Frequently asked questions about ArcGIS Mission

Listed below are frequently asked questions about ArcGIS Mission.

Mission

Manager

Responder

Server

Mission

What is ArcGIS Mission?

ArcGIS Mission is a geospatial communications and situational awareness tool. It allows you to create, share, and monitor materials for operational use, and it facilitates peer-to-peer mobile communications in real time.

For more information, see What is ArcGIS Mission.

What components make up Mission?

ArcGIS Mission is composed of a web app, a mobile app, and a server component. ArcGIS Mission Manager is the web app that you use to create and organize the mission. ArcGIS Mission Responder is the mobile app that allows mission members in the field to participate in missions. ArcGIS Mission Server is the server role that allows Manager and Responder to communicate.

Is ArcGIS Mission available in ArcGIS Online?

No. ArcGIS Mission is not available in ArcGIS Online. It is only available in ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8 and later.

Is ArcGIS Mission Manager designed for a specific role?

ArcGIS Mission Manager users can be separated into three distinct roles: Editor, Owner, and Administrator, which are defined by their privileges. Users who have one of these three roles can be members of a mission that can view, collaborate, and actively participate in a mission. See ArcGIS Mission Manager roles for more information.

What types of authentication are supported for ArcGIS Mission?

ArcGIS Mission is supported in PKI, Azure, AWS, and SAML environments.

Manager

Why can’t I send my geomessage?

To send a geomessage, a markup graphic must be drawn on the mission map. Optionally, you can include text information such as a title and message, recipients for your geomessage, and an attachment such as an image. For more information, see Send a message.

Can I add myself to a mission?

By default, a mission owner is automatically added as a member of the mission. A portal user with the role of an administrator can add themselves to a mission. To accomplish this, browse to the Mission Details page of a mission and click Add Me to add yourself to the mission. Once a member of the mission, the administrator can make edits to various parts of the mission. See Work with the Mission Overview tab for more information.

Can I change my mission map after I create a mission?

Yes. The mission map can be edited to include or remove additional reference layers through the Map tab on the Mission Details page of the mission. For more information, see Define a mission map.

Can I create a report in Mission Details?

You can create mission reports in Mission Details starting at ArcGIS Mission Manager 10.9. For more information, see Create a new report.

Can I see other locations of Responder users in the mission map while I use the Lock on button?

Yes. You can view the locations of other Responder users on your mission map by clicking the Last Known Location button. However, if the Responder user you are locked on to changes location, the map will shift back to the locked-on user.

Can I edit a report once it is submitted?

No. You cannot edit a report once it is submitted. For more information, see Submit a report.

Do I have to assign user a task in order to create it?

No. You are not required to assign a task to create it. Location, Name, and Description are the only fields that are required for task creation. However, you can edit a task as necessary. For more information, see Tasks.

Can I use missions created in ArcGIS Mission Manager 10.8.1 in ArcGIS Mission Manager 10.9?

No. You cannot use a mission you created in ArcGIS Mission Manager 10.8.1 in ArcGIS Mission Manager 10.9. The mission will remain in your View Missions list, but you cannot open or interact with this mission. All content and data associated with this mission is available in the mission content folder in Portal for ArcGIS.

If I assign another mission member as a mission lead, can they delete the mission?

No. A mission lead cannot delete a mission. Mission leads can only add and remove members from a mission and can cache and restore an activity in the Messages, Tasks, and Reports feeds. For more information, see Set a mission member as a mission lead.

Is there a limit to the number of fields I can use in my custom report?

No. There is not limit to the number fields you can add to a report. For more information, see Create a report.

Why can't I create or add a mission report even though I am a mission member?

Only mission owners and administrators have the ability to create and add reports to a mission. For more information, see Create a new report.

Can I use a report template if there is a report of the same name already in my mission?

Yes. You can still add the report template to your mission because you need to change the report name before adding it to your mission. For more information, see Create a report from a template.

Can I have multiple measurements on my mission map?

No. You cannot have multiple measurements appear on your mission map. You can only create one measurement at a time. For more information, see Use the Measure Distance tool.

What happens if I am using the Find Nearest tool and there are no Responder users nearby?

If you use the Find Nearest tool, and no Responder users are nearby, you will get a message stating so. For more information, see Use the Find Nearest tool.

How many conversion formats can I view at the same time in my Coordinate Conversion tool?

You can view all eight supported coordinate formats at the same time using the Coordinate Conversion tool. For more information, see Coordinate Conversion tool.

Can I change the required report type on a task once I create the task?

Yes. You can edit the Required Report field once you create your task. For more information, see Create a task.

Is there a way to see specific report types on my mission map?

Yes. You can filter your Reports feed and the mission map to display your desired report type. For more information, see Filter reports.

