ArcGIS Instant Apps: Introduction to Reporter and Manager webinar (April 03, 2025) recording and Q&As

[AzizaParveen1]

ArcGIS Instant Apps: Introduction to Reporter and Manager webinar recording is now available. You can see the slides in the recording. In addition to the recording, below are questions and answers from the webinar. Thank you all the participants for attending and submitting your questions.

 

Editing related question:

Question : Is there a way to configure a password for the public to use to make or edit records in the instant app? We currently use a custom solution where certain homeowners get a flyer with a code to vote on options in their neighborhood. 

Answer: This is not possible in our apps. 

Both templates related questions

Question: You talked about combining these apps with Field Map (offline workflows). I would like to learn more about workflow designs leveraging these various platforms.   I assume instant apps can't be taken 'offline.'  My staff work in rural areas without cell service. 

Answer: Instant Apps can't be taken offline. For this scenario Manager may be a good solution for data processing after the data is collected in field maps. 

Question : Are the Reporter & Manager apps set up to work well with a distributed collaboration (ex: Reporter to collect public data in a HUB Premium org with AGO hosted data and Manager app in Portal against local copy of same dataset), or is some customization required to make it work smoothly? 

Answer: There shouldn't be any additional configuration with sharing the Instant Apps in a distributed collaboration. The only thing to keep in mind is that the apps, and maps/layers that are in the apps are shared correctly within the distributed collaboration.  

Question : Are Reporter/Manager templates and features shown available on enterprise 10.9.1 version? 

Answer: The first Enterprise release for both templates are available is 11.4 .

Question : Which app is good for Crowd sourcing public art 

Answer: The Report app would be a good option for this.  

Question : Can the app have a workflow to generate a ticket for our CMMS and keep record of the ticket number, status and resolution? 

Answer: You can generate new tickets with Reporter, that can be edit and maintained in Manager.  

Question : You mentioned sharing a blog link.  Can you share that, and are their other design resource blogs we can read? 

Answer: ArcGIS Instant Apps: Introducing Manager, What’s new in Manager (February 2025) 

ArcGIS Instant Apps: Introducing Reporter, What’s New in Reporter Instant App (November 2024), What’s New in Reporter Instant App (February 2025), Exploring Key Use Cases of the Reporter Instant App      

Question : I see there is a way to filter different item types but is there a "toggle" option to put in your app instead of a filter. I know this seems weird, but our clients are slightly picky and enjoy "buttons" more than typing what they want. 

Answer: Our current attribute filter types, predefined and user input, do not currently offer a button option. The Predefined filter type displays as a checkbox that app users can interact with in the launched app. The user input filter type can display a few types of interaction depending on the field type: a drop-down menu of unique values, a slider to set a range for integer values, or a date picker for date fields. We are looking into button options in the future as a way for users to interact with filters in launched apps.  

Question : We published a web app from ArcGIS online. We made it public and supposedly all of the layers are "publicly viewable", but something is causing our users to still require login to access the app. Is there possibly something I am missing or is there something else specifically that might cause our publicly accessible app to require an ArcGIS Login? 

Answer: We would recommend going through each table/layer/map that is in the app and confirm that the sharing is consistent throughout. If you have done that and are still running into issues, please consider reaching out to Esri Technical Support for assistance in looking into where the correct sharing levels are not being applied.

Question : Is there a Developer version that is available if you don't have 11.4 (like you have available for Experience Builder)? 

Answer: No, there are no developer versions of Instant Apps.  

Question : Does the full-text index need to be recalculated or is this automatic? 

Answer: Automatic, but if you edit the indexed fields too often, may be it is a good idea to recalculate periodically.

 

Reporter Instant App questions

Question : There is some functionality in the Citizen Problem Reporter built on the Crowdsource Reporter that are not in Instant Apps, such as the ability to add a favicon and not listing all response types for response categories. Will this functionality be something that can make it onto the Instant Apps version of Reporter? 

Answer: At this time, when Instant Apps are launched on their own, the icon in the tab is not able to be      edited. Using the filters within the map, you can filter out any responses you don't want to see in the          side panel of Reporter app. For example, some apps have a field with a reviewed status, default value is    No. They then set up a filter in the map to only show.

Question : Does reporter support drawing/mark up of the map and adding it to the report 

Answer: To draw or markup the map a new report must be submitted at this time. 

Question : Is the count always for the full feature layer or are we able to do count by current view/extent? 

Answer: By default, it's for all visible features in the map, if the restrict by map extent is enabled, then       the feature count is for the visible extent only. 

Question : I am using the Reporter Instant App for a project allowing users to report issues on public lands. The Reporter template fits 90% of the bill, but there are a few adjustments I would like to make but not sure it is possible.  

 Answer: Reporter would effectively work for this use case. However, Instant Apps are limited to the         existing configurable options. We’d need more details on the adjustments you’d like to make to answer   them correctly. We are always listening for feedback. Esri Community is a great way to provide specifics.   We can share if it's possible or document it for a potential enhancement. 

Question: Regarding the reporter, is the mobile experience simpler?  Our residents would prefer something that's almost like a Quick Capture experience. 

Answer: The layout is different than quick capture, as reporter doesn't have larger buttons. Reporter in    mobile view provides a map view with the option to select features from the map, comment and vote  or  submit a new reporter with a button.

Question : Can the reporter work with non-spatial data (CSV)? 

Answer: No, it doesn’t work with non-spatial data. It requires a map with at least one feature layer with editing capabilities. 

Question : What are the key benefits of the reporter app over another solution like Field Maps? 

Answer: Reporter is an easy to configure app and has advanced capabilities like commenting, voting for both workflows: submitting new reports and interacting with the existing reports. Both apps are unique in their own ways with efficient data collection and it depends on the use case.  

Question : Can you build the reporter into a Storymap? 

Answer: Reporter apps can be embedded in StoryMap apps.

 

Manager Instant App questions:

Question:  Is there any method where the symbology of an editable layer can dynamically update based on reports added to the related table? 

Answer: This is not possible. You cannot render data residing directly in related tables, and there are no immediate plans to support this. 

Question : Is there a limit to the number of related tables that can be linked to a feature for managing? 

Answer: No, there is no limitation. 

Question : Will tracing edit functionality be added to map editing, not just moving individual vertices? 

Answer: We currently do not have any plan for tracing edit functionality at this moment but related to this, Manager offers snapping tools that can be helpful for editing. You can set up snap layer and when you create or edit feature you can snap the geometry to other layers. 

Question : Is there a similar app to Manager that is available in 11.3? 

Answer: Similar app would Crowdsource Manager Configurable template which will retired soon and we don’t recommend using it.  

Question : Can Manager be connected to Workforce, and/or does it have an ability to connect to a labor hour capture? 

Answer: No, we will look into it and if it is possible, we will document it for a potential enhancement. 

Question : Is there any app available at 11.3 that is like Manager? 

Answer: No, it was first released in Enterprise 11.4