Latest Contributions by JenniferAboaf

Hi Scott,Thanks for taking an interest in my idea. I tried uploading screen shots, but was unable to post them. I will email you some screen shots from Arcgis Online, and from Arcgis Explorer on my tablet. When you take a screen shot on the tablet, the actual size of the graphic is larger than the tablet screen. So, I resized the screenshots to simulate the actual size on a tablet and on a phone. At large scales, the blue dot symbols become very tiny on a tablet and a phone. However, the symbols retain their size on Arcgis Online at all scales. You can easily replicate this behavior with any map you've got on Arcgis Online. Just look at the same map on Arcgis Explorer or Collector, and you will see how tiny the symbols get as you zoom in. The shrinkage makes viewing and adding data very difficult. I suspect the shrinkage has something to do with the fact that the sizes are determined by pixels, and pixels are very tiny on phone and tablet screens due to their very high resolution. Let me know if you have any questions about this symbol behavior. I used some non-proprietary data for these examples, but I could personally show you some of my client's data for the purposes of this problem. Thanks, Jennifer ... View more

Here is my solution for those who don't have a geometric network and need to attribute upstream and downstream manholes in your sanitary sewer mains layer. You'll need to follow the steps in sequence. But you won't need to download any software, or use additional extensions or resources other than a basic ArcGIS license. I developed this technique to attribute my layer for use in Pipelogix software (for televising sewer mains). HOW TO ATTRIBUTE MAINS WITH UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM MANHOLE IDS 1) Use Python code to attribute manholes and mains with unique IDs. I used this one. Next, add -4- DOUBLE precision items to your mains attribute table. Call them: FromNodeX FromNodeY ToNodeX ToNodeY 2) For each of the above items, select the column and calculate the corresponding Geometry: FromNodeX - X Coordinate Line Start FromNodeY - Y Coordinate Line Start ToNodeX - X Coordinate Line End ToNodeY - Y Coordinate Line End 3) Export the MAINS attribute table to a dbf file and add this table to your table of contents. 4) Right click on the new table and use ADD XY to create two new point layers, one for FromNodeX & FromNodeY coordinates and one for the ToNodeX & ToNodeY coordinates. Name the FromNode (Start) layer "Upstream MH" and the ToNode (End) layer "DownstreamMH". 5) Use Spatial Join to join the manholes layer to the new Upstream and Downstream MH point layers. Use the match option "Intersect" and add a search radius of around 5 feet (could be more or less, depending on your features). You are now adding the Manhole IDs to both the Upstream and Downstream manhole layers. You will create two new point layers, one for the upstream MH and one for the downstream MH. Call your two new point layers: UpstreamMH1 & DownstreamMH1. Your new layers will contain both the Main ID and corresponding Manhole ID. 6) With the attribute table open, add two new TEXT items to your Mains layer: UpstreamMH and DownstreamMH. You will perform two table JOINS, one at a time. First, JOIN the UpstreamMH1 attribute table to the MAINS attribute table. Use the Mains-ID as your join item. Open the attribute table. Calculate the UpstreamMH column in the Mains table to the MH-ID from the joined table. Then, remove the join. Next, Join the DownstreamMH1 layer and calculate the Downstream MH column with the joined item value. Finally, remove the Join. 7) Check your work by labeling each main with its MainID, UpstreamMH and DownstreamMH in one color. Then, label the Manholes with the MH-ID in a contrasting color. As long as your mains were oriented correctly, and a manhole existed at every start and ending point, your work should be mostly done. 😎 Clean up any null values. Edit the mains layer and sort the upstreamMH and downstreamMH columns, one at a time. Zoom to each main with a null manhole ID and fix the problem. BONUS: HOW TO ATTRIBUTE MAINS WITH STREET NAMES 1) Start with a good street centerline layer. Buffer the centerlines with a minimum distance of 30 feet for local roads. Even better, vary the buffer distance by the street class, giving a larger distance for highways and major roads. 2) Use Spatial Join on your mains layer to the buffered street layer. Choose the match option: Have their Center In. 3) Join the attribute table from your new spatial joined layer to the original mains layer, using the MainsID. 4) Calculate the Street name column to the joined street name and voila, your mains are now attributed with the street name. ** Feel free to leave a comment or question on this method. I admit, there might be more simple way, but this method worked on a large mains layer with over 1500 manholes. ... View more

Thanks for the advice! Actually, I ended up trying that on a whim, and it worked out pretty well. The only negative is that arcgis.com reorders the layers, which need to be reordered again when moving back to Explorer. For some reason, Explorer has a better interface and is more full featured ~ it is too bad it's not currently being supported. I'm using it for an educational project, so I really need a good "free" resource for this map. Don't think ESRi will solve the problem. Too few complaints, the Explorer is delivered "as is" and ... it's free. The workaround I use : Defining the unique values in ArcGIS Webmap, saving the map with the new layer off, opening the map in Explorer, switching the new layer on and then finalizing the layer's update (fields, popups, ...). It raises the risk of errors during the sites switching and is whatever a waste of time but if you can't wait ESRI's good will, it will do the job. Have fun ! ... View more

I am chiming in because I am experiencing the exact same problem. I am using Firefox, latest version. I created the shapefiles with Desktop, v. 10.1 SP 1. If someone from ESRI can check this out please ~ it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Jennifer ... View more

I am having the exact same problem. I created the shapefiles with Desktop 10.1, SP 1. This is really hindering my progress ~ can somebody please look into this bug? Thanks so much! Jennifer ... View more

I am also disappointed with the 30 day trial for Arcgis.com online. It doesn't seem any more functional, in terms of labeling, than the Free version (arcgis explorer online). The whole idea that you can't label features is a deal breaker for me. Does anyone at ESRI have an anticipated date when labeling and more functionality will be available? I can't imagine spending $2500 for this version (for 5 users) at this point. But I love the idea as a potential enterprise solution. ... View more