Sidebar Custom - Auto Expand when using "Add to table" or "View in Table"

[Brian_McLeer]

https://github.com/brianmcleer/sidebar-custom-widget

A customized version of Esri's Sidebar widget for ArcGIS Experience Builder. It keeps everything the stock Sidebar does and adds automatic expansion so a collapsed sidebar opens itself when a table is shown, which keeps the Table widget visible inside the sidebar instead of hidden behind a collapsed panel.

Features

• Auto-expand on table open. When a collapsed sidebar contains a Table widget and a user runs "Add to table" or "View in table", the sidebar expands automatically so the table is visible.
• Auto-expand for widget controllers. A collapsed sidebar also expands when a widget inside a Widget Controller is opened, so the controller content is not stuck behind a collapsed panel.
• Everything from the stock Sidebar widget: two configurable panels (FIRST and SECOND), fixed layouts, the toggle button with its configurable colors and border, and the toggle and open message actions.

Changelog:

6/26/26:

• Auto-resize for tools and tables. The sidebar can widen to a size you set while a tool or table is open, then go back to its normal width when it closes. It respects a manual resize, so it won't override a width you set yourself.
• Peek on hover. Hovering the collapsed edge briefly reveals the sidebar, and it re-collapses when you move away. Good for a quick glance without fully opening it.
• Update badge. A small dot shows on the toggle button when the collapsed content changes while the sidebar is closed, so users notice new results. It clears once the sidebar is opened.
• Pin and close panel header. An optional header bar on the panel adds a pin button that keeps the sidebar open and holds off the auto-collapse behaviors until you unpin, plus a close button.
• Published expand/collapse message. The sidebar can send an "expanded" or "collapsed" message that other widgets can react to through a standard message action.
• URL deep-linking. The open or collapsed state can be saved in the URL and restored on load, so a shared or bookmarked link opens in the same state.
• Everything new is off by default and set in the widget's Behavior settings, so existing apps don't change until you turn something on.

2/23/26:

• Widget now supports auto expansion for widget controller or view/add in table. 
• Have collapsed sidebars expand when using "Add to table" or "View in table"" to show Table widget within sidebar. Also supports auto-expansion for widget controllers. 

Comes from an idea and great solution by @JeffreyThompson2 at The Automatically Opening Attribute Table.

sidebar-custom.zip

[ElisabethFenn]

This is a great improvement! As I'm testing it out I'm seeing an issue that I don't have with the original sidebar app. When I go to add a layer to the table, it gives me the table option twice. I've confirmed this is the same table listed twice and not a second table in the app. Have you seen this happen?

[Brian_McLeer]

Thank you @ElisabethFenn. I have seen the double table you are seeing occasionally, but it was before I created the sidebar custom. Are you using the out of the box map layers widget or a custom one? I have a modified custom one, which is why I though the double table option was an isolated issue. 

[Brian_McLeer]

@ElisabethFenn, I think this may be a bug. I created a testing application in DE 1.19 using all out of the box tools. The issue does not appear in DE, but it does on a deployed application. I may have to create a ticket with Esri support. 

DE:

Deployed testing application:

[ElisabethFenn]

@Brian_McLeer Interesting. I am using the out of the box map layers widget.

Yesterday I hadn't published yet and was just using the preview function in exb dev 1.19 and was seeing the double table issue.

Today I confirmed the double table is still there in preview, then I deployed my test app and I do not see the double table issue with the deployed version.

That's the opposite of what you're seeing though. 

[Brian_McLeer]

@ElisabethFenn interesting we are having the same issue but in opposite scenarios. I will keep you updated on results of my support case. 

[Brian_McLeer]

@ElisabethFenn Esri Support was able to replicate the issue on their end using DE 1.19 with no custom widgets. It may be logged as a bug pending more testing, and then a bug may be posted on Esri's bug site. 

[Brian_McLeer]

@ElisabethFenn this has been logged as BUG-000182651. I think you can create a support ticket and ask to have your account associated with the bug to get status updates and see it from the My Esri support site. 

[Brian_McLeer]

Update on 2/23/26:

Widget now supports auto expansion for widget controller or view/add in table. 

Have collapsed sidebars expand when using "Add to table" or "View in table"" to show Table widget within sidebar. Also supports auto-expansion for widget controllers. 

[Brian_McLeer]

• Auto-resize for tools and tables. The sidebar can widen to a size you set while a tool or table is open, then go back to its normal width when it closes. It respects a manual resize, so it won't override a width you set yourself.
• Peek on hover. Hovering the collapsed edge briefly reveals the sidebar, and it re-collapses when you move away. Good for a quick glance without fully opening it.
• Update badge. A small dot shows on the toggle button when the collapsed content changes while the sidebar is closed, so users notice new results. It clears once the sidebar is opened.
• Pin and close panel header. An optional header bar on the panel adds a pin button that keeps the sidebar open and holds off the auto-collapse behaviors until you unpin, plus a close button.
• Published expand/collapse message. The sidebar can send an "expanded" or "collapsed" message that other widgets can react to through a standard message action.
• URL deep-linking. The open or collapsed state can be saved in the URL and restored on load, so a shared or bookmarked link opens in the same state.
• Everything new is off by default and set in the widget's Behavior settings, so existing apps don't change until you turn something on.