World Geocode Service Issue

[ToddFagin]

I am trying to use the World Geocode Service to batch geocode addresses across the U.S. However, whenever I do so, I get the following error message:

"There was an error trying to process this table. ArcGIS Online subscription is required for geocoding the table of addresses."

The problem is that I am actually logged into ArcGIS Online when this happens (see image). Perhaps I have the wrong subscription type?! I can't tell though, despite my efforts to figure this out.

This is especially annoying for multiple reasons, among them. 1. It worked in previous versions of the software; 2. There are free batch geocoders online; and 3. There are other desktop solutions (e.g. QGIS with the Nominatim and Google web services) that are fully functional.

As an educator and an individual who promotes GIS solutions, I am finding it increasingly difficult to promote Esri products, especially when something as basic and near universal as geocoding is not properly functioning. I implore Esri to fix this.

[ToddFagin]

I have been using Esri products since the late 1990s. I am also aware of many other products on the market, both proprietary and open source.

Believe, I know what I am talking about when I saw Esri is gauging its customers. It could get away with this when it was the only player on the market. That is no longer the case.

It is just another reason I am running, not walking from this company to whom I have been a loyal customer for more than 15 years.

Todd Fagin

Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory/

Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability

[Ross_PaulMartin]

I feel your pain. I wish everything was low cost as well.

Respectfully,

Ross Paul Martin

[ToddFagin]

I, of course, understand that things cost money, that is far from the point I am making.

I am making a point of Esri’s once mighty empire crumbling as it becomes painfully obvious to many that its business model is untenable in this day and age.

Todd Fagin

Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory/

Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability

[Ross_PaulMartin]

Have you seen ArcGIS Pro?  This is just the nature of a growing market place. Competition breeds better products.

Respectfully,

Ross Paul Martin

[ToddFagin]

We can go back and forth on this with no resolution because it is all a matter of opinion.

I was able to easily solve my problem by using a freely available, online batch geocoder. For the scale needed, this worked perfectly well, regardless of how annoying the diminished functionality in ArcGIS is.

If I am working at larger geographic scales, I can easily build my own address locator using better source data.

There are also numerous non-Esri tools available that enable me to geocode. There was a time when I could not say that, when GIS professionals were primarily restricted to one software unless they worked in a particular niche market. And for the non-professionals who may need to occasionally geocode. Sure, I can tell them to buy expensive software, then purchase expensive credits to use a particular geocode service or I can tell them there are alternative solutions that, in the end, may be significantly cheaper.

Todd Fagin

Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory/

Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability

[Ross_PaulMartin]

I totally understand. Sometimes cost must be the primary or only consideration.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE semi-smartphone

[BradNiemand]

Todd,

Please take a look at this page to see how you could potentially qualify for 100 credits:

ArcGIS Online Entitlements

These 100 credits amount to 2500 batch geocodes and in addition to that any single geocode requests through the Find dialog or the geocoding toolbar are free.

In addition to that, 1000 geocodes will use 40 credits and would end up costing $4.

Brad