Business Analyst data browser descriptions available?

[EricErtl]

I am trying to get descriptions for variables within Business Analyst using the Data Browser site.  The only way to obtain these is to take a screenshot with a delay because they only display after a hover.  Has anyone come across a better resource for these variable descriptions?  Is there an API?  

Thanks in advance!

[MaxSattarov · Accepted solution]

Hi @EricErtl. You can consider using GeoEnrichment API, in particular, DataCollections endpoint https://developers.arcgis.com/rest/geoenrichment/data-collections/. If you pass in outFields="*"&f=pjson, you will get the full list of variable attributes, including the description. Alternatively, you can get the list of variables in an Excel spreadsheet from this doc page https://doc.arcgis.com/en/esri-demographics/latest/esri-demographics/united-states.htm#ESRI_SECTION1... (look for U.S. Data Variable Definitions (XLS)). Hope it help.

[EricErtl]

Thanks @MaxSattarov for the response.  This is very helpful!

[EricErtl]

Hi @MaxSattarov.  After digging into the Excel file and the enrichment API, I have noticed that the descriptions are still not the same as the Data Browser site.  The site has a lot of extra definitions but it is somewhat useless as hovering/clicking on the info icon does keep the popover open (to copy text or click on links within the definitions).  Is this site still maintained?  Would it be possible to fix so it would more of a popup or dialog?  My only option now is taking screenshots and rewriting the text. 

Thanks!

[MaxSattarov · Accepted solution]

Hi @EricErtl . I'm not sure about the status of this site, will get back to you on that. But I'm almost sure that this site is using only GeoEnrichment API and doesn't have anything pulled from other sources. Here's an example of a variable:

Compare with the output from https://geoenrich.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/World/GeoEnrichmentServer/Geoenrichment/DataCollec...

As you can see, it's the same information. Do you see differences for some specific variable? Can you point me to it? Thank you!

[EricErtl]

Thanks again @MaxSattarov!  Totally my fault for not specifying outFields="*".  Seems that the definition is one of the fields that is not included when not defining outFields.  

[MaxSattarov]

Thanks for confirming @EricErtl ! There is a newer and more modern version of the Data Browser App https://la.arcgis.com/databrowser-v2/index.html. Unfortunately it still won't allow you to copy text from the popup. I reported the problem, and in the next release in a couple of months it will become possible, both in the Business Analyst Web App and in the Data Browser app.