Create an app

Choose a map and template

The map you want to show in your app is called Senior Populations in the US and is publicly available from ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World, a collection of geographic information from around the world curated by Esri. After opening the map in Map Viewer, you'll choose an app template using Instant Apps.

Because the map is public, you (and your audience) don't need to sign in to view it. However, you do need to sign in to create an app.

  1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organizational account.
    Note:

    If you don't have an organizational account, see options for software access.

  2. On the ribbon, click the Map tab.

    Map tab

    Map Viewer opens, showing a default map. You'll search ArcGIS Living Atlas for the map you want to show in your app.

  3. On the Contents (dark) toolbar, click the Save and open button and choose Open map.

    Open map option in the Save and open menu

  4. In the Open map pane, change My Content to Living Atlas.

    Living Atlas option

  5. In the search box, type Senior Populations in the US (2020 Census) and press Enter.
    Tip:

    You can also search by the map ID value: 1db3dd37eece41f38a2675f9a3aeec3a.

  6. For the Senior Populations in the US (2020 Census) web map by Esri Demographics Team, click Open map.

    Open map button for Senior Populations in the US (2020 Census)

    The web map opens.

    Senior Populations in the US (2020 Census) map

    This map represents each state with a circle symbol. The size of the circle represents the total amount of people 65 years and over who live in the state, while the color represents the percent of the population that is 65 years and over.

    For instance, California has the largest symbol, indicating the largest senior population of any state. However, its color is blue, which means that seniors make up a relatively low percentage of the total population. Florida also has a large symbol, indicating a large senior population, but its color is green, which means seniors make up nearly a quarter of the total population.

    The legend is essential for interpreting the map, so you'll want an app template that shows the legend by default.

    Note:

    Demographic data is updated periodically, so your map my differ from the example images.

  7. On the map, zoom in to Florida.

    Florida on the map

    After you zoom in a certain amount, the map changes to show the senior populations and percentages at the county, rather than the state level. (If you continue to zoom in, the map will change to show senior populations and percentages at the census tract and block group level.) This information will help the travel marketing agency pinpoint the best places to run their ads if they want to maximize exposure to their target audience.

    When you make the app, you'll want to make sure users are aware they can see more information by zooming in. Adding text that appears when users open the app will help users understand this important information.

  8. On the Contents toolbar, click the Bookmarks button.

    Bookmarks button

    The Bookmarks pane lists all the bookmarks associated with the map. By clicking a bookmark, you can navigate to preset location on the map. The bookmarks for this map go to specific cities around the United States. Bookmarks reduce the difficulty of navigating a map, which makes them perfect for users inexperienced with GIS, like your audience. You'll want to include functionality for bookmarks in your app.

    You're ready to make your app. Next, you'll use Instant Apps to choose an app template suited to your needs.

  9. On the Contents toolbar, click the Create app button and choose Instant Apps.

    Instant Apps option in the Create app menu

    The Instant Apps gallery page appears in a new browser tab. It provides information and guidance to help you choose an appropriate app template. You can also search the apps for a particular capability or tool.

    You want your app to be used by a non-GIS audience, so you'll choose a template with only a few key features. In particular, you want the following functionality:

    • The map legend open by default, to help users interpret the map.
    • Text that appears when users open the app, so they understand that they can see more information by zooming in.
    • The ability to access the map's bookmarks.

    You also want the map to be the primary focus of the app, so it should take up most of the app's available space. With these features in mind, you'll browse the templates.

  10. In the gallery of app templates, locate the Sidebar template and click the Open description button.

    Open description button for the Sidebar template

    The description and examples indicate this template includes bookmarks and supplementary text. You can also use the sidebar that comes with the template to display the map legend. The template contains editing tools that aren't useful for your purposes, but you don't need to include them. This template will suit your needs.

  11. Close the description. For the Sidebar template, click Choose.
    Tip:

    You can click Preview to see how your map will appear in the template before creating it. You'll have opportunity to configure the app and customize it after choosing the template.

  12. In the Create app - Sidebar window, accept the default title, tags, and folder. Click Create app.
  13. If necessary, review and close the welcome window and the Express window.

    The app is created and you are presented with configuration options.

    App configuration window

    Note:

    Any changes made to the original web map will also be reflected in your app. In this tutorial, you don't own the map you're using to make the app, so your app could change unexpectedly. In this case, your map is from ArcGIS Living Atlas, so you can be confident that the data is authoritative and that there won't be sudden changes. If you're not sure whether a map will change or not, you can save a copy of it to your account and create an app using the copy.

Configure the app

Next, you'll configure the app to include interactive tools. You want to keep it simple and give your business partners only the tools they need, so you'll include the map's bookmarks and legend, as well as introductory text. In the template you chose, the legend is displayed in the sidebar by default, but the bookmarks are not included and there is no introductory text.

