topic Re: How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)? in Experience Builder Custom Widgets

How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)?

vijayaranha — Thu, 29 May 2025 17:13:50 GMT

Here's a draft of a question you could post on the Esri Community forum, tailored for the Experience Builder section:

Subject: How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)?

Hi Everyone,

In Web AppBuilder, we frequently utilized the "openAtStart": true property within a widget's configuration to ensure it automatically opened when the application launched. This was a really useful feature for guiding users or immediately presenting key information.

We're now transitioning more of our development to Experience Builder and are wondering if there's an equivalent or similar method to achieve this "open at start" behavior for a widget. We've been looking through the Experience Builder documentation and settings, but haven't found a direct parallel.

Specifically, we'd like to know:

Is there a built-in property or setting within Experience Builder widgets that allows them to open automatically when the application loads?
If not, what are the recommended patterns or approaches to achieve a similar user experience (e.g., using initial state, custom code, etc.)?

Any guidance or examples on how to implement this in Experience Builder would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help.

Re: How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)?

JeffreyThompson2 — Fri, 30 May 2025 12:17:24 GMT

You can place them in a Widget Controller and use the Open Widgets On Loading property.

Re: How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)?

vijayaranha — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:40:17 GMT

Hi Jeffrey Thompson, Thanks for the reply.

In Webapp Builder developer edition, I used the following code to open a widget dynamically based on some conditions.

var pm = PanelManager.getInstance();

pm.showPanel(this._getWidgetConfig("FDWireless-ASBUpload"));

How to achieve this dynamically using Experience builder sdk

Re: How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)?

JeffreyThompson2 — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:00:39 GMT

The Widget Controller supports an Action that can open another Widget on Button Click or Record Selection Changes.

https://doc.arcgis.com/en/experience-builder/latest/configure-widgets/widget-controller-widget.htm

Assuming you are looking to do this programmatically in a way not supported by these existing Actions, it should be possible to trigger this Action somehow in the Message Interface.

https://developers.arcgis.com/experience-builder/api-reference/jimu-core/Message/

Re: How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)?

vijayaranha — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:16:09 GMT

I was using the Home button widget to dynamically initiate calls that open other widgets based on URL query parameters. In Experience Builder, could you guide me on where to place such code so that it can open a widget dynamically without requiring any user interaction?

Re: How to achieve "openAtStart" widget functionality in Experience Builder (similar to Web AppBuilder)?

vijayaranha — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:23:49 GMT

Hi Jeffrey,