ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript – 4.31
Version 4.31 is here, and it’s so good. There are bug fixes, enhancements, and new functionality. But make sure you’re sitting down, because it’s a lot. By the numbers: we fixed 65 bugs, made 19 enhancements, and added or updated 29 samples.
Component enhancements
What are components? Components are reusable custom elements that can be used in one or more web applications. They can make writing apps easier (fewer lines of code) and are designed to work well with frameworks. They’re pretty cool, pretty modern, and we made ours better. If you haven’t checked them out yet, or if you’re feeling down and want to take your mind off things, then today is the perfect opportunity to check out our component enhancements.
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/release-notes/ - component-enhancements
SceneView Icon Rotation
Speaking of cool and modern, you can now rotate 2D billboarded icons within a 3D SceneView.
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/sample-code/visualization-icon-rotation-3d/
Featuring the FeatureTable
Unlike my favorite professional sports team, the FeatureTable got a lot of love recently. First, you can now export selected records to a CSV file. Note that geometry information is only included for point geometries. You can also view and modify attachments, support pagination (multiple pages), edit subtype values, configure and persist display settings, and (maybe? probably?) more.
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/sample-code/?tagged=TableTemplate
Animated symbols
If the above topic was too serious for some readers, consider the new CIMSymbol symbol animations (in beta).
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/sample-code/cim-animations/
Aggregation Aggravations?
Back in the day, only point geometries could be aggregated into clusters and bins. Now, we are open to both polygon and polyline geometries being aggregated. It’s a new day.
Smooth Geometry Operators
Unlike telephone operators, the Geometry operators are new, helpful for working with the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, and currently available in beta. These are the eventual replacements for the GeometryEngine. The new operators include all the old hits from GeometryEngine, plus a few new ones.
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/release-notes/ - geometry-operators-beta
The Missing Link Chart
A link chart visually represents all or part of a knowledge graph. A knowledge graph allows you to create a model that simulates a real-world system in a nonspatial manner, in ArcGIS Enterprise using ArcGIS Pro. But now you can add link charts to an app using a variety of methods, which is nice.
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/release-notes/ - link-chart
Scene Saving
SceneLayer, BuildingSceneLayer, IntegratedMeshLayer, and PointCloudLayer can now be saved to a portal item in ArcGIS Online and/or ArcGIS Enterprise. Before 4.31, you couldn’t do this. This is also true for OrientedImageryLayer, but that’s a 2D and a 3D thing.
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/release-notes/ - layer-updates
High Visibility Areas
MapView and SceneView now have a visibleArea property, providing access to the visible portion of the map as a Polygon that can be inset into the app. The polygon is a 2D approximation of the 3D frustum projected onto the ground surface.
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/release-notes/ - mapview-and-sceneview-visible-area
Is There More?
Yes, a lot more. Check out the full Release Notes and the Release Blog to learn more.
MapView Go To Me (Too Sweet parody)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the below song parody are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Esri, or any of its affiliates. Any rebroadcast, retransmission, or recounting of this song, without the express written consent of Esri, is prohibited.
It can’t be said I’m immutable
New link charts are so beautiful
User, I can never tell
How do you code so well?
You keep telling me to update
The new components, they just work so great
But then the old stuff needs to deprecate
You don’t gotta write view dot when
Maybe just use dot then
Don’t you just want a print-out, without a Server?
Upload to a portal, lost in fervor?
If you’re outsourcing work, user, I think it’s great
But while we’re at 4.31
I think I’ll take my labels neat
My 3D icons, and my rotating
//MapView go to me
MapView.goTo(me);
I take my labels neat
My 3D icons, and my rotating
//MapView go to me
MapView.goTo(me);
FeatureTable
And edit related records are enabled
Feature on the map and then I apply a label
And the task gets done
But you’ll debug some, I know
But who wants to work forever, right?
AI’s coming in the dead of night
Now I know why they call it smart mapping
Symbol animations come along
User, don’t get me wrong
You know SceneView supports time,
as well as viewshed,
not only points support clusters,
Geometry operators are great
If you can npm install me, maybe I’ll await
Until that date
I’d rather take my labels neat
My 3D icons, and my rotating
//MapView go to me
MapView.goTo(me);
I take my labels neat
My 3D icons, and my rotating
//MapView go to me
MapView.goTo(me);
I take my labels neat
My 3D icons, and my rotating
//MapView go to me
MapView.goTo(me);
References
Release Blog
4.31 Release Notes
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/guide/release-notes/index.html
4.31 Samples
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/sample-code/?tagged=4.31
Breaking Changes across all 4x releases
https://developers.arcgis.com/javascript/latest/guide/breaking-changes/index.html
Song inspiration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aezstCBHOPQ
Fair use and Parody law