When configuring the app, you can use the default Express setup mode, which offers a subset of the configurable options to facilitate creating an app with the most essential settings. Alternatively, you can turn off Express to access additional options and configure all the settings available for the template. If the default settings are acceptable for your use case, you don't need to go through each step in the setup.

First, you'll add the option to access bookmarks through the sidebar.

  1. In the Express panel, click Step 3. Sidebar.

    Step 3. Sidebar in the Express pane

  2. In the Sidebar pane, turn on Bookmarks. Turn off Pop-up and Details.

    Sidebar pane settings

    The app automatically saves your changes.

    The Bookmarks tool is now visible in the app preview. The preview allows you to test the app as you configure it.

  3. On the app preview pane, click the Bookmarks tool.

    Bookmarks tool in the app preview pane

    The tool opens with a list of bookmarks for cities where you have agencies. You can switch between the legend and the bookmarks by clicking the buttons on the sidebar.

    Next, you'll configure introductory text to explain the map's purpose and that users can see more information by zooming in. The introductory text will appear as a window when users open the app.

    You'll search the settings to find where to configure this introduction in the app.

  4. In the vertical toolbar, click Search settings and search for Introduction. In the list of results, click Introduction window.

    Introduction window option

  5. In the About pane, turn on Introduction window. For Introduction window title, type Where are the senior citizens?

    Introduction window settings

  6. For Introduction window content, click Edit. Copy and paste the following paragraphs:

    This map highlights the senior populations throughout the United States, with a senior defined as being 65 years or older. As the legend shows, larger symbols indicate a higher total number of senior citizens, while the symbol's color indicates the percentage of the total population that is made up of senior citizens. Green circles have a higher percentage of seniors, while purple symbols have a lower percentage.

    By zooming in, you can see data at the county, census tract, and block group level. You can also use the Bookmarks tool to zoom to specific cities of interest.

    Introduction window content text

  7. Click Close.
  8. In the app preview, review the introduction window and click Okay.

    Your app is finished. You're ready to publish it.

  9. Click Publish and click Confirm.

    Publish and Confirm buttons

    A success message appears when publishing is completed. The Share window appears, which includes a link to the app.

  10. In the Share window, click Launch.

    Your app appears in a new tab exactly as your users will see it.

  11. Test your app by clicking the tool buttons you configured. Zoom and pan the map and use the map's bookmarks.

    Now that you've configured and tested your app, you're ready to share it with your audience.

  12. Close the web app window and return to the app configuration window.
  13. Close the Share window.
  14. Click Exit. When prompted, confirm that you want to exit.

    The app's details page appears. Here, you can change the share status and add additional information and metadata.

    Details page for the app

Edit the item details

Before you share the app, you'll add more information, such as a description and terms of use.

Tip:

You can use the Item Information bar to help you provide complete information for your app. The Item Information bar shows your progress toward providing high-quality information, and also indicates the most important improvement you can make.

  1. Click Add a brief summary about the item. Copy and paste the following summary text and click Save:

    This app highlights senior populations throughout the United States for an analysis by a fictional travel marketing agency.

  2. For Description, click the Edit button. Copy and paste the following text and click Save:

    This app highlights senior populations throughout the United States, using state to block group geographies that vary according to zoom level. The map, which was featured in Esri's Living Atlas gallery, forms the basis of an analysis by a fictional travel marketing agency to determine the best locations for running advertisements for senior travel groups. Use the Bookmarks tool to see specific cities of interest.

    Larger symbols indicate a higher total number of senior citizens, while the symbol's color indicates the percentage of the total population that is made up of senior citizens. Green circles have a higher percentage of seniors, while purple symbols have a lower percentage.

    This app was created for instructional purposes only and should not be used as an authoritative resource.

  3. For Terms of Use, click Edit. Copy and paste the following text and click Save:

    This app was created for instructional purposes using a publicly available web map featured in ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World.

    You've finished configuring your app and updating the item details. Lastly, you'll update the sharing settings to ensure the app is accessible to your target audience.

  4. Click Share.

    Share button

    By sharing with your Organization, users with an account in the same organization as you can access the app. By sharing with Everyone, anyone who has a link can access the app, regardless of whether they have an account or not. For this tutorial, you'll share with your organization.

  5. In the Share window, for Set sharing level, choose Organization.

    Set sharing level set to Organization

  6. Click Save.
  7. Under URL, click the Copy button to copy the app's URL to your computer's clipboard.

    Copy button

    You can send this URL to a member of your organization that you want to view the app.

You've created and configured an app to present your findings and recommendations to your business partners. What's next?

Explore ArcGIS Online on your own and discover what else is possible. A few ideas are as follows:

You can find more tutorials in the tutorial gallery.