Working with projects

With the ArcGIS Mobile field applications, fieldwork is contained within a mobile project. A mobile project is a configuration file that contains two things:

• The maps that are to be used for a field project
• The tasks that will be needed to complete field workflows

Maps used on a mobile device are composed of operational map layers and basemap layers. Operational map layers are defined as map layer content that you can collect, query, and update in the field. Operational map layers defined by map services can synchronize changes between the device and client in the field using the Synchronize task.

When creating a mobile project, you can browse for map services or mobile caches when you choose to add an operational layer to your map. A map service is a Web service URL to a map that you have authored using ArcMap and published with mobile data access capabilities. A mobile cache is a folder of map data that you have created using the Create Mobile Map geoprocessing tool. Properties of each map layer can then be configured for the field project. The properties that you can configure include visibility of the layer; whether features are searchable using the Search task; whether the layer is editable; how feature attributes are represented in both the edit and view forms; and, if you are using a GPS device to collect data for editable layers, some rules or guidelines for the collection process.

Basemap layers provide additional context to field workflows. They contain the reference information that is needed when collecting or inspecting new features in the field. Basemap layers can come from one of four sources:

• StreetMap dataset
• Local tiled map cache
• Connected ArcGIS Server map service
• Connected ArcGIS Online map service

StreetMap is a dataset that is part of ArcGIS Mobile and is contained on separate media called StreetMap for Mobile. The media contains data and an application for extracting the extent of data that fits your location. In addition to a local street map, you can take advantage of the maps that you have published using ArcGIS Server (both locally and when connected in the field).

A local tiled map cache is a cached map service that you have created for Web applications. With ArcGIS Mobile, you can copy the cache itself to your mobile device and view it as a local basemap layer in your mobile project.

You can also connect to your hosted map services and display them on your mobile device when connected in the field. Alternatively, you can connect and use ArcGIS Online standard or premium services.

In addition to defining the map used for a field project, you also need to choose and configure the tasks that are required to complete field workflows. Tasks are a guided set of processes that aid field-workers in completing their workflows. ArcGIS Mobile contains a handful of tasks that let you accomplish map display, data collection, updating, and field synchronization. However, developers can also create tasks using the Mobile SDK that you can add to the project center for inclusion in your field projects.

Project properties

Each project that you create has a set of properties that are used when opening the project in the mobile applications and searching for projects inside ArcGIS Online.

Those properties include the following:

• Title—A user-friendly name for the project. The title is displayed in the application and when displaying the project as an item in ArcGIS Online.
• Description—Details about the project that are meaningful to the field-worker and others searching for field projects.
• Tags—Keywords about the project that are used when searching for the project stored on ArcGIS Online.
• Thumbnail—Snapshot of the map or project details.

When you save a project for the first time, you will be prompted to enter properties. You can update the properties for a project by first opening the project and clicking Properties from the menu.

Project server and ArcGIS Online

The projects that you create and manage using Mobile Project Center can be stored on the corporate Web server that you have installed ArcGIS Server .NET on or directly into your ArcGIS Online account.

The Web server where you installed ArcGIS Server .NET includes a mobile project server that can manage the projects you create using Mobile Project Center. The project server is both a virtual directory that stores project files and a Web service that can be queried from within the ArcGIS Mobile field applications.

You can open projects that are stored on a Web server or ArcGIS Online using the Open Project dialog box. All that is required is the server name and instance. Likewise, once you create a project, you can use the Save As dialog box to save the project to a project server by entering server name and instance information. The project server uses Active Directory authentication, so if your domain user name and password is an administrator on the Web server, you can simply connect and open or save projects. If it is not, you will be prompted for a valid administrator user name and password.

When you create or update a project, that project will be stored in a virtual directory as a project package (.wmpk file). The WMPK (Windows Mobile Project Package) file is a .zip file that can be opened directly by the ArcGIS Mobile applications. You can deploy projects to field devices or use the field device and the ArcGIS Mobile applications to connect to the project server directly via the Web service and download to your mobile device.

Project server architecture