To collect data with ArcGIS Field Maps, mobile workers open a map and fill out a form on their mobile device. With Field Maps Designer, you can create the maps, layers, and forms mobile workers use to collect data. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to build a form for a data collection project.
You lead the Park Infrastructure Team for your town and are launching an asset inventory project. Having created the map, you'll build the form your team will use to collect the data.
This is the second tutorial in the tutorial series Get Started with Field Maps Designer that teaches you how to create and configure maps for the field with Field Maps Designer. You'll need to have completed the first tutorial, noted below in the Requirements, before beginning this one.
This tutorial was last tested on June 3, 2025.
Create a formYou will build a form in Field Maps Designer that mobile workers will use to collect information about park amenities.
Start a blank form and add groupsYou will create a form from scratch and add groups that are relevant to your project.
The Maps page appears.
The Forms page opens with a blank form canvas.
In the Forms section, the Layers list displays each layer in the map. When mobile workers fill out and submit a form in Field Maps, they are adding or updating a feature within the layer. You can build a form for each of the three layers, but for this tutorial you'll focus on the Amenities layer, which is selected by default as indicated by the blue line next to it.
Mobile workers will use the form to add park amenity features to the layer. To build the form, you'll use form elements found in the Form elements pane.
A group is added to the form.
Like sections on a paper form, group elements allow you to group information together in sections that can be collapsed and expanded in Field Maps.
When you first add an element to the form, the layer name is used as the form title. You'll change the form title later.
The Properties pane appears.
The name of the element updates in the form.
The two groups names are updated.
Saving the form also saves changes to the map. However, you can also save changes to the layer if you want to reuse the form across other maps. For this tutorial, you'll save to the map. To learn more about saving to the layer, see Save the form.
You have created a form and added two groups. Now you are ready to add elements to the form.
Mobile workers using a form in the field must have boxes to type into or drop-down menus to choose from so they can enter information properly. There are two types of form elements that you can add: basic and choice. Basic elements include things such as text boxes, date and time options, and numbers. Choice elements allow users to make choices in the form, such as a combo box containing several options, a switch, or a list.
Add basic form elementsYou have created the form and have added two groups to it. Next you'll add basic form elements to each group.
The group updates and the Properties pane appears.
Placeholder text appears in the form element until the user inputs their own data, providing a hint about the type of information they should provide.
Next, you'll add a number element to the same form.
The Collector information group is complete.
You've added basic elements to the Collector information group. Next, you'll add form elements to the Amenity information group.
Next, you will add choice elements such as combo boxes, option buttons, and switches to allow field workers choices when using the form in the field. You'll begin by adding a combo box containing all the park names for your area.
A combo box element displays options as a drop-down list in Field Maps.
The List of values: Park name window appears. In this window, you can add the options that mobile workers can choose from when using the form in the field.
The Label value is displayed in the form, and the Code value is stored in the layer. You can manually add values, or you can upload a .csv file to automatically populate values. To save time, you will import a .csv file containing the correct options.
The list of values is populated with the park names from the .csv file.
A Radio buttons element displays options as buttons on the form.
To reduce the amount of scrolling on the form, only use this element for five or fewer options.
Bench
Bench
Trash
Trash
Recycling
Recycling
Light post
Light post
Restroom
Restroom
The Code values are automatically carried over from the Label values. You can change the code values if you want them stored differently in the layer; however, you'll use the same values for labels and codes in this example.
The Amenity information group updates on the form.
Switch elements display two options as a switch on the form. They allow mobile workers to quickly select between two options and are useful for yes or no questions.
The Amenity information group is complete.
Next, you'll title the form.
After the text, you'll add a field value so the form title is specific to the amenity type mobile workers are collecting.
After mobile workers select the Amenity type option when filling out the form, the form title will update to reflect the type of amenity being collected.
Now that you've built the form, you can share the map with mobile workers so they can begin collecting data.
If you are following the tutorial series Get Started with Field Maps Designer, see the next tutorial in the series, Share a map for use in Field Maps.
AcknowledgementsPlease send us your feedback regarding this tutorial. Tell us what you liked as well as what you didn't. If something in the tutorial didn't work, let us know what it was and where in the tutorial you encountered it (the section name and step number). Use this form to send us feedback.
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