With the release of ArcGIS AppStudio version 5.2, we have improved our existing templates by adding exciting new features, enhancements, and bug fixes to help you create cross-platform native apps easier and faster. In this release we have updated all templates to fully support ArcGIS Runtime 100.12 and Qt framework 5.15.6.
Visit the What’s New post to learn about all the updates in AppStudio 5.2.
Nearby
The Nearby template was introduced in AppStudio templates with the 5.1 release. The Nearby is ideal for quickly finding what’s near a location or address. The app template allows users to query points of interest from one or more layers within the map, the query is based on a specified distance form a chosen location. In this release, we have enhanced the app with new features based on the configurations supported in the Nearby Instant App. These enhancements provide the user a better native app experience and improves consistency with the Nearby web app. Here are the newly supported configurations and functionalities:
- Search nearby features based on the current device location – Using the location button on the map users can now quickly perform a nearby search based on the current device location (GPS location). The users will also see how far they are from the specific query result. Here is an example demonstrating this use case to display the nearest vaccination locations within 5 miles from the device location.
- Polyline features now support elevation profiles – If configured within the Instant App, users will be able to view the elevation profile chart along with the elevation statistics for the polyline feature. To view an elevation profile, tap on the “Elevation” button of the query result for a selected polyline feature on the card as shown below. In the example below it shows how to display an elevation profile for the desired trail in the map.
- Limit search results based on configured layers only – The template app now supports the Nearby Instant App property “Layers to include in results” to include query results only from the layers as configured in the Instant App. This allows you to include layers in your map for reference only and gives the app author complete control over which feature layers show up in query results.
- Allow feature attachments within popup – When viewing the information popup for a feature, if the returned feature (query result) has attachments (images, text, pdf, etc) the popup will display the attachment directly in the popup. In the case of multiple attachments per query result, users can browse through attachments individually. To view a popup of the selected feature, tap on the “Details” button on the card. An example has been shown below:
- Offline support for Nearby app – In response to user requests, we have added support to use offline maps within the app. To use a map offline you will first need to create predefined offline map area within the web map used when configuring the Nearby Instant App. After the map areas have been created for the web map they will be available in the native app to download locally for offline use. In the disconnected environment (no network) you will be able to run the app and perform the Nearby query using the previously downloaded offline maps in the same way as you would with the online map. Here is a working example of the offline maps for use within the Nearby app.
- Added support to view directions using Apple Maps or Google Maps on the mobile devices – In the previous release we added support to view the directions between the query result and the chosen location using the ArcGIS routing service. In this release you now have the option to get directions and navigate to a location using your choice of either Apple Maps or Google Maps on your mobile device when you tap on the “Directions” button.
Zone Lookup
Like the Nearby template, the app template has received exciting new feature updates.
- Limit locations returned by a polygon selection – Users will now be able to filter the query results based on the selected polygon feature layer as configured in the Zone lookup Instant App configuration. This will refine results by using a polygon layer as the search boundary. Only results within the searched polygon will be returned.
- Allow feature attachments to view within popup – Similar to Nearby template app, you will be able to view the attachments directly within the popup as mentioned above.
Map Viewer
Basemaps group ID
In this release a new “Basemaps group ID” property has been added to the Map Viewer template. This allows the app author to specify a group in their ArcGIS Organization or Enterprise which contains collection of map layers. All the map layers listed in the defined group will be available as basemap in the Map Viewer app when using the basemap switcher tool. If the basemap is secured, it would require users to sign-in to the configured portal with the appropriate credentials to access that item.
This property is optional, meaning if no ID is provided then the default basemaps from ArcGIS organization will be available in the basemap switcher tool.
You can configure your preferred bbasemaps group ID using the following property as shown below
Other improvements within Map Viewer include:
- Updated the Search UI and improvements in the error handling
- Improvements in displaying custom popups using html description with embedded images
- UI/UX improvements and other bug fixes
Attachment Viewer
Option to perform attribute editing within the app
Similar to the Map Viewer editing capability, the Attachment Viewer now allow users to perform attribute editing of features within the app. The editing attribute capability is available within the popup if the layer supports editing, and the current user has signed-in to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise as a named user with data editing privileges. To learn more about the ArcGIS Runtime license levels using the named user or Runtime license key please refer here.
If the layer doesn’t support editing or the current user doesn’t have the appropriate license, the popup will appear in the read-only mode. Here is a working example of performing attribute editing using the Attachment Viewer popup.
Other improvements within Attachment Viewer include:
- Updated the Search UI and improvements in the error handling
- UI/UX improvements and other bug fixes
Try it yourself!
Would you like to try these new features on your mobile device? You can easily run the Nearby template, Zone Lookup template and other templates using AppStudio Player. Here are the quick steps involved in this process:
- Download & install the AppStudio Player on your mobile device from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
- Run the Player app
- Go to the App Settings from the side menu
- Turn on “Developer mode” and then go back to the main page of the app
- Navigate to the third bottom tab to access samples and templates as shown below
Bug fixes across various templates
- BUG-000142404 When trying to use a downloaded map in AppStudio MapViewer template, the map will not display when you select it in the gallery.
- BUG-000142822 ArcGIS AppStudio Quick Report 5.1 fails to submit data with attachments.
- BUG-000142816 Adding new feature to a service fails when using the ArcGIS AppStudio Quick Report template.
For more information about specific bug fixes and additional details about this release, please see the what’s new in AppStudio online documentation and this ArcGIS Blog post.
We hope you like the new features and enhancements added to this release. Please provide any feedback and suggestion to appstudiofeedback@esri.com or leave your comment on GeoNet.
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