Copy Features for Experience Builder

[emontague_napsg]

Real-world Problem: First responders are working on an Urban Search & Rescue team during a tornado or flooding event. To organize their search operations, they use a Web App Builder product called Intel Manager within SAR Common Operating Platform (SARCOP) to quickly create search segments and monitor what has been searched. By using Copy Features, they can copy and create a new feature of a selection of Census Block Groups to create one or more search segments. Below is a screenshot of the Smart Editor widget with Web App Builder and a user is using the "Copy by lasso" method to select multiple Census Block Groups to copy.

In the next screenshot, the user created features from the copied Census Block Groups into a new layer called Search Segments. 

As we are migrating this project to Experience Builder, this workflow is disrupted because Experience Builder does not offer the ability to Copy Features. Copy Features within the Smart Editor Widget of Web App Builder is a significant workflow for our users. The ability to quickly select multiple features from one layer and then create a new feature to a different layer is critical for our apps that we are migrating to Experience Builder. This workflow is performed during no-notice disaster events, sometimes on tablets on phones so we hope to make this process as simple as possible for our users, rather than needing to use a separate app.

Audience: First Responders, Urban Search & Rescue Team Members.

Technical Problem: Experience Builder does not offer the ability to Copy Features.

Solution: Ability to Copy Features within Experience Builder, similar to the Smart Editor widget from Web App Builder.

[KatieHansen_NIFCAdmin]

I will post this "Idea" in the comment section of this post to get more visibility as this functionality is critical to many of our workflows: https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-experience-builder-questions/copy-features-function-missing-fro...

[PaulDoherty2]

Another common workflow for "copy features" is appending a list of 911 phone calls into another layer like waypoints that need follow-up. This is a common workflow for flood response and often this needs to be done by a first responder because no GIS Specialist is assigned to the incident in the early phases. 

We are also exploring Field Maps Tasks and would need to use copy features to create assignments "in bulk" when combined with batch attribute editing (which will be another enhancement request for ExB). 

Please consider making copy features a core component of editing in ArcGIS Online (or at least Experience Builder), not just Web Editor. Web Editor works well and we like where it is headed, but we really want to support our first responders with a one stop shop application in Experience Builder versus teaching them "another app". 

@JeffShaner 

[SAR_IAFC_Admin]

The ability to "Copy Features" is a critical workflow to create pre-planned evacuation zones in the IAFC's Wildfire Evacuation Planning Toolkit. You can see how it is done here: https://youtu.be/mMIj5uHYk2g The data editing functions of the application cannot be migrated to Experience Builder until "Copy Features" is implemented.

[LisaTunnell]

This is the only reason that we continue using App Builder.  We have many use cases where we need to be able to copy a generalized shape into a table with company-specific schema for editing.  I really really hope App Builder doesn't go away before this is added to Experience Builder.

[KristalWalsh]

Our agency works closely with Esri on many wildlife planning, monitoring and tracking projects.  The copy/paste functionality in the Web App Builder saves an enormous amount of time in recreating concurrent features on large land tracts that must be managed on different schedule for various reasons, i.e., fire, tree planting, invasive species control, etc.  Our staff are field biologists not GIS professionals who need a simple experience, one that includes the fewest clicks necessary.  Apps like Web App Builder and Experience Builder provide the means for us to centralize data with easily configurable tools. However, it does not make sense to retire one app that is in use without providing the functionality for us to move forward. Significant time and resources have been devoted to the switch from ArcMap to Pro, AGO and migrating to the cloud even for traditional data storage.  Please consider these end user impacts and provide a time frame for this functionality if at all possible.  Developing an alternate workflow ahead of the release would, of course, not be desirable. 

[OfraAi]

Hi,

I have a scenario where my users receive data from files, like shp or FGDB. The file contains plans for new building or site that needs some checking and approvals. The users need to add this plan to our main plan layer, do some checks and write and log their response.

Web Appbuilder and smart editor does is perfectly, while in experience builder or web editor it is impossible.