ArcGIS Field Maps

It is the second time I have problems with arcgis field maps because of the same issue. The offline areas keep downloading forever and never ends. And it’s not about the size of my maps because I have previously downloaded bigger areas and it worked fine. The first time this happened our team had to go without the support of the offline map and now the same is happening again. I’m not risking it a third time, migrating to qfield, an OPEN SOURCE application. It doesn’t even look like this license is 15k yr.

The app is pretty cool. However, we are facing problems in downloading the offline maps, the download starts but never ends.

This tech is a time saver when it’s working good. However, offline is always hit or miss if it’s going to work and causes a lot of frustration and trial and error. It would also be nice if we could use a stylus to draw features instead of clunky tap and add point.

Search by later does not work with tablet or phone it only works in desktop and that defeats the purpose it’s unfortunate that this does not get fixed

All in all working in offline mode functions pretty well after you have enough experience to figure out all the quirky non-intuitive issues. For example, the photo direction (I.e. - exif data) is apparently not captured when you actually take the photo but when you “add data” or “update point” so if you change direction to take the photo the direction arrow in your field report/photo log will be off. Or if you hit “update” point while in landscape thinking you are refining your location and direction, your photo direction in your photo log will actually be off 90 degrees since the app is set up to lock it in while holding it in a portrait position (so you basically need to first rotate it back to portrait position and hold your phone at as close to the same direction in portrait as you took the photo in landscape to lock in the correct direction)….very annoying it doesn’t just use the exif data the moment a photo is taken.

One of the better maps is one based on “National Geographic World Map”. What’s better about it? It shows a lot more permanently flowing water sources. And we all know that you can’t live 3 days without water. You’re on your last legs due to dehydration. And there’s a small stream only 1/4 of a mile away. This app and a National Geographic World Map could be the difference between life and death. Call up the app and do a couple of screenshots of the area you’ll be in beforehand with streams that don’t show up on Google Maps and the like.

20% of the time it always shows (required token) yea i can sign out and sign back in and 50/50 will fix it, or i can close the app randomly check again after a few minutes and it starts to work again

Offline mode works when stars align. Be prepared for syncing issues. Have fun working in AGOL! If you like finding work around solutions at every step, this is the app for you.

App locks up, or will give you unable to submit notice and no longer function at least once a day. The cure is of course to delete it and download it again. Imagery is also out of date and of marginal quality. Otherwise it does what it’s supposed to do.

Offline downloads are an every day thing for normal users. The process is a nightmare. Like shooting in the dark. Fix it ESRI. You’re poor apps are costing us production and wasting peoples time.