Tips and Tricks: Collector for ArcGIS

Here are some helpful tips to ensure that Collector is working for you in the field (and not the other way around)

Which app should I use?

For TCO and Safety Tech Teams

You should use the the Collector Classic: https://doc.arcgis.com/en/collector-classic/

For other teams

Either of the following versions should be fine:

First-time Login

When logging in for the first time, make sure to follow the following steps:

Tap the Collector Classic icon on your phone or tablet
Select 'Enterprise' on the initial screen:
For "Organizational URL", type in 'dcgis.maps.arcgis.com'
Tap the Continue button.
In the next screen, tap on the blue box that says 'DC GOV AD CREDENTIALS':
In the final screen, you are prompted for your DCGov username and password. Please use this style:
- Username: will be like logging into your Outlook web mail. (For example, Joyce Chase's username is jchase@ddot.dc.gov)
- Password: will be your current DCGov Windows password
Once logged in, you will be taken to your maps.

Map data not refreshing? Use 'Reload'

To reload a map just tap the 'three dots' menu button: Overflow on your Android device and select Reload. See screenshot below.

Why is the app just "spinning"?

If the app is stalling, turn off WiFi on device. If WiFi is already turned off, kill the app and re-open the app.

To kill the app, bring up application list and tap "X" (Android):

Can't see maps that have been shared with you?

See "I'm signed in. Why can't I see my maps?"

Make sure you have accepted email invitation on ArcGIS.com. You have to do that before maps will show up in collector app.

Why can't I sign in?

There are a couple of common issues that may occur when trying to sign in. Verify the following:

You've typed your user name and password correctly.
You have an ArcGIS organizational account. If using ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise, you must be a Level 2 member. Collector does not support using ArcGIS Online public accounts. Contact the administrator of your ArcGIS organization for details.
You included the URL to your portal instance if you're using ArcGIS Enterprise. For example, https://myportal.mycompany.com/arcgis.

See screenshots:

Tips: In some cases, you will need to switch account/and add new ArcGIS account.

Tapping Add New ArcGIS Acoount brings you to the screen on the left. Verify URL and simply tap Continue

Sign in with your ArcGIS account credentials.

I'm signed in. Why can't I see my maps?

Only maps for data collection appear in Collector. Your map must have an editable feature layer to appear. Additionally, Collector only displays maps you authored and those shared with groups of which you are a member. Maps shared with your organization but not a group don't appear.

Why can't I add or update features?

Your editing may have been restricted. If you don't see Collect New , the Collect here option when you long press the map, and the Edit feature option on features, talk to your administrator. Your administrator can fix this by granting you either the Edit or Edit with full control Features privileges.

If you are missing some of these options, talk to your map author about editing the permissions of the feature service. If the feature service is hosted in ArcGIS Online, the map author can see Allow others to edit in the ArcGIS Online help for details. If the feature service is hosted in ArcGIS Server, the map author can see Editor permissions for feature services in the ArcGIS Server help for details.

I'm trying to collect a feature. Why isn't its type listed when I select Collect New?

Either the features that you want to collect are not visible on the map, or the Filter related types setting is on. Check the following when a feature you expect to collect is not available:

Visibility of the feature's layer—Check a layer's visibility by selecting the Overflow menu and selecting Layers.
Scale of the map—Some layers have minimum or maximum scales, outside of which they are not visible. Zoom in or out on the map to change the current scale. Once the layer you want to collect a feature for is visible, you can collect that feature.
Filter related types setting—When the Filter related types setting is on, only parent feature types (for example, light poles) appear in the Collect a new feature panel. When the setting is off, both parent and child feature types (for example, a streetlight) appear. The Filter related types setting is enabled by default. Turn it off when you want to collect a child feature type without a parent feature type connected to it. To disable the setting, in the Map Gallery, select the Overflow menu , select Settings, and disable Filter related types.

Why can't I add an attachment?

Not all data supports attachments. If you do not see Add Attachment , you can't add attachments to the feature. To enable them, work with the map author, and see How do I enable inclusion of photos during collection? in the map creation FAQs.

Why am I receiving a message Unable to synchronize replica. Sync is not enabled.?

The replica from the hosted feature layer is not present. This may be because sync has been disabled for the layer. Work with your administrator to resolve this issue.

Why can't I get directions, change basemaps, or measure?

If you don't have access to these capabilities, they may have been disabled by the author of the map. Talk to the author about enabling these capabilities by editing the map's details on your organization's website as described in Configure map capabilities.

Why are some of my basemaps not listed in the Basemap gallery?

Basemaps may be excluded from the Basemap gallery when they do not meet all of the following criteria:

The basemap's coordinate system does not match the map's coordinate system in your location profile.
When offline, the work area and the extent of the basemap do not overlap.
When offline, the basemap's coordinate system does not match the offline map.

My location doesn't always match what I'm seeing in other apps. Why is Collector reporting a different location than other apps?

Android devices contain an integrated receiver that outputs GPS locations using NMEA. NMEA is a standard format that describes positions and associated metadata that come from the device's GPS. Android also has location services that use a mix of the device's GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular service information to determine location. Most apps use Android location services when reporting your location. Collector, however, defaults to using the NMEA output by your device to determine your location. Using NMEA allows Collector to capture the extensive metadata NMEA includes for each position along with capturing the position itself.

Since NMEA is GPS-only, there are times, such as when you're working indoors, when Android location services provide better positions and you want to use them instead. You can configure Collector to use Android location services:

Go to Settings and in the Location category, select Location provider.
In the entry for Integrated receiver, select Overflow and select Details.
Check Use location services.
When this setting is on, Collector uses Android location services. When it is off (as it is by default), Collector uses NMEA. Whether the setting is on or not, your device can still determine your location correctly.
Caution:
If your data is set up to record metadata about the positions collected, and you turn on this setting, the values not included by Android location services are left blank in your data.

If your device outputs invalid NMEA, this setting is on and disabled: you don't have the option of using NMEA and you must use Android location services. For Collector to use NMEA, it has to include the NMEA sentences Collector supports as well as follow the NMEA formatting standard (for example, it must include line breaks). You may be able to resolve NMEA-related issues by checking either the device's settings or the vendor's website for GPS firmware updates.

How do I know the accuracy of the GPS positions I'm getting?

When you have a map open and My Location My Location with GPS on is on, displaying your location on the map, the Location Accuracy badge displays in the lower left corner of the map.

Location accuracy badge

This indicates current horizontal accuracy as well as whether the current accuracy is below the location accuracy threshold required to use the GPS to collect data. If the horizontal accuracy is valid for data collection, the badge is green; if the accuracy is not good enough to use the GPS for data collection, the badge is red. If no positions have been received, dashes appear in the badge where the accuracy is supposed to display. If you are not receiving any position information and are using an external GPS receiver, first verify that your receiver is turned on and connected to Collector. Then see Use high-accuracy GPS for details about how to configure your GPS receiver with Collector.

How can I get more information about my current GPS location?

If you have a GPS location and want to see the details of that position, select the Location Accuracy badge in the lower left corner of the map to display information such as the time that the position was received, vertical accuracy, and fix type.