Can't return to edit symbology arcade expression set in visualization tab

[Anonymous User]

Hi all, 

TLDR: Can I return to the editing mode of my arcade expression (in visualisation tab of a feature layer view) to confirm the configuration has been committed? 

Context to the symbology arcade expression:

My data updates as indicated as an incremental release number. I don't want to filter by a discrete value, trying to avoid additional portal config steps. So instead I use the Max arcade function to return(and visualise) only the highest release number. 

Steps taken:

1. In my feature layer view, I edit the symbology based on a Max arcade expression for a release number attribute (numeric).

2. I update feature layer with rows corresponding to the most recent release

3. When I return to the feature layer view I *think* I see my desired map view and click around many many grids looking for the right release number.

4. Sometimes the expression doesn't seem to be committed/saved and I have to set up the symbology expression again, and sometimes it works as planned. 

5. To perform QA, I would like to confirm the configuration has committed, but I cannot return to the expression I made in step 1. Returning to the visualisation feature starts the whole process again... 

Please help explain why I can't return to view the expression, have I missed a step? Have I missed a best practice around QAing portal configuration, have I made the mistake of putting too much value on the arcade symbology based configuration that can't be viewed once set?

Kind regards, 
Nina 

[jcarlson · Accepted solution]

What is your Arcade expression? Typically, the symbology profile of arcade can't see attributes of other features, so using Max in that context probably isn't doing what you want it to.

You could pretty easily make a dashboard or something that let you filter your data by a dynamically calculated maximum value, but I don't think it's going to work in the symbology settings on the layer.

[Anonymous User]

Hi Josh, it is very exciting to receive a reply from you!

Yes.... I was using the Max expression to symbolise and I see now how this isn't using the tools following best practices which explains what's going on, thankyou!....I'll fix my problem in the short term by adding the step to filter by attribute value.

Thanks for the dashboard suggestion but for my purposes I'm demonstrating the value of fit-for-purpose Portal layer views (delivered to various customers via distributed collaboration). I'm researching more into best practices for what our team refers to as service delivery of a modern web GIS. The big goal is to influence the organisational members to understand ArcGIS and that the Geoinformation model is a business and technical capability. If you have the time: Would you have any best practice resources? examples? How do you teach users these tenets of the modern GIS?

Anywho for others who are curious, @jcarlson's explanation helped me learn more about what Arcade profiles are, and how the visualisation Arcade profile is a comparatively limited profile, and found some examples of relevant contexts to take advantage of the arcade visualisation profile.

Kind regards,

Nina