Using offline basemap for online collection

[SW-JosephBogartGISS]

I have a tpkx basemap on the internal storage on a device that I want the map to default to so it is easier for the users. Right now, the map defaults to an online basemap and I have to manually switch over to the downloaded basemap. 

Is it only possible to have the map default to this basemap for offline use? The map will not be used offline besides the basemap.

[ColinLawrence]

HI @SW-JosephBogartGISS ,

Right now, setting a referenced basemap in the Web Map settings is only intended for use with maps taken offline; so to answer your question there is no way to force the local basemap to be the default when opened as an Online map. Is there a reason you couldnt add the tile package as a tiled service and add directly to the Web Map? Perhaps you could help us get a better understanding of your use case. Thank you!

Colin

[SW-JosephBogartGISS]

Thanks Colin. 

The offline basemap is a large city wide aerial that takes too long to load even when hosted as a tiled service. Having it reference the offline basemap allows it to render basically instantly, but we don't want to take the whole map offline. 

[ColinLawrence]

Hi @SW-JosephBogartGISS ,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Can you please log this to the Ideas site so we can gauge if this is functionality others are looking for as well? https://community.esri.com/t5/custom/page/page-id/arcgis-ideas

Regards,

Colin

[AbiDhakal]

@ColinCole- I'm trying to use a tpkx or an mmpk file whichever works for offline use in my Field Maps project. I have both the files side loaded to my iPhone. I do not see the tpkx file on my Field Maps app, but I do see the mmpk file On Device in my Field Maps, but how can I use that in my project. With Collector it would allow me to choose a basemap when downloading an Offline Area map, but in Field Maps I'm not seeing that option.

Thank you for your help.
Abi

[ColinLawrence]

Hi @AbiDhakal ,

You can use a tpk(x) file as the basemap in Field Maps but the workflow has changed a bit from Collector. We do not have the same screen for selecting a local basemap that you might be familiar with from the Collector days. This is now configured in the Web Map settings ahead of time either in AGOL/Portal Web Map settings or using Field Maps Designer. Essentially you are writing a property to the Web Map to tell it to use a local file (.tpkx) instead of downloading the Web Maps basemap. The steps are outlined in this doc. This does not apply to mmpk which are consumed as maps and cannot be dissected to only use the basemap from that file elsewhere, if that makes sense.

That being said, if the tpk files are loaded in the correct place you should be able to use them as a basemap in any map, offline or online, using the Basemap tool. This does mean that if you are downloading a map it will still take the default basemap offline, resulting in a longer download time. That is why the workflow linked above is the recommended practice. Let me know if you have questions.