Migrating User Content - Tips & Tricks

BrianBaldwin · ‎07-23-2020

Update: 1/13/2022 URL updated for the ArcGIS Assistant tool.

This blog walks through the various options available to administrators and users that are looking to migrate ArcGIS Online user content. The options range from UI tools, partner applications, and the ArcGIS Python API.

The blog will reflect the 2 scenarios that exist for administrators and users: moving content within the same organization and moving content/migrating users to another organization.

Moving within the same organization

ArcGIS Online - 'Transfer Content'

This tool was added in the June 2020 release of ArcGIS Online and allows an administrator to select one or many users - and then transfer all of that content to one user account. All of this migrated content will get placed into folders that are titled with the user name. An administrator can select multiple users based on Group Membership or User Type by using the filters found within ArcGIS Online. Here is a short video demonstrating this functionality: Video Link : 6438

Limitations	Folder structure does not transfer - everything is placed into a folder with the users name 100 users max. at a time
Required Privileges	Administrative privileges (reassign ownership)
Supported Item Types	No limitations found through my testing (please let me know if you find something that doesn't work).

ArcGIS Online - change item ownership

The easiest way to move content from one owner to another is to log in as an Administrator, view your users, and then select 'Manage Items'. This will bring you to all of the user's items and you can choose to migrate all or just a selection of the items to any new user.

Limitations	Items in a 'Shared Update Group' will not transfer
Required Privileges	Administrative privileges (reassign ownership)
Supported Item Types	Noted above - any items in a 'Shared Update Group' will not transfer

GeoJobe - Admin Tools for ArcGIS Online (Esri Partner)

GeoJobe has provided a really nice UI that utilizes the core capabilities of the ArcGIS REST library. The tools have a free and paid version and the free tools have a lot of functionality. If you go to the 'Item' tools - you can query for items by a certain user, or name, or tag, and then update the ownership. A great way to combine this functionality is with the ability to add tags to users or items, and then select multiple items/users by that tag (create a really unique tag like "class.540.fall" to ensure that it only includes the right items).

https://marketplace.arcgis.com/listing.html?id=c34019b0623041608df4d06970a7a96a

Limitations	Similar to 'change item ownership', will fail if items are in a 'Shared Update Group'
Required Privileges	Need to have the application added into your organization from Esri's Marketplace - user needs to have the privileges for Marketplace apps, or have administrator privileges
Supported Item Types	I have not tested all of the item type limitations, but GeoJobe support/chat is a fantastic way to reach out for assistance

ArcGIS Notebooks (ArcGIS Python API) - 'Move existing user content to a new user'

The workflow outlined here is applicable if Single Sign-On is enabled and new user names are generated. This script allows an administrator to maintain both group membership, as well as each members content folder structure.

Move existing user content to a new user | ArcGIS for Developers

Limitations	None that I am aware - please let me know if you encounter and limitations
Required Privileges	Administrative privileges (reassign ownership)
Supported Item Types	None that I am aware - please let me know if you encounter and limitations

Moving between organizations

ArcGIS Notebooks (ArcGIS Python API) - 'Clone portal users, groups, and content'

The workflow described is for an administrator that is looking to copy users, groups, and content to a new organization. If there is a new administrative organization created or a shift to ArcGIS Enterprise - this workflow can assist. This example also provides good starting place.

Cloning Content | ArcGIS for Developers

Limitations	Does not copy over services - it will copy over items and point back to the services. This is a fairly involved, technical process, but it does provide the most authoritative approach to migrating content StoryMaps are not supported
Required Privileges	Administrative capabilities
Supported Item Types	As noted - it does not copy over services

GeoJobe - Admin Tools (Esri Partner)

The paid version of this partner's tool set allows administrators to 'Migrate Users' between organizations. It provides the ability to select content and migrate this to a separate organization. They also provide a number of 'cloning' tools, which include groups, items, and users. Both of the organizations that are having content migrated must be licensed with the 'Pro' edition of the software.

Limitations	There is a cost for the 'Pro' version of the toolset and both organizations need to have it licensed For the latest support and limitations, please reach out to the GeoJobe team
Required Privileges	Need to have the application added into your organization from Esri's Marketplace - user needs to have the privileges for Marketplace apps, or have administrator privileges
Supported Item Types	For the latest support and limitations, please reach out to the GeoJobe team

ArcGIS Online Assistant

This is an 'unsupported' application that was released by Esri for various organizational administrative tasks. One of the 'beta' functionalities that is included is the ability to transfer content between 2 organizations. Combined with the 'Transfer Content' tools in ArcGIS Online, this provides an option for migrating multiple users content to a new organization.

Limitations	There is a long list of item types that cannot be transferred (Insights Workbooks, Dashboards, etc.)
Required Privileges	Publisher
Supported Item Types	Feature Services, Web Maps, Web Scenes, Web Mapping Applications, Map Service, Image Service, Geoprocessing Service

Closing

If tools are not functioning as they should or if there are gaps in what you need, please let us know (in the comments below or send an e-mail: bbaldwin@esri.com). New functionality, applications, etc. are driven by user needs - so we need to know your needs!