Option to Disable Batch Editing for Map Viewer & Web Editor

[JosephHilliard94]

Hi there,

With the new functionality of selecting multiple in the edit button in the map viewer and web editor, you can now just do a mass select and delete. With compliance data being stored in ArcGIS Online and this being strictly controlled via Field Maps & Experience Builder (where you can toggle on/off Edit Multiple/Batch Editing) this opens up a new interface for users to cause damage. Please add the ability to disable this otherwise we will have to disable delete functionality for all key feature layers which means more admin for us!

Thanks!

Joe

[CraigGillgrass]

Hi @JosephHilliard94 is the main concern with bulk delete?  Would like to understand how disabling bulk delete but still allowing the deletion of individual features is a showstopper.  It seems like if the concern is with the deletion of data, you would want to disable that at the feature layer/service level.

Just trying to understand what level of controls you and others are looking for so we can provide a solution that means less administration for you.  thanks.

[JosephHilliard94]

Hi @CraigGillgrass the concern is with bulk delete. There is no issue with deletion of individual features as users make mistakes. Our concern is that before the update, on ArcGIS Online, there was no mechanism to bulk delete significant amounts of data (as you can control edit multiple and batch editing in Field Maps and Web Experience respectively). Users will see 'Web Editor' with no way for administrators to control batch editing. It would be good that each entry point into a dataset has the same controls for administrators to restrict certain risky actions being applied.

[JosephHilliard94]

Just to add, you can now multi-select rows under the 'Data' tab in ArcGIS Online and delete

[CraigGillgrass]

@JosephHilliard94 thanks for the feedback and clarifying what you're looking for. This is an interesting request and not an easy one to solve.

All 3 of the examples you give prompt the user prior to performing the delete to confirm they want to take this action.  Do you still feel users will ignore that prompt and proceed with the delete?

You're correct that Experience Builder and Field Maps provide a way to disable bulk editing, but those are both application level specific controls.  We can't take the same approach with Map Viewer and Web Editor; so any approach we'd take would be to provide this per web map, on the Settings tab of the web map's Item Details page.

You mention the Data tab under the Feature Layer's Settings tab.  This would not honor a setting on the web map so there would need to be another way to prevent bulk delete.  I don't work on that area of the software and I haven't spoken to the team who does concerning this, however, I believe any approach to solving this would entail a new setting on each feature layer, which as you mentioned above, is not something you're interested in.

I'll bring this request up with the larger editing group for discussion.  But due to the complexity of this, I can't provide a ETA for when we'd have a proposal.

In the meantime, since all of these examples prompt the user, interested to know if a mix of user education and that prompt will avoid this.

[JosephHilliard94]

Hi @CraigGillgrass it just seems strange to offer two new entry points for mass editing data but not having the same controls. The change doesn't need to be at the feature layer level as we still want the delete option, it's just vital all entry points to a dataset have the same controls to ensure data integrity and the same user experience.

As a charity, it's difficult to administer ArcGIS Online without the controls as we have nearly two thousand users. Agreed, the prompt works fine but deletions can still occur (as users may want to delete data and then realise that's wrong which has happened in a few instances at our organisation). If we remove the option to delete, the amount of data administration would be bulky as we'd have to delete data individually for users.

It would be great if Esri could test their ArcGIS Online updates with users before rolling out, as we have to retrospectively have to work out what's been changed, wait a few days for ArcGIS Online to behave normally for our users and ensure we are still compliant based on the changes.

[CraigGillgrass]

it just seems strange to offer two new entry points for mass editing data but not having the same controls. The change doesn't need to be at the feature layer level as we still want the delete option,it's just vital all entry points to a dataset have the same controls to ensure data integrity and the same user experience.

For what you've asked for @JosephHilliard94 , it would need to be at the feature layer level.  The Data tab works on feature layers, not web maps.  

The different apps teams work together to stay coordinated but sometimes functionality can move at different paces in the different apps. Honestly, this request to block bulk deletions is not one I've heard come in. Maybe other teams have heard this request, I'll check with them.

Appreciate your feedback.

[JosephHilliard94]

Hi @CraigGillgrass - the data tab indeed does work on feature layers but you've added the ability in the data tab to multi-select and delete which wasn't previously possible! It shouldn't matter if you've not heard it come in, the ArcGIS Ideas is for the community to raise concerns/enhancements with the Esri technology and others to Kudos if they agree (which highlights the need across your userbase). Has the 'needs clarification' been resolved?

I am happy to raise directly through MyEsri. 

[CraigGillgrass]

Hi @JosephHilliard94 I apologize if my replies have come across the wrong way, we are interested in your feedback on this and resolving it.

I don't work on the Data tab (I work on the Web Editor which is why I engaged in this post originally).  I have asked the team if they've heard of this request. They have not. This request does cut across multiple teams however, so if its something we're going to address, it will be across multiple areas.

Raising this through MyEsri will give you a ticket to follow and allow others to be associated to it.

Craig

[CraigGillgrass]

@JosephHilliard94 I did want to mention that you do have some options available to you with the current software:

1. Ownership based access control. This is under the "What features can editors edit?" section of the feature layer settings. While it won't prevent users from deleting their own data, you do mention you'd like users to be able to delete mistakes, but it would prevent them deleting the data of others.
2. Disabling delete on the layer (or on a View you create from the layer).
   1. You can then implement a workflow for users who need to delete data by providing them a way to indicate a feature needs to be deleted.
   2. One way I've seen this done is using a field that allows users to indicate a feature should be deleted.
   3. You, or other users with the applicable privileges, would then delete those features. Or, you could set up a job or a python script that does this.

I know this will require work on your side, however, you might want to consider a solution like this.  Even if we add this work to the roadmap, based on the other work we already have scoped out, I don't see it making the next few releases.

Again, I apologize if my previous comments were interpreted as being dismissive, we do listen to these requests and, when we determine it's work to pick up, try to get them into a release as soon as possible.

Craig