Latest Contributions by MichaelLohr

I had the same question as well. I would rather be able to delete/remove it entirely as well. Sometimes Hiding it is what you want to do, but often you want to delete the entire map/app without deleting the underlying data content. Field users waste time opening up old/outdated or empty maps that accumulate over time. This should be kept to a minimum. Maybe ESRI will respond with guidance. ... View more

Thank you for that information, Sarah. I have tried it and it does in fact work as you mentioned. For those of us who are more used to the traditional data creation scheme in ArcMap/ArcPro and data storage on an internal ArcGIS Server, this is a little outside of that methodology. Creating a data layer in Field Maps Designer results in a 'hosted' data layer stored on the ESRI AGOL Servers. As such, that layer is not available, I don't think, to the desktop users not on AGOL. The hosted data layer can be exported to a stand alone shapefile via the AGOL interface and made available in the traditional way to desktop users. But if you had a dynamic dataset being updated by AGOL data collection, you would be challenged in keeping sync'ed up with that with a series of Exports to a traditional shapefile. Thanks again for your guidance, Sarah. ... View more

@JeffShaner  I was behind one update. I now see the reference to Field Maps Designer in the Feb 2023 update blog posting. Can you provide any additional insight on what the intended use of this option is?  It seems like this would become the method of choice for designing the published web maps, forms, etc?  What about Web Apps? Thanks for any additional guidance.  ... View more

@JeffShaner  Jeff, this was a good update. I now see in my desktop browser (Chrome) while logged into AGOL an on a web map Item Description  page, a new option on the right. In addition to choices to open in the new Map Viewer or Map Classic, I see an option top open in Field Maps Designer. Was this a result of the Nov 2022 updates or something later? Where can we find more info on what the intent is for this option and what all you can do with it? ... View more

Sorry for the extraneous pogo stick link. I deleted that before posting the reply, but it still persisted. ... View more

We have had this issue reported as well, in the past, but not pinned to a particular device. We also us a combination of Android and iOS devices. It is hard to document this and the normal suspicion of the reviewers is that the field user must have done something wrong. We don't store the new data on a hosted service, but to our own ArcGIS Server, but we have still had a couple reports of this kind of "lost" data. On recovering the photos from the hosted data, good luck. Even your system admin won't have access to the ESRI servers on the level needed to explore that. Not sure if you could get the ESRI team to explore that by opening a support call, but it might be worth a try. We instruct field staff on attaching photos to take the photos from the mobile device camera app prior to starting the new point data capture in Field Maps, so that it gets saved to the device camera roll. Then select that photo from inside the Field Maps data collection process as opposed to snapping the photo from inside the process where it does not save to the devices camera roll. When everything works right, that is redundant and takes a few more clicks, but you also always have a backup photo. Plus it is far easier to share photos from the camera roll for other uses compared to the way you retrieve the photos from the hosted database. Hope that helps a little. I am interested in seeing what others say.  ... View more

One of the reasons a map will not have the little blue icon to start the data collection process is that Collector thinks that there are no editable layers in the map. Validate what you think your editable layers are in that map. You have to have at least one editable layer in each map in order to data collect in the map. I have seen this in my own maps where I forgot to include the editable layer. In the older Collector versions, you would not even see a map in you map list if it did not have a valid edit layer. Field Maps does not operate that way, its shows all your valid maps, but no blue icon if no editable layer in the map.  This might not be your issue, just one that I had seen with a similar behavior. Something to consider. Hope that helps. ... View more

Area fields work the same way as length fields in shapefiles. Or if you ever calculate XY or Lat/Lon positions, then display them in your online map pop up boxes, if those points ever get moved for some reason, the attribute table will not display the updated position in those fields until manually recalculated, although the position on the map will be correct. Consider those geometry fields to be simple labels that are disconnected from the actual feature and not updated automatically. And you are provided no message or warning that your labels are no longer correct.  The nuance is that if your underlying features are contained in a file geodatabase rather than a simple shapefile, then the "SHAPE_Leng" and "SHAPE_Area" fields are dynamically updated and you cannot modify those. However, if the geodatabase got converted or exported to a simple shapefile, then the dynamic updating does not continue in the shapefile. Hope that helps.  ... View more

The other thing to keep in mind is that in the underlying feature class for the online map, ESRI does not always maintain a live dynamic link between the geometry field in the shapefile or geodatabase and the feature )line segment), and if the original features ever get modified (split) the attribute table will still display the old (now incorrect) length in the shape field in the attribute table, until that field is manually recalculated in ArcMap. Those attribute fields drive the pop up boxes, so, if that outdated feature class makes it to an online map, or a hosted layer, it will still display incorrect geometry. You always want to recalculate all your geometry fields  in Pro or ArcMap prior to publishing a new map.  ... View more

@BrittanyBurson @JeffShaner  I was, like Brittany, excited about the addition of Linear Referencing abilities in Field Maps. However, when we checked into it further, we were told by ESRI Tech Support (case #03031308) that the functionality will require an  additional ArcGIS Server Extension for Roads and Highways in order for that to work. That extension is fairly expensive and so it will not be practical for us. We serve most data from our ArcGIS Server but do not use the Enterprise platform. It was not clear how the Linear Referencing function will work for ESRI hosted data, in Field Maps.  Hosted data is used very commonly, I think. Maybe Jeff can elaborate on how LR will work with hosted data on the ESRI servers. We are very interested in having this function.  ... View more

Justin, we use iPads and iPhones for field environmental work as well as other field applications. We have had good luck for several years with the Trimble R2 and R1 receivers paired with the Apple devices and we also have some Android phones that use the Trimble equipment as well. I am aware that Trimble has a new offering they call  DA2/Catalyst where they completely rely on the Apple mobile device application software for all the position processing while using the low cost Catalyst antenna.  There are several GPS manufacturers and I am sure other brands work well. One thing Trimble does is that they have a specific ESRI/Trimble team dedicated to the Collector/Field Maps process that is helpful in resolving issues and faster implementation of enhancements. Your choice of a supplier with a good support record should also be a factor.  We have also done some disconnected offline data collection and have gotten it to work. Your danger there is data loss prior to synching back up to the server once back in cell signal range.  Check the forums on those issues. The R2 unit will do centimeter level accuracy under the right conditions and availability of an internet based correction signal. The R1 is a submeter pocket style receiver that also integrates with the iOS/Android devices without the need for a correction signal. The R2 will operate in the GNSS mode and collect elevations in NAVD88 if your setups are all correct. Hope that is helpful. Good luck.    ... View more

I wanted to mention that we also use both iOS and Android devices with Collector and Field Maps. There are definitely differences in the interfaces, the behavior and functionality. Makes it more challenging to support those field operations. But it has been manageable so far. ... View more

Field Maps will allow the mobile device user to toggle layers on and off. On the top of the mobile device screen, with a map open in Field Maps, the layer icon is to the search icon. You may have to scroll down through the list depending on how many layers are present. There are On Device Layers (like a Mark up layer) and general Map Layers. Good Luck. ... View more