The modern world we live in today runs on technology, and a common phrase is that there’s an app for that. Apps exist for just about everything, from renting local bikes and scooters to hailing a car from Uber or Lyft. Location-based apps, developed by expert app development companies, are a crucial piece of the modern technology puzzle.
But app development can be expensive, and requires in-depth coding knowledge and the skills to know what you’re doing. So what is an organization to do when they need to build an app of their own? How can they approach app development without breaking the bank?
Introducing AppStudio for ArcGIS
AppStudio for ArcGIS is a vital tool in the app revolution. Specifically catered to GIS, AppStudio for ArcGIS helps users convert maps into stunning, user-friendly mobile apps that work on every platform (Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux). And the best part? There’s no coding required. Start designing your first AppStudio app by browsing the available app templates, for quick and easy app creation.
Explore before you build. Peruse the plethora of existing AppStudio apps in esri’s showcase gallery. Looking for specific functionality? Check out the esri GitHub page outlining some great AppStudio samples. AppStudio for ArcGIS leverages a Qt framework to create apps written in C++ and QML. These technologies are extremely versatile, and can be used across several platforms.
Building apps with AppStudio for ArcGIS
Download AppStudio for ArcGIS, then launch the app to see the following screen.
The home screen offers a variety of options to help you design your app. The top panel presents various buttons associated with the AppStudio console. And to the right you’ll see additional buttons to assist in the editing, testing, and deployment of your app.
Clicking the New App button in the top right of the screen will open the following screen offering a selection of app templates, in addition to an option to start building your own app from scratch. For this demonstration, we’ll be selecting the Player (3.3 Template) under the Enterprise tab.
Right click your chosen app and click Settings to change the name, summary, and description of your app.
As we investigate the Properties section under the Enterprise tab, we’re presented with more options, including the ability to connect your app to a Portal URL.
Still within the Properties section, we can see the Onboarding tab, which controls how users are welcomed upon launching the app. Edit the welcome text, add custom images and logos, or disable onboarding altogether.
Moving on to the General tab, here we can control the theme properties of the app. Change the font style and size, and adjust the color scheme.
And not to worry, AppStudio for ArcGIS still lets you access the code if desired. The app we’re building is showing the visibility of a city in Europe, so let’s get into the code and enter our own default XY values. Click New App, then select Analyze Viewshed. Double-clicking the app will open up the following screen.
Now let’s adjust the code to change the default location to our unique XY coordinates. Select the app and click Edit in the side panel, or right click and select Edit in Qt Creator. Select MyApp.Qml, and on line 70 and 71 we can enter our own XY coordinates. Press Ctrl + S and close the Qt editor.
After saving our code updates, when we run the app notice that the default point now falls on the XY coordinates we input earlier.
This was a simple example of getting started with AppStudio for ArcGIS. Even though there’s no coding required to create an app in AppStudio, editing the application code is certainly not off limits.
Get Support
GeoMarvel wields over 20 years of GIS industry experience, with a variety of past successes displayed in our vast portfolio. Are you looking to build an application with AppStudio for ArcGIS, but not sure the best approach? Reach out to our GIS development experts to start a conversation about your unique GIS needs today.
