Save form in Field Maps Designer as a template

[CarolineLindhe]

In our portal we have several information owners that are also in charge of editable feature layers, creating web maps and apps for end users. The web maps are used in Field Maps for collecting information in the field.

The information owners usually use the same editable feature layers in many different maps. They can prepare symbology, labels and pop-ups once on the feature layer but need to redo the form for every map.

Since the same layer is used in many different maps it would be very helpful to save templates of the form created in Field Maps Designer.

According to this thread https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-field-maps-questions/create-templates-from-configured-field-map... there is not a simple option to accomplish this at the moment. The solution suggested in the thread is not an option for our information owners (the suggestion is to advanced).

There is a headline beside Forms in Field Maps Designer called "Template". Unfortunately that is not the headline for forms templates.

Please help to make life a bit easier for our information owners!

[MarkBockenhauer]

Hi Caroline,

I updated the post you referenced with the information below.   Does this provide what you need?

Thanks,
Mark

With the February 2025 release of ArcGIS Online, when you add a new item—Feature Layer that is based on an existing feature layer, the layer definition (symbols, labels, forms, etc.) will be included in the new feature layer. You will have the entire schema of the source feature layer including layer definition with no features in the new layer. 

[CarolineLindhe]

Thanks @MarkBockenhauer but unfortunately it doesn't help to make a copy of an existing feature layer since the form is saved in the web map and not the feature layer itself. 

[MarkBockenhauer]

Hello @CarolineLindhe ,

If the editable feature layer used in multiple maps always has the same form, you could save the form to the layer using Field Maps Designer, instead of saving to the map.   Keep in mind that if there is FormInfo (the definition for the form) saved in the Map and Saved in the layer.  The form definition saved in the map will be the one that gets used when the Map is opened.  The form information in the layer will be used when creating a new map with that layer, or creating a new layer when used as a template.

Additionally, Field Maps provides a new option that will allow you to use the entire map as a template for a new map.   I updated this post https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-field-maps-questions/create-templates-from-configured-field-map...  with the basic steps.

This blog announcement also explains it.  https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/field-maps/field-mobility/whats-new-in-arcgis-field-maps-j...

-Mark