Map Viewer Classic Availability + Sketch Layers

[NR96]

Dear All:

I have two quick questions:

1. Can one turn a Sketch layer into a feature layer that can be used to join a table to, for analysis?  At the moment a sketch layer does not appear to be supported for analysis?
2. Will the ArcGIS Online Map Viewer Classic interface continue to be available?  If so for how long?  I am hoping that it will not be shutdown especially if there is not yet a way to convert the sketch layers to proper shape files.

I am a teacher and ArcGIS Online is the primary GIS that I use with my students.  I really like the new Map Viewer - it is a little bit more complex in terms of the buttons to press and different panes for younger students than the Map Viewer Classic, however, it certainly has more functionality.  The ability to create map presentations is very good.

Any information / advice on my 2 points above would be appreciated.

N.

[NR96]

I should clarify my first point a little more.  In ArcGIS Online Map Viewer Classic have my students 'head-up digitize' cities in Canada using the Add Map Notes function that creates a new layer called 'Cities' ... they then 'digitize' these cities using the 'Add Features' option.  As they are doing this ArcGIS Online (Classic) is building a tabular data table for that layer.  After they save this layer the students then join a .csv table with population date that they have created in Microsoft Excel to this new Cities layer.  From there they create a graduated symbols layer with the bigger the point the more population.  

In the new ArcGIS Online Map Viewer I can only find the 'Create Sketch Layer' option to 'digitize'.  This seems to just be drawing points on the map with no tabular data table being created.  

[MarianneFarretta · Accepted solution]

Hello NR96--this sounds like a great lesson! Integrating csv with web GIS has so many practical applications. A few thoughts:

1. Sketch layers will be supported as analysis input (including Join) in the June 2023 update, which is coming up on Tuesday.
2. To achieve the equivalent functionality to your Map Viewer Classic workflow using Map Viewer, you would use a Hosted Feature Layer with point geometry. This will create both the geometry and also tabular data which can be used for joins and many other operations. 
   
   

I hope you find that helpful--let me know if you have other questions and I'll be glad to offer additional direction.

[NR96]

Thank-you so much for getting back to me so quickly with such terrific advice.  I am really looking forward to tomorrow's update. 

One last question. will Map Viewer Classic continue be available for use?

Sincerely,

Nicholas

[MarianneFarretta]

You're welcome! Map Viewer Classic is still here, yes. We're actively encouraging everyone to use Map Viewer and to call out any workflows, features, or functionality which they feel don't meet the capabilities they've been accustomed to in Map Viewer Classic. There will come a day when Map Viewer Classic is no longer available, but there will be at least a year's notice before that happens, and we'll have more details to share soon.