Getting Started with AppStudio Templates
The fastest and easiest way to build cross-platform native apps using ArcGIS AppStudio
ArcGIS AppStudio is a powerful suite of tools that allow anyone in an organization to build, test, and deploy geo-enabled cross-platform native apps.
The easiest way to get started is using our prebuilt, highly configurable, and customizable templates which requires little to no coding. AppStudio is also integrated with ArcGIS Instant Apps—meaning several templates allow you to create an Instant Apps web app and an AppStudio mobile app with one configuration. Below is a list of our seven featured templates that will give you a summary about them, their key features, and some examples they may be used for.
Map Viewer
Map Viewer is one of the most popular templates in AppStudio . It supports viewing web maps, identifying and editing feature attributes, and viewing feature attachments. See this story to learn more.
Key features
- View and interact with online web maps and offline Mobile Map Packages.
- Identify features and view feature attachments.
- Edit feature attributes.
- Spatial query.
- Map annotation.
- Distance & Area measurements.
- Basemap switcher, Bookmark, Map Units, & Graticules.
Our customers use the Map Viewer template app to build mobile apps to show important information on a map for their users, such as marinas, boat ramps, and public piers in Lake Tahoe , and roadway data for trucks in Finland .
Nearby
The Nearby template is based on the web app template from ArcGIS Instant Apps. This template provides a native mobile app experience to discover nearby locations and includes filters to narrow your search by distance or feature category.
Key features
- View nearby features.Set search radius.
- Filter based on different categories.
- Places Search.
- Download offline map areas.
- Get turn-by-turn direction with ArcGIS Routing Services.
- Feature Legend and Basemap switcher.
- Created from an existing Nearby Instant Apps web app.
The Nearby template can be used in many ways. One possible example is cities or towns can build a self-guided cross platform mobile app for visitors that can contain a directory of key locations such as hospitals, libraries, police stations, and public transportations. The users can filter by distances, get location information, and even directions (with location services access). Another example is to build a mobile app for finding nearby hiking trails and viewing elevation profile.
Quick Report
The Quick Report template is used to create citizen engagement apps that allow users to capture an observation and submit it to an online service. See this story to learn more.
Key features
- Submit reports to point, polyline, or polygon feature services.
- Submit reports to public feature services without signing in.
- Organizational users can sign in and submit reports to secured feature services.
- Add photo, video, audio, and more than 60 file types as feature attachments.
- Save a report as a draft.
- Download and use public mobile map packages to work completely offline.
The Quick Report template is the best choice for creating a citizen engagement data collection app. Many cities have created 311 mobile apps based on the Quick Report template, i.e. Salisbury311 , Allentown 311 Quick Reporter .
Attachment Viewer
The Attachment Viewer template provides an intuitive experience to view media attachments, features, and location information. It is based on the Attachment Viewer web app template from Instant Apps but is optimized to run natively on a mobile device.
Key features
- Scroll through attachments in a gallery or map view.
- View and download attachments (such as image, video, audio, PDF, Word, etc.).
- View feature attributes or customized pop-up information.
- Edit feature attributes.
- Share and download attachments.
- Created from an existing Attachment Viewer Instant Apps web app .
Some of the template’s use cases include displaying data collection results such as photos, tours of a city/park, or any map where the feature attachment is a key piece of the user experience. For example, Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) built a mobile app that helps find missing children and reunite families. With the recent support for editing feature attributes, another potential use case could be to build mobile apps for field technicians to view images of previous feature sightings to better prepare for the next visit of the feature.
Zone Lookup
The Zone Lookup template is based on the web app template from Instant Apps . It provides a native mobile app experience to find a zone or district for a specified location. The location can come from the device or using the user interface to search for an address or select a specific map point.
Key features
- Find your zone or district.
- Examine features in the zone.
- Search for an address and identify the zone.
- View feature attribute information.
- Created from an existing Zone Lookup Instant Apps web app .
This template is useful for building applications that can display important information within a predetermined polygonal area such as seeing homes within school districts, flood zones, or other service areas.
Sidebar
The Sidebar template is based on the web app template from Instant Apps . With the Sidebar template, you can create a map-focused app with full control of the map tools available to the end-user. Most of the tools will appear in the side panel next to the map when running on a tablet device.
Key features
- Works offline
- Supports data editing tools
- Adaptive design so your apps will also look great on smartphones
- App settings that can be configured: Layer list, Bookmarks, Pop-up, Edit tools, Map Details, Data Filters, and Basemap toggle (switcher)
- Created from an existing Sidebar Instant Apps web app .
3D Scene Viewer
Using the 3D Scene Viewer template , you can create apps that allow users to view online 3D web scenes or offline mobile scene packages (MSPKs).
Key features
- View 3D web scenes.
- Download and view mobile scene packages (MSPKs).
- Daylight tool for simulating position of the sun.
- 2D & 3D transfer.
- View bookmarks.
The 3D Scene Viewer template can be used to help the user get a better sense of an area without actually being there while on the go. One possible use case can be for builders to see scenic views from build sites at different times of the day.
How to download a template in AppStudio Desktop
With AppStudio Desktop, it’s easy to get started with a template.
- Start AppStudio Desktop.
- Click New App.
- Click the Templates tab.
- Click the chosen template app from the list.
- Add an app title.
- Click Create.
How to view a template with AppStudio Player
With AppStudio Player, it’s easy to view what a template could look like on your native mobile device.
- Start AppStudio Player.
- (If not signed in) Select the menu icon.
- (If signed in) Select your profile icon.
- Select App Settings.
- Toggle on Developer Mode.
- Select the back arrow to return to the home screen.
- In the bottom tab bar, there is a new tab with a compass. Select the compass tab.
- Select TEMPLATES in the top tab bar.
- Select Preview for the chosen template.
Useful Links and Resources
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