code to handle this.

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

Drew — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:16:35 GMT

Hello Stephen,

I just stumbled onto this post. I can answer any questions you may have about our application.

Also.. Usually I reply back to all feedback but I do not recall any from you ? When did you send it?

First lets define.

Map Theme = The themes you can use within the application
App Theme = A skin that the WAB allows you to create to modify the look and feel of the application

All the widgets (except the print) on the website are custom and designed to fit our needs. The "Map Themes" are also custom and the logic to position them in the app is built into our "App Theme".. Basically our application has logic to determine what is a "Map Theme" vs a Tool vs the Layer (TOC) and we position those into different panels. In short we just use the name of the widget.. If the widget starts with "Theme-XXXXXXXX" we add it to the Theme Panel etc...

Does that make sense?

Drew

County of Simcoe - GIS Analyst

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

StephenLead — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 00:57:06 GMT

Many thanks Andrew,

I sent my enquiry via the Contact Us email link at https://gisportal.simcoe.ca so it may have gone to a general pool. It's great to have your attention!

Can you give me a rough ballpark as to how long it took you to write the app? Are we taking days, weeks or months?

Cheers,

Steve

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:03:43 GMT

hey! what about the coffees you promised first

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

Drew — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:12:10 GMT

Ya, That email may take a bit to come my way. How did you even find that site (gisportal.simcoe)? Its not linked really anywhere. Most of our users go to maps.simcoe.ca

We have had a lot of people ask the same question.. how long...?

Its a hard answer because its a living and breathing solution for us. We have many other sites internally based off the same code base but with different tools and map themes.. There is no exact number.. but to put it into perspective its been in development for more than a year but during that time we maintain our existing GIS and customer requests.

Drew

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

StephenLead — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:26:27 GMT

Milk? Sugar?

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

RebeccaStrauch__GISP — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 01:43:33 GMT

...
App Theme = A skin that the WAB allows you to create to modify the look and feel of the application
...
All the widgets (except the print) on the website are custom and designed to fit our needs.
..

You mentioned WAB in a previous post, but also.that it is all custom...Do you mean the Web AppBuilder or ( pure ??) Javascript. Even if it is highly customizable widgets and themes for Web Appbuilder, might be helpful for others if it's anything that can be written or packaged up for others to learn. Maybe a blog or document?

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

Drew — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 12:30:47 GMT

Rebecca,

It's all built using the WAB framework, but all the widgets (on screen and in panel) are custom.
We do get a lot of inquires about how certain things are done and how long it has taken and we have discussed writing something up to explain some of the functionality. Hopefully someday soon.

Drew

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

Allison_Laforet__Charko — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 20:24:50 GMT

Great job you guys! It was great working with you in college and now great to see your hard work paying off! Love the interactive map. Looks great!

Re: How to aggregate multiple layers into themes

Drew — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 20:27:52 GMT

Thanks Allison - Hope all is well with you!

Drew