Option to retain the feature layer metadata when updating by overwriting with zipped shapefile

[SarahNoakes1]

When you create a feature layer by uploading a zipped file geodatabase or shapefile, ArcGIS Online creates two items - the original data and a hosted feature layer.

Obviously, the hosted feature layer is the item you will share with your users, so you add rich metadata to this item.

Then, when you update the layer using the "Overwrite entire feature layer" option and uploading a new zipped fgdb or shapefile, AGOL overwrites the metadata of the feature layer with the metadata of the fgdb/shapefile.

Apparently this is expected behaviour, but I would like the option to retain the original feature layer metadata.

[BobBooth1]

Make a hosted feature layer view of your hosted feature layer (https://doc.arcgis.com/en/arcgis-online/manage-data/create-hosted-views.htm). That should remain stable when the original layer is updated.

[SarahNoakes1]

Thanks for the suggestion @BobBooth1 - that would be a potential workaround.  I'll end up with twice as many items, so I'd still prefer to have the option to retain the original metadata, but there are other advantages to using views, so I will definitely bear it in mind.

Thanks again,

Sarah 🙂