Responder

Why can't I see a mission in my Responder app even though I was added to it?

The mission status must be Active. If the mission status is Draft or Complete, it is not visible in the mission list. See Mission status for more information.

Why isn’t my current location shown on the live map?

Ensure that you are connected within the mission. You can have Responder open and be participating in the mission, even if you are not currently transmitting your location or receiving location data from other Responder users.

How do I sign in to Responder?

Once you have downloaded the app, you must enter your organization’s mission portal URL and sign in with your account information. For more information, see Access ArcGIS Mission Responder.

Can I change teams or add myself to another team in the Responder app?

No. You cannot edit mission configurations or details in Responder. Any changes to this information must be made through the Manager application by the mission owner or an administrator who is a member of the mission.

Why do the Android and iOS versions of Responder look different?

The Android and iOS mobile platforms have some general differences regarding design and functionality. The two versions of the Responder app include the same functions and are as similar in appearance as possible, while also following the general style of the individual platform.

Why can’t I edit a report if I can view it on the map?

Once a report has been submitted by anyone, it enters into the mission as a complete item and cannot be edited. Reports are visible on the mission map as a way to provide relevant information to Responder users in the area. For more information, see Reports.

Can I assign my task to another Responder user?

No. A Responder user cannot edit a task as it has been configured by mission analysts. However, if you cannot perform the task or feel it would be better suited to another mission member, you can contact the mission analyst who assigned it to you, and they can edit the task.

Can I use Responder in a web-tier authenticated environment?

Yes, as of the 10.9 release, Responder can be used in secure environments that have been configured to allow it.

What is native peer-to-peer in Responder?

Native peer-to-peer is the built-in ability of the ArcGIS Mission Responder app to use an available local-area-network, such as wifi or cellular, to maintain contact between devices when a connection to the ArcGIS Mission Server is unavailable. For more information about peer-to-peer capabilities, see Native Peer-to-peer.

What are the different connection statuses and why do they matter?

There are four connection statuses:

  • Connected, Active
  • Connected, Inactive
  • Connected, Peer-to-peer
  • Disconnected

These statuses determine which tools and features users have access to, and what functions they have during a mission. For more information, see Connection Status.

Can Responder create custom report formats?

No. Responder can access custom report forms created in ArcGIS Mission Manager but cannot create their own.

Server

Can I use a reverse proxy with ArcGIS Mission Server instead of a Web Adaptor?

Yes. ArcGIS Mission Server supports and encourages this deployment scenario. Using a reverse proxy with ArcGIS Mission Server gives you more control over the performance of your ArcGIS Mission Server. We provide the ability to configure an Apache HTTPD reverse proxy through a new endpoint in our Admin API, refer to Configure a reverse proxy for more details.

What are Context URLs and why do I need them to configure ArcGIS Mission Server in some deployment scenarios?

Context URLs are essential for when your ArcGIS Mission Server site is configured with a reverse proxy, or in the cloud. Setting the WebContextURL in the system properties (example: "WebContextURL": "https://my.reverse.proxy.com/context") Allows HTTP requests to be properly routed to your ArcGIS Mission Server site. Setting the WebSocketContextURL in the system properties (example: "WebSocketContextURL": "wss://my.reverse.proxy.com/context") allows WebSocket requests (your real-time data) to be properly routed to your ArcGIS Mission Server.

Does ArcGIS Mission Server require a separate installation or license?

Yes. ArcGIS Mission Server is a separate installation that requires a separate license to use.

I’m trying to do a silent installation, but the command prompt keeps returning an error. What do I do?

Ensure that you entered the command line parameters properly. Parameters are case sensitive and must be entered exactly; otherwise, an error is returned.

What is required before installing ArcGIS Mission Server?

The short answer is that if you have a base installation of ArcGIS Enterprise 10.8, it is likely that you already meet the hardware and software requirements for Mission. For details, see ArcGIS Mission Server system requirements.

Does ArcGIS Mission Server have an API?

Yes. ArcGIS Mission Server has an emerging developer story. You can generate Missions and perform operations on Missions in the portal through ArcGIS Mission Server. For more information, visit the REST API site for ArcGIS Mission Server.

How do I create a highly available deployment of ArcGIS Mission Server?

Highly available deployments of ArcGIS Mission Server require joining an existing site via the Join Site command line utility or the Admin API. When creating a shared directory and configuration store between all ArcGIS Mission Server machines, it is recommended that you use a network share for the shared directories and configuration store.

How do I upgrade a highly available deployment of ArcGIS Mission Server?

To upgrade a highly available deployment of ArcGIS Mission Server, you must upgrade each machine that is joined to the site. It is recommended that you do this procedurally rather than upgrading every machine simultaneously. For more information, see Upgrade ArcGIS Mission Server.